Router causing email problems

[#1]

My ipad (which I've used for years) and iphone are experiencing email problems when trying to open an email when I connect via my Plusnet router.

If I use my mobile network instead to connet (with wifi disconnected) or connect via wifi using a different router (eg at my club) then I don't get an issue.

Although all my incoming emails arrive for many it takes about half a minute for them to open when clicked on. The emails affected seem to be those ones (such as MailChimp) where images are not incorporated in the email itself but are downloaded from a remote server as the email is opened.

The router is a plusnet one which I've used for several years. The ipad is an Ipad air 3 (with plenty of memory available).

The problem has been geting steadily worse over the last few months.

Does the router need some sort of firmware update or is it a case of getting a new router?

[#2]

Your router is on the latest firmware build.

When was the last time it was rebooted? Have you always had this problem and if not, when did it start?

I know that recent Apple devices have introduced a raft of privacy/tracking/private IP changes for their embedded email client, amongst other things. It's perhaps worth delving into some of those settings to see if toggling any of them off makes any difference.

[#3]

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated

I rebooted the router a few days ago (left it overnight and switched back on in the morning).

The issue has been developing over about a month or two.

I've tried altering all the settings on the ipad I can think of and have even re-installed the plusnet settings a couple of times into the Mail app. Makes no difference.

It is affecting two ipads I have and an iphone13; all using the same apple id and same plusnet email account. I've had the ipads years and haven't changed any settings on them. It used to work without any problems.

One ipad has a sim card in it and if that is used and the ipad disconnected from the wifi then it works fine. if the wifi is on then we get the problem.

Taking the ipad to my bowls club and logging into their wifi also 'cures' the problem.

Issue seems to be therefore only if I use wifi with my home router. Wifi is good in my hosue with an app on the ipad giving about 60 -65 Mbps measurement.

I'm fortunate in that I 'run' a Mailchimp account and so can send myself the same mailchimp email twice and open one using mobile data and one using wifi.

I'm totally baffled with this.

[#4]

Interesting!

Which router?

Is there a VPN involved?

Does your Plusnet connection use the DNS safeguarding service?

You might not have changed the iDevice settings intentionally, but think about all of those iOS updates!!!

I would look to something simpler here - do the "problematic" emails have a large image content?  Do you see any other connectivity issues?  Is the phone line quiet?  Dial 17070 option 2.

There is the possibility that poor performance of the connection could give rise to email server timeouts ... which might cause the observed experience.

[#5]

Again thank you for your reply. Very kind of you to take an interest.

The router is a Plusnet Hub One which I've had for a little while (about 2 years?).

I don't know if I use the DNS safeguarding service I'm afraid (is there a way to find out?)

The emails don't all have a large image content. The ones I do know about are the ones I can issue to myself from MailChimp. These have a small image but I understand it that MailChimp downloadeds such images from a remote server only when the email is opened. I've presumed that it is maybe this where the problem lays but that is my assumption. The MailChimp email does arrive in my Mail inbox but takes approx 30 seconds to load.

I've put both BlueMail and Outlook on my iphone13 and these MailChimp emails (and all others) load instantly in those apps. (can't get notifications to work for them but that's another story).

I do know if someone forwards to me one of the MailChimp emails (with images) then it arrives and loads instantly. To me this suggests file size is not an issue.

We're two oaps with no-one else in the house and using the internet mainly for browsing and emails, whatsapp etc. No heavy internet use! Download speed is measured over wifi on my phone at 60 -65 Mbps.

As my ealier posts said (I think) connecting to the wifi at my bowls club then everything opens instantly. Apple help is saying problem therefore must be at router/wifi end - even though issue only affects the Apple Mail app

I've read rumours that ios14 can cause these kinds of issues - don't know if that is true. My iphone and ipadsjust updated to 15.5 anyway.

Don't have a phone on my landline so can't test that - sorry.

[#6]

Further to my earlier reply just found an old landline phone. BT's quiet line line was completely silent to my ears.

[#7]

That suggests that the issue is constrained to the combination of the iOS mail application and the Plusnet Hub One. Bob mentioned the various iOS network mail “security” features…

Under mail settings check privacy protection - that messes with the IP address when downloading email content … sounds akin to your problem, try turning it off.

Under the network settings, on WiFi click the i logo next to the WiFi network name - turn off private WiFi address.

Though these settings might not be idea, if the change your experience, that will give the support staff something to focus on.

[#8]

@DSer  Don’t dismiss those small images from Mailchimp, when the images are downloads information about yourself is sent to their servers.

[#9]

Thanks for those suggestions.

Have made them but it made no difference.

I think in the end I may have to use Outlook as my main email app and try to get Apple support to get the notifications and badges working on it.

[#10]

The problem could be this:

https://community.plus.net/t5/Everything-else/IPhone-iPad-Mac-The-network-is-blocking-encrypted-DNS-...

[#11]

Good call!!

Note therein the reference to the Plusnet Safeguarding service.

[#12]

Good idea, but I don't have plusnet safeguarding switched on

[#13]

What happens when you turn off Mail Privacy Protection and Private Relay on your devices?

Settings > Mail > Privacy Protection > Protect Mail Activity
Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Private Relay (Beta)

Do things start working again?

[#14]

No, makes no difference

[#15]

Can I suggest leaving them off for a bit longer, maybe a day? Do a device restart while the settings are off for good measure. It may take a little longer than a couple of minutes for the change of settings to take effect