Strange Internet behaviour with PFSense and OPnsense - seeking some advise

[dhawk2k]

Hi everyone. I am hoping to seek some guidance and feedback on a problem I encountered:

Hardware: QOTOM with Intel Quad Core 6100U at 2.3 Ghz with 4GB ram and 32GB SSD. 6 Intel Gigabit I225 ports (igb0-igb5).

Testing with PFsense CE 2.7.2 and OPNsense 24.1 version.

QOTOM device already reset BIOS to default and using CMS (not UEFI mode).

Typical installation and kept *everything* default and not enabled any additional services.

My ISP provider is Telus Fibre:

WAN at DHCP

MTU 1500

MSS 1460

In PFSense and OPNSense I verified the following are checked: Disable hardware TCP segmentation offload, Disable hardware large receive offload, and Disable hardware checksum offload. There is a 4th option which I also made is is checked (can't recall the option right now).

I setup my LAN with DHCP. I did not have port forwarding or any services running like PFblock and I do not have any traffic shaping rules.

Speedtest with and without the PFSense / OPNSense device remains consistent.

PROBLEM BEHAVIORS:

It is not so obvious but I observe surfing and opening pages a little slower than before. It is not very noticeable. I went to System Tunables and added the option for each port: dev.em.XX.fc variable with value 0. Rebooted and no change in surfing behaviour.

What caught my attention is that my attempt to use the CAMVIEW windows desktop IP camera software or MCAMVIEW on my Samsung S24 ===> and connect to a remote site with the STARVEDIA CAMERA will result in a very choppy playback (looked like 5fps).

Likewise, I tested a STARVEDIA Plug and Play IP Camera (no port forwarding needed), I am able to view the camera locally smoothly. Using my phone WITH DATA line on the phone, I can see the same local camera at around 5 fps.

Here is the STRANGE testing result. If I use Telus router to view the remote IP camera, I am getting very smooth 30fps like performance viewing the camera. Now before we condem the QOTOM device as defective or faulty. Here is another STRANGE testing result. I downloaded and installed the SOPHOS XG firewall software for the QOTOM device. I can view the remote Starvedia camera smoothly at near 30fps. When I also try my mobile phone and mobile data to connect to a local Starvedia camera, I can also view it at near 30fps. Very strange indeed!

Which leads me to believe there is no problem with the QOTOM hardware device and must be some sort of setting or config in PFSense or OPNSense causing connectivity issues.

The Starvedia cameras are old Plug and Play cameras that does not require port forwarding. It worked great under typical home routers, OpenWRT, even when behind CGNAT (commercial grade NAT).

I am at a loss at what could be causing the connectivity issue and only guess possibly a config issue or a driver issue.

For the matter of testing, I will be borrowing another QOTOM router with an i5 and 8GB ram to play with in a few days...

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.