[LG Velvet Guides, News, & Discussion] double b26:
T-Mobile LG Velvet 5G [LMG900TM]

Android 11 [LMG900TM20G]

Carrier Unlocked

Rooted with Magisk

Service by Metro by T-Mobile

T-Mobile APN

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Straight to the point: I rooted this device in order to unlock the hotspot, run VPN Hotspot app, to serve data to my home network. However, the VPN app will not connect to servers. Without being connected to VPN, it will not serve data to other devices (for some reason, as using VPN should be optional).

The same setup works just fine on my old device, using the same rooting process, apps/VPN, sim, APN, and plan thru Metro.

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After trying several VPNs, I was able to connect using ProtonVPN free. If memory serves me correctly, it was able to connect using OpenVPN TCP protocol.

But, I'm not wanting to eat my current VPN subscription, and pay for a new one elsewhere.

My typical VPN will connect to servers when connected to WiFi. Just not over the T-Mobile network on this device.

ive tried switching APN to use only IPv4 for regular and roaming connections. Same results. On my other device, there was no problems with VPN connections using standard APN with IPv4/IPv5 selected

Also worth noting that the hotspot will activate, but will not pass any data thru without being connected to (proton) VPN. On other devices, using the same service provider, settings, and methods, hotspot works with or without tunneling thru a VPN connection.

The only use of VPN Hotspot app is to force tethered data thru the VPN tunnel, but not necessary to use data over the stock android hotspot.

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To summarize, I suspect the inability to pass data over hotspot and/or connect to VPN is rooted in either

Bug in the android 11 ...20G rom

Shenanigans with T-Mobile baking in roadblocks to prevent sharing data without paying and preventing VPN connections on their devices when using their network

The problem has me stumped because the T-Mobile network gives me no problems on my old carrier-free device using this exact setup, settings, options, etc. Kinda rules out the service provider being the problem.

I'm leaning toward this being something T-Mobile baked into the rom to prevent unauthorized data sharing from their devices, despite it being carrier unlocked. I say this because the stock hotspot won't pass data with a direct connection unless you have a VPN connected. VPN has no problem connecting via WiFi. Seems like T-Mobile may be blocking VPN connections on their network when using one of their devices

Or, could just be a bug in the LG system

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At this point, i've transferred service back to my old device (I'm using the hotspot data right now). Figure I'll just toss this Velvet in the phone drawer or sell it, since it won't do what I need it to do. Shame really, cause it's a nice device. Waste of $150+ tho

FWIW the old device is a el cheapo Umidigi A7 Pro I picked up last year for $100. It runs a nearly barebones build of android 10. For the money, I can't complain. It's been dropped, ran over, left outside overnight in the rain. Still ticking.

I live out in the sticks. Only other ISP option is hughesnet satellite (which is practically unusable and expensive). I pick up a couple bars on T-Mobile with my phone in the window. Run hotspot on the device. I have a dd wrt router set as a repeater bridge that connects to the hotspot. Devices in my home connect to the repeater. This allows me to use Chromecast, and all apps function properly (messengers, push notices, etc). Works just like a 'real' internet connection. Decent ping, albeit only pulls down a few megs per second. Still leaps and bounds over sat connection. And I'm paying for the phone anyway, so saves on monthly bills.