Forum Discussion

M3MH1's avatar
M3MH1
Joining in
2 years ago

Whatsapp Blocked

Hi I have recently joined Virgin Media and I have an issue that it driving me insane. My WiFi works great apart from the fact I can't phone or video call someone through Whatsapp at all.

Whatsapp messages send absolutely fine but any phone on my WiFi network cannot make a Whatsapp call or videocall at all as it gets stuck on 'connecting'. I have never encountered this issue with any other ISP. It is very important for me to make calls and videocall through Whatsapp for work so I will be cancelling my broadband if I can't find a solution.

I assume it will be something simple but every suggestion I have seen in the forums hasn't worked? I have no VPN. Turning off childsafe locks hasn't fixed the issue and neither did going into my router setting to try and allow Whatsapp UDP and TCP ports. Another suggestion was to change to a public DNS but then I also saw that we can't do this with a Hub 3?

It seems a lot of work to try and solve a simple issue, is there any help or advice anyone can give? Is this something other people face when using Whatsapp over Virgin WiFi or should I accept defeat? Thanks for any replies

  • japitts's avatar
    japitts
    Very Insightful Person

    Just out of interest, what's the reason for using app-based calls rather than direct dialled?

    • M3MH1's avatar
      M3MH1
      Joining in

      I can use regular calls like you said but if I'm home I'd rather use WiFi than waste the minutes from my contract because it isn't unlimited. I assume whatever is blocking the WhatsApp calls is also blocking the WhatsApp video calls so I'd like to get both sorted, do you know if is this an issue other people with virgin media routers face?

      • jbrennand's avatar
        jbrennand
        Very Insightful Person

        M3MH1 wrote:

        I can use regular calls like you said but if I'm home I'd rather use WiFi than waste the minutes from my contract because it isn't unlimited. I assume whatever is blocking the WhatsApp calls is also blocking the WhatsApp video calls so I'd like to get both sorted, do you know if is this an issue other people with virgin media routers face?


        It all works fine on my VM Hub5 - mind you, it is in modem only mode and using my own router and wireless equipment 😎

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta

    Turn "Child Safe" OFF in the VM online account to re-enable WhatApp calls and video.

    If this fails to work, change your DNS on the phone to be a Public DNS.

    • M3MH1's avatar
      M3MH1
      Joining in

      Would there be any way to actually allow the router to enable WhatsApp video calls. I have a big family who sometimes video call their children etc. so it's not practical to get them all the change DNS when they visit. The video call sometimes works when I'm right next to the router but it quickly disconnects.

      • japitts's avatar
        japitts
        Very Insightful Person

        M3MH1 wrote:

        The video call sometimes works when I'm right next to the router but it quickly disconnects.


        That doesn't sound like a DNS issue to me.