Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

I have 2mb broadband connected in the following way.

Laptop, wired into Linsys WRT54GS router, wired into a cable modem and connected to Virgin cable.

The router was installed about 3 weeks ago and worked perfectly.

Last night whilst browsing the web, my internet connection stopped working. I would get "page cannot be displayed". I rebooted the modem and router and it worked again.

Its been working all day and all evening, up until 30 minutes ago when I kept getting the same error message, after 15 minutes of surfing. I checked the error message and its a DNS error.

Tried re-booting everything and still no joy. Phoned through to NTL faults who initially told me that broadband was down in my area, but I questioned that as I can connect to the Internet, just not resolve Web addresses (Xbox Live works fine)

She went through some tests with me, re-booting etc and still nothing. We changed the internet settings to use a proxy server 213.105.224.12
She then told me it was IE7 and I needed to re-install IE6 as lots of people had complained about IE7 and it was a beta (mines a full version downloaded automatically) When I said I didn't want to do that as it had been working fine, we went through some ping tests. I couldn't ping www.bbc.co.uk

She checked my IP address and from that noticed I had a router and told me to unplug that and just use the Cable modem.

I tried that and I now have internet access but no router and no firewall. I have other items connected to the router which work fine, just not either of the laptop's

What can I do to get my router to work again? I haven't installed anything extra and have not changed any settings.

I am running windows XP and I'm not using windows firewall and everything is wired in and not wireless.

I logged onto my router and reset the settings and it works fine for a little while and then plays up. This is the 3rd evening of problems with it.

I'm out of ideas, I tried to configure the IP manually by putting in some DNS address's 195.110.64.205 and 206 but it still don't work

Help me please !!!!

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

First things first... whilst your laptop is no longer behind the router install some sort of firewall. The in-built Windows one is far from great but it's better than nothing at all.

Secondly, you should have DHCP enabled and you'll then get NTL's DNS servers automagically. If it's not enabled, switch it on. Just looking on my WRT54GL I see the following 2 DNS servers:

194.168.4.100
194.168.8.100

What DNS server is displayed in your router's config page? It's listed on the Status tab.

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

Something else you could try if you have no luck with the DNS on the routers is to specify the DNS settings on the laptop itself. Using the 2 DNS servers that Gareth has mentioned you will effectively bypass the routers involvement in DNS.

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

I have Sygate Firewall software which I'll use whilst the router isn't working. I did try entering some DNS servers manually via my network settings for the laptop and it didn't work, even without the router.

It started to work again after a firmware update, but I've just come back from a meal with the Mrs and its broken again and I'm back to the NTL cable modem only.

I'll try the suggestions and let you know (its been about 4 years since I did any IT work and its showing :D )

/edit - Just checked the DHCP is ticked on the router and has the DNS addresses you have already there. I've manually edited the IP settings on my laptop and also put in those addresses.
Its working again now, but don't know for how long as thats the only change I have made.

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

Right no DNS, then try IP addresses instead. DNS is the conversion of internet 'names' to IP addresses. Use an IP you do not need DNS.

With router plugged in, all cables checked open cmd and type

tracert 212.58.224.115

that is the IP address for bbc.co.uk. If that works type in your address bar:

http://212.58.224.115

You should reach the BBC through your browser

then you know it is DNS.

Did they get you to check that, if DNS not working no way would ping www.bbc.co.uk have worked, as a DNS request from your system would not have been received so therefore your system would not have been able to resolve the name>IP address. Now you have the correct DNS IP addresses for your local network (Virgin one) set up everything will be fine - the IP>>name requests will be replied to

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

Thanks for the help, its working now (touch Wood I won't have any further issues)

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

bubs999

i have the same router and i cant get my virginmedia broadband working with it. can you upload/send me your config file please!

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

I have recently bought a new laptop. Windows xp. I also bought a linksys rangebooster. It worked fine for a while but after a week it kept dropping off so I suspect the neighbours were all using it. So i tried different combinations.

Things went from bad to worse so i reset my router, tried reinstalling the router using the cd but now it will not even see that that there is any router connected. Has anyone any ideas? Like a list of things to do, that I should change. I tried cloning after it was suggested but no joy.

If I manage to get this up and running which security setting should I use. I am in a small house just so I'm not looking for high tech security

Re: Linksys router and DNS problems with NTL
 

Well my problems are back. I can now access sites for a while and then one by one they drop out and give me DNS errors, after that I can no longer access that site for a while. When it comes back, it works again for a bit then drops again.

I have tried www.opendns.com and used their addresses and it makes no difference. I am able to access this forum, but it will drop off soon and then I'll be screwed again. Digital Spy won't work and I can't even access the Linksys support page.