topic Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA in Full Fibre

IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

mikecro — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:21:12 GMT

The IP address I'm currently assigned by Plus.net makes it look to websites like I'm in the USA.

The address is in the range 146.198.110.X and is registered to "Info.net" with offices in El Segundo, USA.

This is stopping me from Banking online, using any geo services such as streaming video and imprtantly for me playing Poker on Pokerstars since online poker in the USA is illegal

This seems to be a recurrence of an issue from a few years ago judging by previous threads,

Any assistance on how to actually change my external IP address?

This is an extract from the "whois" of the IP address....

==============================================

NetRange: 146.198.0.0 - 146.198.255.255
CIDR: 146.198.0.0/16
NetName: PLUSNET3
NetHandle: NET-146-198-0-0-1
Parent: NET146 (NET-146-0-0-0-0)
NetType: Direct Assignment
OriginAS: AS6871
Organization: INFONET Services Corporation (INFO)
RegDate: 1991-02-28
Updated: 2015-03-12
Ref: https://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-146-198-0-0-1

OrgName: INFONET Services Corporation
OrgId: INFO
Address: 2160 East Grand Avenue
City: El Segundo
StateProv: CA
PostalCode: 90245-1022
Country: US
RegDate:
Updated: 2017-01-28
Ref: https://whois.arin.net/rest/org/INFO

==========================================================

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

npr — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:29:59 GMT

Getting a static IP address (one off £5 charge) appears the only way to avoid this.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

Alex — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:04:54 GMT

I think PlusNet should waive a £5 charge given the circumstances. I assume it is only a quick config change on their system.

The problem is I think companies are more reliant on external IP's and assume what is and isn't UK based. It is not an exact science. I think BBC (iPlayer) and the National Lottery do this too. Worth checking them out, see if they work and raising it with support.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

Kelly — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:27:27 GMT

The details are correct, but whoever is providing the service must be using an out of date list, or using the wrong information for the blocking. Lots more detail on

https://community.plus.net/t5/Plusnet-Feedback/IP-addresses-not-UK-Can-customers-please-report-any-problems/td-p/1142937

We'll see if we can work out who needs contacting. Are you seeing any other problems with that IP address?

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

mikecro — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:52:55 GMT

Kelly

For starters this has stopped my "Three in Touch" WiFi calling service since it only works in the UK. This means I've no mobile coverage at home.

Pokerstars have had me sign a disclaimer on line to assert I'm playing from the UK. I'd rather play without any shadows over my game.

Bizarrely my Facebook has become intermittent since this recent changeover to the new IP address. Not as important but annoying nevertheless

My Banking on an RBS subsiduary is now unreliable with random geo related security checks and queries on whether I am actually performing transactions or is it a hacking attempt.

Try that for starters if you can fix those then the rest will probably fall into place. I dont think its my place to tell Website service providers to update their IP records - wheres the credibility for me in that?

I've a JPG of a geo location whois service showing El Segundo as my location. Not sure if its safe to post the image here since it shows the full IP address.

Thanks

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

Kelly — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:56:38 GMT

Which WHOIS service are you using?

It's likely someone has updated a geolocation database incorrectly and that's been picked up by those services. We'll take a look.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

MauriceC — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:10:34 GMT

Why not start the move to IPv6 @Kelly and remove the reliance on 2nd User IPv4 address ranges.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

npr — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:15:45 GMT

@Alex wrote:

I think PlusNet should waive a £5 charge given the circumstances.

Agreed, even though it's not realy their fault it's others using out of date databases.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

rongtw — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 15:06:41 GMT

@MauriceC IPv6 will come after new billing system

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

MauriceC — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 15:18:05 GMT

@rongtw wrote:

.... IPv6 will come after new billing system

Now that is a meritorious piece of optimism.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

mikecro — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 21:14:16 GMT

Forget it.

I can;t carry on like this. This issue seems to have been kicking around since 2014 and is unlikely to be fixed satisfactorily.

Since I'm now out of contract I have instead placed an order to switch my broadband to an alternate provider.

If you want feedback,

It was two price rises during the contract period, this IP address issue and a meagre 2Mb/s upload speed that sealed the deal I'm afraid.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

npr — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 22:23:58 GMT

Can't say I blame you, with two out of those three reasons, good luck with your new provider.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

Gandalf — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 13:32:03 GMT

Sorry to hear you're thinking of leaving us because of this issue

As an ISP, it's unfortunately out of our control that those geolocation databases are incorrect.

All the best with your new provider.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

mikecro — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 23:27:31 GMT

Is it, is it really out of your control?.
So RBS systems, Pokerstars and everyone else has a problem... But not plus net despite that IP address being on record as being at an address in el segundo in california?

How's about something that is in your control? Maybe you could have forced my IP address to renew to a less ambiguous one?

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

HarryB — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:46:54 GMT

Hi @mikecro,

I've looked in to this and can confirm this has been flagged up with a few geolocation database providers/companies regarding the out of date data they have for some of our IP ranges. Hopefully we won't be waiting long for them to update their records.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

npr — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:47:33 GMT

HarryB wrote:
Hopefully we won't be waiting long for them to update their records.

You have more faith than I do.

AFAIK the problem is not so much with the geolocation data base providers, it's more with the very many websites which use old out of date geolocation data.

My VOIP provider was informed over two years ago that their geolocation data was inaccurate. After coming back to plusnet a few months ago I find that service provider still has incorrect geolocation data which forced me to purchase a static IP to make the service usable.

In theory this shouldn't be a problem if the web masters kept their data bases in order. Unfortunately they don't and the support at these affected websites don't have a clue when you try to report the issue.

In short I don't see this issue going away any time soon, and I think it's time Plusnet give more help to those affected -- option of a free static IP would be a good start.

Compiling and publishing a list of troublesome web sites may also be useful.

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

jelv — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 07:21:45 GMT

@mikecro wrote:
Is it, is it really out of your control?.
So RBS systems, Pokerstars and everyone else has a problem... But not plus net despite that IP address being on record as being at an address in el segundo in california?

How's about something that is in your control? Maybe you could have forced my IP address to renew to a less ambiguous one?

There is one totally fail proof system Plusnet could employ - not buy any new IP ranges and therefore not accept new users immediately but put people on a waiting list until other users to leave. Hardly a solution that would be acceptable to the company.

The other solution would be CGNAT - but there would be howls of protest if they implemented that!

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

MisterW — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 07:30:50 GMT

The other solution would be CGNAT - but there would be howls of protest if they implemented that!

Didn't we have a CGNAT trial, that basically failed

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

bobpullen — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 07:54:13 GMT

Why did it fail? Granted, it wasn't implemented in the end, but I don't recall there being any significant/unexpected problems

Re: IP address makes websites think I'm in the USA

MisterW — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 07:59:06 GMT

Ok, maybe fail was a bit OTT. Voip didn't work, but maybe that was expected...