Help! No proxy server & now can't view my site!

Transister · 28-09-2007, 03:10

I need some advice: I use a particular website regularly in my work until one day I found I couldn't access it on Virgin broadband. Its http://www.xec.gapbuster.com/. I found an article somewhere that it was something to do with 'authentication' and using a proxy server can fix the problem. I'm no techie but I found a local ntl server address (Luton) and entered it in the browser options and all was well. That is until I got the message a few weeks back come up about proxy servers being decommissioned by Virgin 'to improve my service'. I'm forced to revert to 'un-proxied' browsing now and the website locks me out once again.

I've phoned VM but they insisted that the service was a 'home' service not for business use and refused to provide any solution, even though I threatened to quit the service and they couldn't access it their end either. Now I'm stuck - I need to access that site for my work and the only way I know is to go and use another computer on another ISP. It's not the site, I can get on through any BT connection. Only VM causes this problem.

My question is: do I have to now dump VM and get on a BT-based service? Is there any other way around this? I stand to lose a lot of work if I can't get on that site and I can't believe there isn't a simple solution out there. Help!!!

Stig · 28-09-2007, 03:25

You could try OpenDNS http://www.opendns.com/

~Dan~ · 28-09-2007, 04:13

I'm on Virginmedia and not using a proxy and the site works fine for me. (Well, it loads and I click "English" and get onto the next page. I didn't go any further as you need a login and password.)

fatassmichael · 28-09-2007, 08:35

An alternative proxy if you need one, is, webcache.virginmedia.com port 8080.

Paul K · 28-09-2007, 08:59

Maybe it's not VMs fault you cannot access it?

jellybaby · 28-09-2007, 09:05

No help at all.....but I can't access it either.

Paul K · 28-09-2007, 09:28

Could always try a traceroute to see where things break down

poolking · 29-09-2007, 15:29

It would seem the server is offline completely.

Just get an error in tracert saying unable to resolve target system name.

jcw00 · 29-09-2007, 15:35

Works okay for me using webcache.blueyonder.co.uk on port 8080.
I also use open opendns to bypass telewest's slow DNS servers.

Transister · 30-09-2007, 18:41

Thanks for the replies everyone - very helpful. I did try the virgin proxy address and it worked - no problem accessing the site. I can confirm it is only VM where I have a problem. Any BT-based ISP has no issues accessing the site, T-mobile web and walk also gets straight in, so I can only surmise its something to do with VM. It's bizarre but there must be an explanation (VM refused point blank to offer one).

Can someone explain what 'open DNS' is and if this would be any better than what I'm doing now. Also has the decommissioning of proxy servers caused anyone else a problem, would be interesting to know.

Thanks again - I appreciate the aggro this has saved me by not now having to change telecomms provider.

Lisa

jcw00 · 30-09-2007, 19:16

Go to www.opendns.com and read the info there. It's free and you don't even have to sign up.
The more people using the system, the more addresses it can store, whereas if Virgin Media don't know the address they go to another DNS server, and thus DNS lookup is slower. With over 3 billon lookups a day, I'm sure that opendne will hold more addresses than Virgin could ever think of.

PS. You can also block "Adult" websites if you have under 18's in your household.