Service works with ISP standard hardware but not when on bridge mode and own router

by NothingUnknown

Sorry for the awful title.

My IPTV service (XC type) works perfectly fine when I use my ISP's standard router setup. Since the hardware they give is generally garbage, I want to use my own router (Asus RT-AX58U). I switched the ISP's hardware to bridge mode to give my router full control.

However, in that configuration, my IPTV service stops working (it basically times out trying to get the stream). The only way I can get it working again is to enable a VPN (I use PIA). And oddly, not all of the servers on PIA even get it working again. I even tried a bunch of VPN trials and basically none of them work, just a few servers on PIA get it working again (mostly random servers in Europe work). I'm going to guess either the IPTV service or VPN is blocking something since even on cellular, the same thing happens on VPN.

It's really a bizarre issue. I was wondering if anyone knew of any special settings on an Asus router that would get it working again.

Info:

  1. Using tivimate on shield connected directly to the router with ethernet. Also tried wifi and same result.
  2. Have DNS configured to cloud flare and confirmed it's using it.
  3. I have Merlin firmware on the router, but also tried with completely stock firmware and factory reset with no changes to router besides initial wifi setup. Same issue. Also tried turning off all of the Asus features, like QoS, filtering, etc. Just the basic router stuff. Same issue.
  4. Tried on various devices (Fire stick, phones, tablets, laptops). All the same issue.

Edit: Resolved, seems likely provider is the one blocking requests.

Opening a direct stream to a channel (retrieved from m3u4u) in VLC and checking the logs, the provider seems to redirect me to some big buck bunny mp4 (probably as a placeholder) depending on where I am coming from. Various VPN connections except a select few all do the same thing. I have no clue why they would bother doing that, but, even using my router tethered with USB to my phone, it works perfect fine. Ill be trying a different provider to see how another behaves.

harrybarracuda

SO the communication is getting blocked between the device and your edge router. The obvious question would be: Has the ASUS router got an inbuilt firewall?

And the answer of course is on page 82 of the manual.

scottw578

I had a problem with mine using PFsense i had turned off the UPNP settings, turned it back on and it worked a treat, check to see if urs is turned on. The ISP router will prob have it on by default.

stokedcrf

Sounds like a classic case of double nat.

Not enough info to actually verify, but are you using fiber from your isp?

If so they use vlans and bridge mode won't be enough.

I had this issue and was able to resolve it, but not without some work on your end

Rorschached99

🇨🇦 Reading this thread is like watching Columbo. 🥴

HungoverDragon

I'm having the exact same issue with the exact same router. Only difference is you seem to have some idea where to start on fixing it. Its driving me nuts 😭.

Worked fine on my Virgin Media router, put it in modem mode and installed the Asus router and it hasn't worked since. Not sure who my iptv provider is as I paid a guy to set it up on my firestick, lol.