Odd connection problem

[barq]

Hi everyone, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this one because its the weirdest network problem I've ever encountered.

I have the 4Mbit broadband package, a ntl:home200 cable modem and live in the GU1/Guildford area (Langley?). For the last few days I've been unable to get an internet connection through my router, but I can get a connection when I plug a computer directly into the CM (using ethernet).

The odd thing is that I've got several spare routers (2 x Linksys WRT54G, one Benq and a Safecom) all of which, despite previously working, show the same problem. After all the necessary rebooting I can see that they are picking up a normal looking 86.*.*.* IP address, but nothing goes through (not even a ping).

I've done factory resets, unplugged and plugged back in the coax, systematically swapped out ethernet cables. The problem appears the same on all computers attached to the network (a variety of linuxes and OS X). Tech support understandably regard this is a router issue, and less understandably as a linux problem. However I'm puzzled to see four previously working routers fail the same way at the same time. Any ideas, I'm really stumped.

[haydnwalker]

Once the routers are connected, can you login to their web UI's and check they have IPs & the correct DNS settings?

It seems like a DNS issue off the top of my head, esp if the PC uses DHCP and connected directly to the CM works.

Make sure the Routers are using DHCP for DNS as well.

But that is my only suggestion at this point...your right, its weird

Edit: Sorry didn't see that you'd reset to factory settings.... even more

[barq]

I'm relieved someone else thinks it is weird, I've been questioning my own sanity the last few days!

Anyway, computers connect to the router ok (they all pick up IP addresses, and can ping each other). I can log into the routers' web UIs and they show a normal looking IP address on the WAN side.

I just carried out a little experiment: I connected my 3g mobile to a computer and shared that internet connection through a NIC. I plugged the router's WAN socket into that and then other computers to the LAN side. Guess what? It all works. So I'm pretty sure my routers and all their settings are fine.

This is really odd.

[TechFreak]

Myself & a few other guys (including a couple of blokes at my work) are having this exact same problem.

Still trying to get to the bottom it though :

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...broadband.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=764309

[barq]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on those threads.

[haydnwalker]

Another suggestion (though maybe a futile attempt at straw clutching)...would be to turn off the Modem, router and PCs for between 5 and 10 mins (to let them settle and cool down). and turn them back on again after in order of modem <wait to settle> router <wait to settle> PCs.

When i first got my VM (then telewest) I had the same issue with a WRK54G router but all was ok when directly connected to the CM.

I just left it for a bit tried again (but still didn't work) so i left it on over night and hey-presto it was sorted.

Though I think I could have been at fault that time

---------- Post added at 14:27 ---------- Previous post was at 14:08 ----------

After catching up on the other related threads both here and over at digitalspy...I am inclined to agree that somewhere something has been changed, for this to suddenly happen to various VM BB customers (presuming your all in different areas??).

I don't have any ideas as to what VM may have done for this to happen though...

[TechFreak]

I finally got my Netgear WGR614 working again with the Webstar 2100 modem !!
It turns out i cannot connect through Virgin's DNS Servers using my Netgear Router !

All i did was went to OPENDNS.com which is here :

http://www.opendns.com/

and followed the steps for 'COMPUTER' and 'ROUTER' to change two DNS Server addresses and bingo .....all is working again !!!

Strangely my 20mb connection also appears to be faster !!!

Now should i tell Virgin or not ?? Bastads !

[TechFreak]

I have been on the phone to Virgin Tech Support this morning and identified how i solved the problem by using the OPENDNS.com DNS Servers addresses.

Virgin have now confirmed that they have a known problem with a couple of their DNS Servers which are down at the moment.

Virgin Tech Support have given me two temporary Virgin DNS Servers addresses to use to replace the OPENDNS.com addresses. (just to keep things going via Virgin)

These are :

193.38.113.3
194.117.157.4

(will try these tonight as i'm at work)

Virgin Tech Support also said 'every couple of days set your Lan card & Router DNS Servers back to 'Request default' in case they resolve the issue'

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS : The way OPENDNS.com works is by keeping cached pages that other users have went to. If you are generally surfing the web this won't make much difference to you and may even find surfing faster.

But if your a gamer like myself then this is a problem as I play Battlefield 2 all the time and could not connect to most servers as the cached Server List being extracted through OPENDNS.com was most likely out of date.

[barq]

Thanks for that, I'll follow this in the other thread.