I've done all I could to stabilize my network connection.
I've done all I could to stabilize my network connection.
I’m not entirely clear on the overall picture here.
Can you draw a basic diagram of your network and internet connections?
It doesn’t need to be complicated—just a simple representation of how your network is connected.
You can take a photo or scan it and share it here using imgur (www.imgur.com).
The goal is to match the "tracert" results with what you see physically.
As mentioned before, something seems off—like having two routers?
In general, I’m assuming there’s a network loop involved.
There might be a proxy device or software—possibly malware—responsible for generating a traceroute in this way. The PC could forward the request to the proxy's IP through the router. If the proxy were somehow installed on the PC itself, the router would relay it back, altering its path so that the packet reaches the intended third hop, which then sends it back to the PC. This process might cause the packet to appear as if it’s going through hop 5 instead of the expected router. It’s also possible the routing is looping back to the same router, especially if the network configuration is incorrect.
It’s conceivable that the traffic is being redirected to someone else’s router on the same network, which defaults to the same subnet as the user’s device. Given the 5G broadband connection, it’s very likely the service is operating behind carrier-grade NAT. Three likely has misconfigured its setup, allowing RFC1918 addresses to circulate freely. This could explain why the same subnet is used across devices, including the router.
I believe there’s a problem with the home network IP range overlapping what Three uses. Since it’s a high-speed connection, the chances of encountering carrier-grade NAT are significant. Three probably isn’t properly managing its network, permitting these addresses to propagate. It would be helpful for the user to log into the affected device and check its public IP address to confirm this.
A quick search revealed that the default LAN IPs for Three equipment are 192.168.0.1 (ZTE hubs), 192.168.8.1 (Zyxel hubs), and 192.108.8.1 (Huawei hubs). This suggests the user might be directly connecting to the ISP’s device, leaving no other equipment in the path.
Running Wireshark during traceroute or ping would clarify whether packets are being redirected back to the PC. Apart from potential malware, it’s unlikely the issue is due to a dead router or a persistent loop between the router and PC without any data loss.
Consider using a tool like Ping & Net on your phone to perform a traceroute while connected to Vodafone, but not via the Three Wi-Fi network. Share the results—this could help determine if the problem lies with the same equipment from both providers.
Very interesting.....,
@monshmosh
I've been considering possible connection paths and settings that might explain the tracert outputs. When the issues started, were you aware of any new neighbors or changes in your surroundings? Any updates from your ISP, such as new equipment or devices? Particularly if you reside in an apartment, dorm, or shared space with several people...
Reflect on your living situation (without asking specifics) just think about the possibility of someone tapping into your ISP lines or another network point and attempting to provide free service using their own gear. Could be trying to spoof your connection.
I still recommend drawing everything out and doing a walk-through to identify where all the wires lead. Do this safely and check for any unexpected connections or devices. Trace every detail. Any links that seem hidden are suspicious. Especially if the wiring appears new—old connections might have been reused, so don’t overlook them.
Sketch everything thoroughly with as much detail as you can. Add device models, IP addresses, and Mac information. Take a photo or scan of your sketch. It doesn’t need to be high quality—just clear enough to understand.
Post it here via imgur (www.imgur.com > Green "New post" icon).
Someone might spot the problem as a result. Maybe a loop is involved.
Extremely difficult to connect to a 5G broadband link...
I initially thought this was OP's personal service, with their own equipment at home, meaning someone would need to physically enter the space to establish a connection via a LAN port or cable, or risk disrupting the Wi-Fi.
I haven't come across any comments mentioning you tried a portable Linux OS instead of Windows. This is quite important.
It's quite challenging to access a 5G broadband connection. I initially thought this might be OP's own setup with their own device at home, requiring physical intrusion to connect to LAN ports or cables, or even interfering with Wi-Fi.
This situation isn't rare; people often try to "tap in" to steal services like power, cable, internet, or water. It could happen either through cooperation or independently.
A relevant example is when a neighbor's cable service was accessed by another person using a cable splitter and a cable.
This point aligns with what @kanewolf suggested: OP should explore alternative solutions, such as using a portable Linux OS. This might not immediately fix the issue but helps rule out other explanations.
Yes, but you can't access a 5G radio signal to obtain service, that's what I meant. You're limited to using the LAN connection only. It really comes down to how well-protected the home network is. If it's just a short cable from the Zyxel (which has only two ports) to your PC, it would be very difficult for someone to tap in without it being obvious and likely causing damage. If the wiring goes through walls, they'd still have had to cut through them, rewire the cable, and install a switch. This is quite different from tapping into an external service line using a splitter, power tap, or water line connection.
(It's also not feasible to connect wired Internet services from outside, as they rely on device registration or PPPoE login, among other requirements. Running two cable modems on one line isn't possible without enabling both services, and DSL modems wouldn't work on the same line either. Registering fiber service would be extremely complex physically and involve registration issues. Stealing a fiber connection would require significant effort and also face registration challenges.)
I don't think I'll even check all the posts here, since what you said in the original post covers everything. If you're on your mobile phone using cellular data and not Wi-Fi, then the problem isn't with your network. It's likely a carrier or ISP issue. Contact them and ask for a technician to visit your apartment with a meter to measure the signal drop. I'm sure a tech who sees your phone connected to cellular will figure out the issue quickly.
I’ll respond without reading, even if it repeats what others said or seems irrelevant once more details come in.
If you had checked the posts, you’d understand he’s dealing with a 5G broadband gateway, which was where the main problem started, and mobile was mentioned because it appeared there too—possibly with another provider. That means there’s nothing concrete to measure, and since it’s unreliable, trying to capture the exact moment it happens isn’t useful. The goal is to have someone see it at that precise time.
OP didn’t manage to demonstrate it consistently during the ping test followed by a traceroute. I’ve never heard of a mobile service provider sending a technician to measure anything for an individual customer. Wired connections usually allow basic initial checks without needing a technician.
I’m still unsure about the “mobile” aspect, because both mobile data and Wi-Fi were talked about in relation to the phone. It’s unclear whether OP meant they were seeing it only when connected to Vodafone without using Wi-Fi on their device.
Many questions still linger...
People often attempt various solutions, sometimes trying to bypass issues or fix them in unexpected ways. Sometimes they unintentionally omit important information.
I would appreciate a simple diagram of the current network and all connected devices.
Some examples show how it should look: ISP === (coax, DSL, fiber) ===> Modem ---->[WAN Port] Router [LAN Port] ----> [LAN Ports] ---> Wired Network devices
And Router ~~~~~ > Wireless devices.
= = = =
The tracert and arp -a outputs indicate something is wrong.
Let’s go back to the basics.
Check if simplifying the network improves performance.
Confirm all device models, IP addresses, and MAC addresses are correct.
Ensure every cable meets Ethernet Cat 5e standards (no flat cables, only copper UTP, AWG 22-24) and is reliable.
If everything checks out, proceed carefully.
@monshmosh
please share more specifics so we can help further.
Details are crucial.