GetIP Tools: Check Your IP, Location & ISP

GetIP Troubleshooting: Fix Common Network IssuesNetworking problems can be frustrating — slow connections, sites not loading, or services showing the wrong location. If you use an IP lookup tool like GetIP to diagnose issues, understanding what the results mean and how to act on them can save you time. This article covers common network problems revealed by IP checks, how to troubleshoot them step by step, and preventative tips to keep your connection healthy.

How to interpret GetIP output

When you run GetIP or a similar public IP lookup tool, the typical outputs are:

• Public IP address — the IPv4 or IPv6 address visible to the internet (e.g., 203.0.113.45).
• IP type — whether the address is IPv4 or IPv6.
• Geolocation — approximate country, region, city tied to the IP range.
• ISP / ASN — the Internet Service Provider and Autonomous System Number associated with that IP.
• Reverse DNS / Hostname — a PTR record that may show the provider’s naming or a residential gateway name.
• Open ports / service banners (if the tool includes a port scan) — which ports are reachable from the internet.

Each of these fields gives clues about the nature of your connection and potential problems.

Common problems and what GetIP reveals

1. Public IP differs from expected (e.g., shows a different city or ISP)

   • Possible causes: carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), ISP using a different egress point, VPN or proxy, or stale geolocation databases.
   • What to check: whether IP belongs to your ISP’s ASN, whether reverse DNS shows provider, and if you’re using a VPN/proxy.

2. Multiple devices show same public IP

   • Cause: NAT at your router or ISP-level NAT (CGNAT).
   • Impact: Port forwarding won’t work unless ISP provides a public IP.
   • Fix: Request a public IP from ISP or use a VPN with port forwarding or a tunneling service.

3. IP shows as datacenter or hosting provider

   • Cause: You’re behind a VPN, proxy, or using mobile carrier infrastructure that routes traffic through datacenter IPs.
   • Impact: Some services block datacenter IPs; geolocation may be inaccurate.
   • Fix: Disable VPN/proxy, contact ISP for clarification, or switch networks.

4. Geolocation is wrong

   • Cause: Geo-IP databases vary and lag updates. IP allocated differently than physical location.
   • Fix: Verify ASN and ISP; submit correction requests to major geolocation providers if necessary.

5. Unexpected open ports or services visible

   • Cause: Misconfigured router, exposed device (camera, NAS), or ISP-managed equipment with services.
   • Risk: Security exposure.
   • Fix: Run a local network audit, close/forward only necessary ports, enable router firewall, update firmware, and disable UPnP if unnecessary.

Step-by-step troubleshooting workflow

1. Verify basics locally

   • Check device network settings (IP, gateway, DNS).
   • Reboot modem/router and affected device.
   • Try another website/service to rule out single-site issues.

2. Confirm your public IP and compare

   • Run GetIP from the affected device and from another network (phone on mobile data, different Wi‑Fi) to compare results.
   • If addresses differ dramatically, note whether a VPN or proxy is in use.

3. Test connectivity and routing

   • Use ping/traceroute to a reliable host (e.g., 8.8.8.8) to observe latency and hops.
   • Look for large latency jumps or timeouts near the ISP’s edge.

4. Check DNS behavior

   • Use nslookup/dig to test name resolution.
   • Temporarily switch to a public DNS (8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1) to see if DNS is the issue.

5. Identify NAT or CGNAT

   • If multiple devices show the same public IP and your router’s WAN IP is a private address (100.64.0.0/10), you’re behind CGNAT.
   • Request a public IPv4 from ISP or use IPv6 if available.

6. Inspect open ports and services

   • Use a trusted scanner to identify exposed ports.
   • On discovery, secure or close the services and ensure strong authentication.

7. Check for ISP-side issues

   • Look up the ASN from GetIP output and check ISP status pages or outage reports.
   • Contact ISP support with traceroute and public IP details if the issue appears upstream.

Fixes for specific scenarios

• Slow browsing but good ping: clear browser cache, disable problematic extensions, and test with another browser.
• Intermittent disconnects: update modem/router firmware, replace cables, reduce Wi‑Fi interference, and check for overheating.
• Remote access not working: confirm public IP, set up port forwarding correctly, disable CGNAT, or use a reverse SSH/VPN tunnel.
• Services blocked by geolocation: use a reputable VPN endpoint in the desired region or ask the service to whitelist your IP (if static).

Security checklist after GetIP reveals unexpected items

• Change default router admin password and disable remote admin.
• Turn off UPnP if you don’t need automatic port mapping.
• Ensure devices exposed to the internet have strong passwords and up-to-date firmware.
• Enable WPA3 or WPA2-AES on Wi‑Fi; avoid WEP.
• Use MFA on critical online accounts and keep backups of router config.

Preventative tips

• Obtain a static public IP or IPv6 from your ISP for predictable addressing.
• Maintain a simple network map documenting device IPs and forwarded ports.
• Schedule regular firmware and OS updates.
• Use DNS over HTTPS/TLS for private DNS lookups.
• Consider a small firewall appliance or managed router for advanced needs.

When to contact professionals or ISP

• You suspect CGNAT and require inbound connections (games, self-hosting).
• Persistent routing issues appear outside your home network (traceroute fails at ISP).
• Security breach signs: unfamiliar devices, persistent unknown open ports, or unexplained data usage.

If you want, I can: run a checklist you can follow step-by-step, create sample commands for ping/traceroute/nslookup on your OS, or draft a message to send your ISP containing the technical details.