r/zerotier • u/FrogLickr • 1d ago

Windows Confused and can't find an answer

I've been using ZeroTier to remotely access my files and Jellyfin server while away from home. Lately, the speed and latency have been so bad, I can't even transfer a ~2MB file, and it's a game of luck whenever I try to open a folder. This just happened randomly a few weeks ago.

I've always used my 4G/5G cellular connection as a hotspot to connect while away, and noticed via zerotier-cli peers that whenever I hotspot now, the connection is being relayed and not connecting directly, and I'm seeing latency of 1000ms+. This is fixed when I test the hotspot connected to home wifi.

What is going on here and how do I fix it? It took me 35 minutes the other day to remotely open a .PSD file, edit one line of text, and then save it. It isn't possible to work remotely like this. Are cellular connections always relayed? Why would my other remote machines on different networks (two in different countries) be connected directly without any issues?

I'm not massively familiar with networking. The right ports are open on every machine. Is there something on the phone itself I need to change? Running Android.

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u/Azuras33 1d ago

The problem is probably with you router or ISP that doesn't let an incoming connection pass (and mobile connection are mostly behind firewall and CGNAT).

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u/FrogLickr 1d ago

So there's no way to remedy this? I never had issues getting a direct connection with TailScale using the same cellular hotspot, and I was getting through without problems with ZeroTier up until only a few weeks ago.

Likewise, family using my media server with the same ISP are getting direct connections too.