Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?

stevenme Jan 3, 2018 9:51 AM

Member Since: Dec 16, 2017

I’ve recently moved from AT&T to TMobile and overall I believe I made the right decision. One unfortunate limitation is that it appears that TMobile is blocking FTP connections. My home router has the ability to access a USB drive over the Internet using FTP with an app like File Explorer for iOS. This has always worked perfectly over AT&T and still works over WiFi, just not TMobile.

To prove it wasn’t an issue with my routers FTP support I tried another FTP site (speedtest.tele2.net) and got the same Network is Unreachable error. What did work was using a TMobile hotspot on my tablet from my phone. This doesn’t surprise me since tethering is wide open because it is reduced speed or limited data (my tablet has OnePlus, with 10GB of 4G data). Anything on an unlimited One plan is throttled by speed or simply blocking certain ports to reduce data usage.

I can understand the goal but I think it is unreasonable to disallow FTP transfer. In my case I use far more data loading up web pages than the amount I use to transfer files from my home server.

I believe I’m on the latest TMobile 31.1 (iPhone 8+) and 31.0 (iPad Pro 10.5).

Does TMobile have an official statement regarding FTP on their One/Plus unlimited plans?

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Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?

snn555 Dec 31, 2017 9:33 AM (in response to stevenme)

Member Since: May 3, 2017
What you have run into is an iPhone issue. Example is that my iPhones will not function properly over ipv6 connections, such as my home wifi cameras will not stream over LTE. Each app has to overcome the issue from Apple. My Androids have no issues at all.
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- Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
  
  stevenme Dec 31, 2017 2:42 PM (in response to snn555)
  
  Member Since: Dec 16, 2017
  
  Could be but why would it work when tethered? If I start a hotspot on my iPad Pro (TMobile One Plus), then connect to the hotspot with my iPhone 8 (TMobile One), I can FTP fine. In the past I’ve been told that when going through tethering the BingeOn restrictions of the One plan are disabled. This is because you are effectively under a limited data plan at that point. The One plan tries to limit what you do since theoretically it is unlimited.
  
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  - Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
    
    snn555 Dec 31, 2017 3:25 PM (in response to stevenme)
    
    Member Since: May 3, 2017
    
    Might be in how the hotspot requests data. Maybe hotspot and Android request differently than just iPhone alone. ONE doesn't throttle certain things to minimize data use.
    
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    - Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
      
      stevenme Dec 31, 2017 6:46 PM (in response to snn555)
      
      Member Since: Dec 16, 2017
      
      Actually TMobile One does throttle data, streaming video is negotiated down to 480p. If I tether my iPhone to my iPad I can stream full HD over TMobile.
      
      I’m not doubting there could be an issue with IPv6 with iOS over TMobile, it just seems strange it would only affect FTP. If it is iOS specific, it seems more likely there’s an issue with the carrier settings file that’s causing this. But again, why just FTP?
      
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      - Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
        
        snn555 Dec 31, 2017 9:42 PM (in response to stevenme)
        
        Member Since: May 3, 2017
        
        My video comes in at 1080p where available.
        
        Tmo ONE
        Profile-Media-HD-Res-ON
        
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        Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
        
        snn555 Dec 31, 2017 9:44 PM (in response to snn555)
        
        Member Since: May 3, 2017
        
        Try Tunnelbear VPN and I know that works.
        
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        Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
        
        stevenme Jan 1, 2018 8:44 AM (in response to snn555)
        
        Member Since: Dec 16, 2017
        
        Seems like a decent VPN at a reasonable price. It actually partially solves another issue I’m having with TMobile using a video streaming product from my home. I say partially because it seems to buffer even though SpeedTest reports 40Mbps over VPN and the bandwidth needed is only 1Mbps. Maybe issues in the VPN network, although you get HD quality which I think is more like 4Mbps. Anyway, I have a couple of work arounds for the original FTP issue, WebDAV, and now VPN. Thanks,
        
        Steve
        
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        Re: Why is FTP blocked with TMobile One?
        
        dragon1562 Jan 1, 2018 9:32 PM (in response to stevenme)
        
        Member Since: Jan 1, 2016
        
        I was also going to suggest a cheap android phone as a quick solution. This way you can have a bit more control over how the connection is being made.
        
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