topic Re: Does Plusnet block content? in Broadband

Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 21:41:02 GMT

For a while now, I have been unable to view some videos on Twitter/X whilst using Brave browser on my iPad (I get a thumbnail with a spinning loading animation) and has assumed that there was an issue with the browser but then tried Safari on the iPad and got the same problem. So, I tried Brave, Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Opera on my Mac; same problem. I tried my iPhone - same. So I wondered if it might be Apple related and then tried a pocket Windows PC I keep for when anything is not Mac compatible and the problem persisted. I tried my two Android based televisions - both the same. Maybe it is something geo-blocked? I tried using a VPN - exactly the same.

These videos obviously work for some people, even UK based people, because there are comments on the videos.

Finally, I tried using the mobile data on my iPhone which is Smarty (piggy-backs on 3) and the video plays.

I have to conclude that it looks like Plusnet are blocking some content for some reason. Admittedly, the video in this link might be questionable for some viewers but as I said, it is only some videos which won't play and many in the past have looked quite innocuous (though I haven't actually seen them to judge). I have been through all the settings on my router (BT Business Smart Hub) and apart from the firewall which I tested, can't see anything to configure that might make a difference.

So, does Plusnet block content?

Can any Plusnet broadband customers see this video?

https://twitter.com/AnonymeCitoyen/status/1690772543139889154

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 21:55:59 GMT

The video in your link works perfectly for me using my Plusnet connection.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 21:59:44 GMT

Well, that has blown my theory out of the water.

I can't understand why it won't play via any device connected to my Plusnet broadband Wi-Fi yet plays via mobile data.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:21:47 GMT

Is your router using Plusnet DNS settings ? (which might be blocking some content)

If so, try Google DNS 8.8.8.8 and Cloudflare DNS 1.1.1.1

as UK content blocking laws don't apply to non-ISP DNS providers !

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:27:33 GMT

Due to persistent connection problems, I followed some advice on here and bought a BT Business Smart Hub 2 which seems to have fixed the connection problem - I have not had an issue since - but there does not seem to be a way to change the DNS settings on the router.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:32:23 GMT

I tried setting the DNS to manual on the iPad which, as far as I am aware, should override the DNS settings on the router but this hasn't helped.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:09:28 GMT

Okay, well, I now have a Plusnet Hub 2 on which it appears to be possible to manually set the DNS Server:

Advanced settings > My network > IPVv4 configuration

I changed the settings to manual (Auto off): primary 1.1.1.1 secondary 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare). However, the DNS seem to be fixed to 212.159.6.9 and 212.159.6.9 at:

Advanced settings > Broadband > Internet

I also tried 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google) and in both cases the DNS server addresses propagated to my devices (their DNS servers settings were set to automatic) but the linked Twitter video still will not play.

Annoying.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

pjmarsh — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:26:27 GMT

The DNS that you have set is what the DHCP server on the Hub2 gives out. I don't think you can change what the Hub2 uses internally, which is what you are seeing on Advanced settings > Broadband > Internet. I don't think it would make any difference to what the devices see (ie they would be assigned the Cloudflare ones you've put in the DNS settings), except (possibly) if you manually set the DNS on a device to use 192.168.1.254 (or any other DNS for that matter).

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:20:44 GMT

Well, to confirm the settings, here are screen grabs from my iPad's DNS settings for the Wi-Fi network (they are set per network) and the Hub 2 settings.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

pvmb — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:50:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Is your router using Plusnet DNS settings ? (which might be blocking some content)

If so, try Google DNS 8.8.8.8 and Cloudflare DNS 1.1.1.1

as UK content blocking laws don't apply to non-ISP DNS providers !

.

I am using the default Plusnet DNS servers on a Plusnet Hub 2 router and can see the video.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:16:13 GMT

I've tried both Google and Cloudflare - please see previous posts and screenshots.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

James30 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:49:20 GMT

@flamesong - Bit of head scratching from here to. I'm not aware of us blocking sites and content outside of safe of safeguard and for sure, a VPN would eliminate that. I notice the DHCP IP range of the Plusnet router starts 192.168.1.64. I don't think that is standard so have you set that yourself and if so why. No interrogation intended. I'm just curious to what the 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.63 is being used for?

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

pjmarsh — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:54:36 GMT

@James30 The range of 192.168.1.64 - 192.168.1.253 is the default on the Hub2 (and the Hub1 if I remember correctly).

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

pjmarsh — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:01:10 GMT

Another thought on this, do you know where the videos play from? Could it have been coming from a host that was blocking your IP address? Assuming that you aren't on a static IP then that could have changed when you changed hubs. The dynamic addresses are fairly sticky so any reboots could result in the same IP address assigned again, but not guaranteed.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Champnet — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:34:39 GMT

Just out of curiosity, those that can see the video are you logging into twitter ?

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:55:55 GMT

@Champnet wrote:

... ... those that can see the video are you logging into twitter ?

No, I don't have a twitter account (or any other social media), I just clicked on the link in the first post, and watched the video

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:01:15 GMT

I've just checked again (clicking the link in post #1), and I can still watch the video, see screenshot -

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Champnet — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:28:21 GMT

It won’t run on either my iPad or Win 10 desktop, both connected to a Netgear router on Plusnet line.

The video loads but freezes……

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

flamesong — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:16:59 GMT

As has already been stated, the IP address range must be the default - the Hub 2 only arrived today and apart from changing the SSID/password and the DNS, I haven't changed anything, really.

I have no idea where the videos are hosted but I'm pretty sure my IP address has changed at some point as there have been a couple of lengthy power outages in the last couple of weeks.

I should perhaps reiterate that it isn't just this one video, this was merely the most recent example - I didn't want to spend a lot of time looking for videos which don't play.

A-N-Y-W-A-Y. . .

I did a resurvey of most of the devices connected to the network and the change of DNS seems to have solved the problem insofar as my Macs and the Android TV box but not iOS devices for some reason. I have rebooted them, turned Wi-Fi off and on, quit the browsers Brave and Safari and everything I can think of to force them to 'try again' but the only change has been that instead of the endless spinning progress wheel, I now get a message saying:

'The media could not be played.'

(Reload)

So, in a way, I am back where I started because I first noticed this on my iPad.

Re: Does Plusnet block content?

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:35:02 GMT

@James30 wrote:

... I'm not aware of us blocking sites and content outside of safe of safeguard

@James30 - I thought there was a requirement, since 29th April 2022, under the "The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2022" that all ISPs must "prevent a user of the service in the United Kingdom from accessing, by means of that service" specified sanctioned websites which currently include the likes of -

https://rt.com

https://sputniknews.com

https://rossiyasegodnya.com

The penalty for non-compliance is a fine of up to £1 million, for any ISP that fails to PREVENT ANY USER accessing those sites.

But as you say -

@James30 wrote:

... a VPN would eliminate that.