# Can't operate mid/guard relay
**URL:** https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026
**Category:** Relay Operator
**Created:** [June 3, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026 "2024-06-03T15:01:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@kowalski](https://forum.torproject.org/u/kowalski)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026/1 "2024-06-03T15:01:35Z")
I tried twice but it doesn’t work. Every three days after starting the relay, some services stop working for me and I am definitely blocked by the ISP or other institutions.
After three days, my bank’s internet banking or access to the Metro AG application will no longer be available to me.
It’s a shame, I wanted to help but I expect that over time I will discover more and more problems from the side of the blocks that would affect me on my public IP.
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### Author:  [@FranklyFlawless](https://forum.torproject.org/u/FranklyFlawless)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2024, 10:07am UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026/2 "2024-06-04T10:07:52Z")
If you are trying to operate a Tor guard relay using a residential IP address, you may experience more success deploying it within a datacenter instead so that your residential connection is unaffected.
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### Author:  [@Eldalie](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Eldalie)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026/3 "2024-06-04T16:39:46Z")
If you can’t host a relay somewhere else, or you wish to help from your residential IP anyway, you may set up a bridge (see [here](https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/bridge/) for a guide) instead of a regular relay. Bridges are like guard relays but, as their IP addresses are not disclosed publicly (so that people can use them to connect to Tor from places where it is censored) your own traffic should not be affected.
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### Author:  [@Tangerine](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Tangerine)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026/4 "2024-06-04T17:24:57Z")
I second Eldalie’s suggestion to run a bridge! I haven’t had any problems (yet) running an obfs4 bridge from my home address. You could also run a [snowflake](https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/snowflake/) bridge. According to [tor metrics](https://metrics.torproject.org/userstats-bridge-transport.html?start=2024-03-06&end=2024-06-04&transport=%21%3COR%3E&transport=obfs4&transport=snowflake), about 75k people per day use obfs4 bridges, and 30k per day use snowflake, so either would be a good way to help while hopefully flying under the radar of your ISP.
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### Author:  [@WofWca](https://forum.torproject.org/u/WofWca)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2024, 10:09am UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/cant-operate-mid-guard-relay/13026/5 "2024-06-05T10:09:24Z")
Also consider running a [WebTunnel Bridge](https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/webtunnel/). IMU they’re more advanced and censorship-resistant than obfs4.
* * *
> [@Tangerine](#):
>
> flying under the radar of your ISP
It is likely the websites that block the operator’s IP and not the ISP.
Similar topic:
> [@Running a relay: Connection to some websites not working](https://forum.torproject.org/t/running-a-relay-connection-to-some-websites-not-working/6976):
>
> I’m using M-Net as an ISP (Germany) and I’m running a TOR relay (not an exit node). Internet connections from our local network (NAT) are fine, except for at least two websites where we’re getting timeouts when trying to connect: [https://www.bund.de](https://www.bund.de)[https://www.bmbf.de](https://www.bmbf.de) id.bund.de took too long to respond. Try: Checking the connection Checking the proxy and the firewall ERR\_CONNECTION\_TIMED\_OUT Both are from the state/government. Using my mobile connection from my SmartPhone, I can reach th…