Cannot get correct location from tower

Your ISP does not "report your location". Rather it is inferred from your IP address. Because of the multiple NATs in T-Mobile's wireless ISP system, the inferred location is often incorrect. T-Mobile has done nothing wrong. The problem comes from websites that improperly infer location from the IP address.

Kind of like let the fun begin. For weeks T-Mobile Internet said I was in Puerto Rico (I'm near San Diego). Then they had me in mainland China. Figure that one out? So my browser brought up results in Spanish and Chinese etc… I changed my VPN to only use Los Angeles based virtual VPN Servers like USA Fast Line. Now web, email, everything at least thinks I'm at least in Los Angeles, USA! T-Mobile has some serious issues with their Internet service, the price is right so I just roll with it.😞

drnewcomb wrote:

Your ISP does not "report your location". Rather it is inferred from your IP address. Because of the multiple NATs in T-Mobile's wireless ISP system, the inferred location is often incorrect. T-Mobile has done nothing wrong. The problem comes from websites that improperly infer location from the IP address.

I did some research on this. I did not imply T-Mobile did anything wrong. There are databases that connect ranges or blocks of IP addresses to a physical location. Sometimes the information they have is incorrect. T-Mobile is looking into the issue for me to see how they can resolve it. The website I gave provides contact information for the databases so requests can be sent to have the information changed.

dmcdivitt wrote:

I had a Sagemcom gateway and it reported my location correctly. Because that gateway had issues T-Mobile replaced with an Arcadyan. That gave me a location of Detroit, MI. Also the Arcadyan was slower. When I heard the standby mode problem had been resolved with Sagemcom I went back to one of those. Happily I get the original speed but it shows me in Chicago, IL.

I get the same location problem on multiple PCs connected to the local network. Chrome, Firefox,. and Edge browsers all report the same wrong location. Probably someone at T-Mobile could resolve this but the problem is getting to the right person and explaining all aspects of the issue each time I talk to a different person.

As a test I plugged a USB ethernet adapter into my cell phone USB port. I went to maps.google.com and a couple of other web sites. With cellular data turned on it reports where I am. With cellular data and location services turned off it says I am in Chicago the same as what the PC says.

The website  https://www.whatismyip.com/  gives excellent information on the issue. I contacted the three IP location database services mentioned. It seems T-Mobile should fix this, though.

I'm hoping someone has experience with this issue. It causes occasional problems.

We signed up for t-mobile internet a couple of months ago. We've used t-mobile (formerly Sprint) for cellphone service for years and were satisfied with it so we bundled with the internet, ditched out cable and realized substantial savings. However, it makes it really difficult to do any research for local vendors, service people, or stream PBS television stations because I keep getting responses based on a Detroit or Farmington Hills location (and we are closer to Cleveland, OH) .Your post prompted me to check our gateway since we also are showing an ISP that's located in Detroit, MI. We have the Arcadvan model. We're in another state and a couple of hours from Detroit but at least we're in the same country. Agree that it's a major hassle and customer support at t-mobile which was always really good with phone issues is no help at all with internet issues. 

When I signed in to post in this forum, my location showed as Nashville, TN (I am actually in North Carolina).  My location has been posted as Miami and several other locations.  I am using Hulu Live TV for my local channels, and every other day I have to contact support to give me access because TMobile changes my home location via the dynamic IP address.  There has to be a way to correct this.  The internet service is otherwise fine, and the price is reasonable, but I'm not sure I can keep using it with this constant issue.  

I have been fighting with Hulu for weeks now regarding the same problem.  Hulu says, in effect, that T-Mobile is the problem.  I'm paying for live TV but have to contact customer service at Hulu to reset the address daily or even within a 24 hour period.

Anyone had any luck establishing a static address through T-Mobile?  This is getting costly and makes me regret switching from Spectrum.…

This is Hulu’s recommendation (verbatim):  

• Here's what happenes, T-Mobile/Verizon are using towers to provide internet and not a fixed home broadband connection. The reason it's not allowed is that T-Mobile/Verizon using towers tends to switch towers depending on which tower has the best signal, which will result in the IP address being changed. We do not have any control over this and how this connection will usually not be the most reliable for live tv.

  So what we advise to viewers when you are using T-Mobile/Verizon. You need to contact them and ask for a static Ip address that will never change even if there are interruptions on the service, so that your home location will not change. Because Live TV is only designated for one single home network and If the system detects you are using a different Ip address you will get that message of home location change you only have 4 home location changes and It will be reset after 12 months.

• If you want to access Live TV like If you are traveling or wanted to watch on a different living room device in a different location we advise viewers to just use on-the-go devices like laptops, iPad, and mobile and just have it cast on the TV so you remaining home location will not be used.

• You might want to check help.hulu.com look for home network guidelines for reference in Live TV.