u/EngPro3li

Hi everyone,

I’m running into a performance issue with Tailscale and I’m trying to understand what’s going on.

Setup:

• Client internet: ~20 Mbps
• Server internet: ~80 Mbps
• Router: Netgear R6260 connected to Huawei HG8145V5 (fiber ONT)
• ISP: Iraq Cell

Problem:

• File transfer speed over Tailscale is stuck around ~2 Mbps
• tailscale ping shows connections going through relay servers (DERP)
• Latency is around 150–250 ms

What I tested:

• When I try from another device network (inside my local ISP), speeds are much better 80 Mbps
• So both devices and Tailscale itself seem fine
• Outside my local ISP it always falls back to relay instead of direct connection

What I already tried:

• Enabling UPnP
• Adjusting router and ONT settings
• Checking IPv6 (not really available)

None of these made a difference.

Question:
Is there any way to improve performance or avoid relay usage in this situation?

I don’t currently have access to a VPS, so I’m mainly looking for:

• Network or router-side tweaks
• Any tricks to help Tailscale establish direct connections
• Practical workarounds others have used

Would appreciate any help or ideas. Thanks!