FYI : IPv6 Prevented VPN Connection

Anvil_Iron · ‎07-07-2023

My wife uses VPN for work and one day she wasn't able to connect. I checked the router (Zyxel NR5103E) web-config and noticed the Primary/Secondary DNSv6 server addresses info were present which weren't before.

I tried disabling IPv6 in the WAN and LAN settings but internet service stopped.

I then enabled manual APN mode and changed from 3internet to Three.co.uk and restarted the router. After restart, the IPv6 info was N/A and the VPN was able to connect. VPN also connected when APN was set to 3internet with manual APN enabled.

The strange thing was when APN Manual Mode was disabled and router reset, IPv6 info was displayed. It looks like the router was obtaining IPv6 and IPv4 info from Three if manual APN mode is disabled. This could be the PDP Type being set to IPv4/IPv6 automatically by Three where as in manual APN mode, I have it set to IPv4 only.

NG · ‎07-17-2023

Update: Anvil_Iron is the man!!!

To add a little detail to help the more ignorant like me:

First, log in to the hub from a browser ideally on your laptop (or I guess phone), not the hub app. (ie, 192.168.1.1/login, logging in as admin)

1) under top-right burger menu-->Network Settings-->Broadband-->Cellular APN, I set to manual so it ended up as follows:

And under Burger menu-->Network Settings-->Home Networking-->Lan Setup, click on the 1st APN setting in the list (on the right-hand side where you click to edit), then

I then rebooted the hub, confirmed settings remained as above, and rebooted my devices (including network switch). Audio player and speaker when connected to my network switch do show up on hub app both under Wi-Fi and LAN as expected.

... AND I'M NOW LISTENING TO MY PINK FLOYD ALBUM ONCE AGAIN!!!!!

Thanks again Anvil_iron!!

View solution in conversation

456 · ‎10-09-2023

What changes did you make and did they affect your download speeds?

cruisealtitude · ‎10-01-2023

Thanks for this. This worked for me. My television and Honeywell smart thermostat stopped working all of a sudden, and changing the APN worked for me, changing the domain from 3internet to three.co.uk.

Thank you!

456 · ‎10-04-2023

Something needs to be done about this. I've had nothing but problems ever since I renewed my contract at the end of last year. Months and months of hassle. @JonathanB

Amiraj · ‎09-29-2023

I have had the same issue but as soon as I change the APN settings as instructed here to manual I lose Internet and none of the devices can connect, changing it back to Automatic and I can atleast connect with my phone and laptop. Ring doorbell, TV and my wired Tp-Link extender don't work.

HampshireBaz · ‎09-15-2023

Have been having issues with my three 5G CPE MC801 over the past few days and have just changed the APN three.co.uk and now I have my Internet back! Three telephone support didn't help. Thanks for posting.

Cymbalhead · ‎09-14-2023

Same issue here. My ring doorbell and BT whole home mini discs suffered with problems

I've applied the manual APN fix and things seem better, but I don't think it's fair to expect us to accept a drop from 600mbps to 100mbps as seems to be the case.

Cymbalhead · ‎09-14-2023

Actually, I take it back, I've just done another speed test and it's over 300mbps. So maybe that isn't going to be a problem.

Still extremely frustrating that this has happened though. Inexplicably various devices stopped working or displayed very very weird behaviour (the BT whole home mini discs had a red light that stated they were not connected to the internet yet somehow were still able to provide access to devices connected to them).

IC612 · ‎09-14-2023

Thanks so much for this! My WiFi printer, internet radio and Humax PVR had all stopped working, but having made these two changes they are all functioning again.

456 · ‎08-30-2023

Did anyone else's speed drop drastically after applying this change? My went down from 500+ to 100megs.

Nimrodski · ‎08-31-2023

The fix is fabulous (thank you Anvil_Iron if you're still lurking) but as per you 456, my download speed has seen an identical drop from c.500 Mbps to c.100Mbps. Upload speeds are conversely much improved (at 30/40Mbps)...