Spotify Login blocked by router

[Raptoreverdark]

Hi,

I'm on Three mobile broadband using the Huawei 4G B535-232 router. Recently, I've noticed that I can't log in to Spotify on the mobile app. I know it's a router issue as the issue is not present if I use a different WiFi network. I read that the router could be blocking the ports to Spotify's severs, however, the router settings are not available (On my router, I see the message, "Some features are unavailable in CLAT mode". I think this must be due to a firmware update from Three, as previously I used to be able to open ports on the router.) Just wondered if anyone else is seeing this issue and if there is a workaround? Thank you.

[Raptoreverdark]

Yes, no option anywhere too disable CLAT mode. This is strange as this is only a fairly recent change as I've previously used things like DDNS and VPN. Must have been done via a software update.

[digitaltoast]

I'm having similar problems - since whatever update introduced this wretched "CLAT" mode, I've had problems with various services, so I now run VPNs full-time on phone and PC which solved problems there, but because I can't run them on my FireTV I still get major problems playing video. By which I mean, it does eventually start playing, and once going it's fine, but it can take up to a minute to start playing a Prime Video, but on the PC with WARP running (VPN but same 3BB connection), it's near instant.

I've got a ZTE MF289D which I've been keeping spare and not even opened, but I've not read such good things and in other respects my B535 is fine and works well with my external ant.

And also, if swapping routers DOES fix things, then I've got the rigmarole of changing all my smart plugs, lights, sockets etc, because the "keep the old router name" trick doesn't seem to work for some of them (I guess they're tied to the MAC or something - I must google that a bit more!).

Would prefer to have the previous unproblematic firmware back on the B535...

Current:
B535-232
Current version: 11.0.1.2(H200SP8C21)
APN: 3internet

[Raptoreverdark]

Hi @digitaltoast and thanks for the reply.

.Yes, it does, indeed, seem as if we are experiencing the same issue. I raised a complaint with Three and I received a call from their tech support team yesterday to try to resolve this. To be honest, they were fairly clueless to the issue, blaming Spotify and telling me to contact the app provider (my issues, like yourself, are not just with Spotify). When I explained that I am not seeing the issues with a different ISP, they back-pedalled a bit and offered to send me a new SIM card. I know for a fact that it is not the Three SIM card that is at fault, because I have tried this in my Pixel 4a 5G and Spotify works fine. The issue is definitely with the blasted Huawei 4G B535-232. You have jogged my memory in that I have a mobile 4G router in a drawer at work so I am going to try that when I get home later. My ideal fix would be that Three send me new router, but I can't see this happening. I will see if the new SIM card makes any difference, but I doubt it will. I mentioned that the issue goes away if I use a VPN but tech support seemed quite dismissive of the solution and insisted that that they aren't blocking anything (which I believe they aren't) but the router is! Probably time to look for a new ISP…

[liveswired]

Three are indeed blocking a number of services on their 3internet APN - during the switch to IPv6 for 4G Home Broadband customers Three have made a number of configuration errors that they are refusing to acknowledge and their engineers will only agree to look into once enough complaints have been made online.  I have had no access to Internet banking, Spotify and my children have rarely gained access to Roblox with consistent errors and disconnects and logging into EA gaming services have been non existent of server errors and disconnects - This is Three standard practice judging from historical issues -  e.g. over a month long Xbox live and GamePass download block which Three Tech support and engineers denied and blamed Microsoft until week three of the debacle - which Three eventually admitted was an error on their side.

Not only this but they are now denying their customers, such as myself access to advanced features in their home B535 routers, such as adding my VPN to the router which would allow me to temporarily workaround Three's calamity.

The only option is to change your APN to three.co.uk - this will give you power back over your router settings and full access to the internet but we should not have to change our APNs as a backup because the primary Home Broadband APN is unusable due to mismangement.

[digitaltoast]

Yes, the technical part of 3 is a bit of a concern, which is why I really don't want to go down the route of new sims for this problem, or the other one I'm having which is that some calls seem to build up a delay of up to 5 seconds after a while.

And of course, the fact that I keep having to look in "spam" for notifications because 3 are literally the only company that doesn't sign their messages (like everyone else has been for years).
"The sender hasn't authenticated this message, so Gmail can't verify that it actually came from them". Nice!
If I had the time or inclination, I'd dig deep into it and see if there was some kind of NAT or protocol blocking going on.
My very very wild guess without any evidence is that in the switch to IPV6 (which is about time and a good thing), they've blocked some ports or protocols and services are having to "fall back" to other protocols, for example, UDP to http etc. Which might explain why some video streaming services take ages to get going, but work fine when they do, but then start instantly when I put a VPN on.

At least CS aren't saying what they used to say to almost every problem, which is to wipe the contacts of the SIM with a soft cloth (!!!).

[JonathanB]

Thanks @Raptoreverdark @digitaltoast for all the info around this one, I'm making some enquiries off the back of this, and will let you know if I can share any advice or updates.

JonathanB

[liveswired]

Three are indeed blocking a number of services on their 3internet APN - during the switch to IPv6 for 4G Home Broadband customers Three have made a number of configuration errors that they are refusing to acknowledge and their engineers will only agree to look into once enough complaints have been made online.  I have had no access to Internet banking, Spotify and my children have rarely gained access to Roblox with consistent errors and disconnects and logging into EA gaming services have been non existent of server errors and disconnects - This is Three standard practice judging from historical issues -  e.g. over a month long Xbox live and GamePass download block which Three Tech support and engineers denied and blamed Microsoft until week three of the debacle - which Three eventually admitted was an error on their side.

Not only this but they are now denying their customers, such as myself access to advanced features in their home B535 routers, such as adding my VPN to the router which would allow me to temporarily workaround Three's calamity.

The only option is to change your APN to three.co.uk - this will give power back over router settings and full access to the internet but we should not have to change our APNs as a backup because the primary Home Broadband APN is unusable due to mismanagement.