In reply to a post by pluralist:

I run security cams through mine with no trouble. That's what I bought it for. Dynamic IP address.

The services you are using connect outbound from the device, through your connection, to a service on the internet. Perhaps branded "cloud". All video streaming works in that way, all web pages etc work in that way.

However not every internet service works in that way, some corporate VPNs perform incredibly badly over CGNAT, and many multi-player gaming setups fail to perform, and in some cases fail to work, when there is CGNAT.

Your Dynamic IP from Three may or may not be CGNAT, as Three has two options depending which APN you are using. ONLY three has this option for consumer products, and if you live in an area (like me) where Three is slow or no coverage, then the mobile data option is nowhere near as useful.

Edited by jchamier (Sun 09-Jan-22 16:32:56)

I've forgotten which is which of the two Three options . And how to test for CGNAT. It's currently on 3internet. Phone, using mobile connection not wifi, is on three.co.uk.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

I've forgotten which is which of the two Three options . And how to test for CGNAT. It's currently on 3internet. Phone, using mobile connection not wifi, is on three.co.uk.

I don’t use either, but from a quick internet search:
3internet - mobile broadband (MBB) and should avoid CGNAT
three.co.uk - smartphones with CGNAT

The way to tell is to find out from the router what its own IP is, and to compare that against the IP showing in a web query, e.g. http://ipquail.com/

If you use an Apple device, ensure that iCloud Private Relay is disabled before checking.

Of course Three could run out of public IPs at any time, as other UK internet providers have, and switch to CGNAT for everyone. The other mobile telcos have no choice for consumer services, there are some options for large corporate when you have an account manager.

Edited by jchamier (Sun 09-Jan-22 19:36:19)

Thanks James. I'll check later or tomorrow. I'm hungry! Time to make dinner.

There’s another APN combo which I just stumbled onto in a thread over at ISPreview. See post #55 from that thread.

APN: Name - 3internet
APN - everywhere
Username: 3secure
Password - secure

This weird APN combo (which looks like some Hybrid EE style APN) apparently seems to have resolved certain network issue on Three folks were having…

Interesting, wonder if it is account restricted. There are lots of APNs on mobile networks, the majority only work for specific groups of users. (e.g. direct link into a corporate system etc).

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

There’s another APN combo which I just stumbled onto in a thread over at ISPreview. See post #55 from that thread.

APN: Name - 3internet
APN - everywhere
Username: 3secure
Password - secure

This weird APN combo (which looks like some Hybrid EE style APN) apparently seems to have resolved certain network issue on Three folks were having…

I’m pretty sure three only lookup the APN name and none of the other fields make any difference (and can just be left blank). You could set the apn to threeneedtoimprove, but so long as the name states 3internet then this is what you get (i.e 3internet). iPhones use the APN name 3hotspot when in hotspot mode.

In reply to a post by gary333:

I’m pretty sure three only lookup the APN name and none of the other fields make any difference (and can just be left blank). You could set the apn to threeneedtoimprove, but so long as the name states 3internet then this is what you get (i.e 3internet). iPhones use the APN name 3hotspot when in hotspot mode.

Many networks override the APN either in the SIM or in the account, to ensure the user doesn't have any issues connecting. The Three virtual networks (e.g. Smarty) use this to stop support calls I suspect, but it has the downside you can't get a proper IP with Smarty.

I've been using AAISP L2TP with EE 4G for a few years now. It works well for me, but be aware it has a max throughput of 100Mbps and a 1TB monthly allowance - it could limit your connection if you have 5G faster than 100Mbps.
One option is to only route necessary things through the L2TP tunnel - I use it for a server running a mail server and websites, but route most other traffic (i.e. things that don't care about CGNAT) directly over EE.

They have 3 options available now:

Capped at 200Mb for 2TB £10 a month, single IP
Capped at 200Mb for 5TB £15 + VAT a month, multi IP
Capped at 3Mb for 1TB £2 + VAT a month, single IP

I only clear about 300 or 400 GB a month in total, what needs to be routed statically is probably about 10% of that. Mainly for CCTV, VOIP and the odd bit of VPN access if I need to access files whilst out.

I know when I looked at it last time it was lower but it appears in December they made changes. https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/l2tp-service/ and details on the change here https://www.aa.net.uk/etc/news/l2tp-service-changes/.

I need to source a suitable external antenna to use/modem.