Finally!
Jabberwocky and SGH you were both correct in assuming the problem was APN related, but I was surprised at how long it took to drill down to the fix, and how much patient gentle persuasion it took to encourage the thee operative to find it despite fairly regular 'everything is fine on your three settings so it must be a router problem'
Problem was my TPlink had decided to automatically connect to the local network 'Movistar'. What I had no way of knowing was that this network is not a three partner and did not offer the 'piggyback back' support required. I did say that 'Movistar' came up on the TPlink to the first two three operatives I spoke to, but they were not to be diverted from suspecting my problem was not having roaming on, despite the fact I had also told them that this was showing as on both on the My3 site and on the TPlink.
The last operative finally agreed that my three settings were fine and so their job was done, commending I contact TPlink for further help! I pointed out that the link must be fine as it was ok in UK, and was receiving a full signal and set to roam, so could he please check the APN settings?
When I said that it was saying Movistar (for the third time with this operative) he said have you any others showing?
The fix: In network settings go to APN management, there it only has Movistar showing as default. Click the + on the top bar to add, then specify orange in the carrier name, APN orange, username admin, and password should be left blank.
Immediate internet access ensued. Of course I had no idea until then that I should be looking for orange, and no way of knowing this either.
I asked why the three website does not show partner providers for the region where one might wish to connect to three and he said they cannot do this 'for security reasons'.
Learning points:
If your router was fine in UK but stops abroad check the following:
1. Make sure you can connect to your router (thanks Jabberwocky)
2. Check your APN settings are correct (thanks SGH)
3. If still no joy ask the three operative to check your local provider is correct for three! Why they don't do this first is beyond me, but we got there in the end.
Btw, I also asked since I can't look ahead on my route to check providers, do I have to call three and manually set appropriate provider and APN, he said yes! Seems unbelievably long winded but at least now the TPlink is on orange we should be ok while we remain here in Northern Spain
Thanks again Jabberwocky and SGH, without your input I would not have known how to direct the three operatives to give me what we needed. In fact if it hadn't been raining today I might have not bothered at all
