Help! One particular website/domain/URL always times out

[coffeecat]

Hi,

I have a really weird problem with an inaccessible website.

I want to access the mobile-to-desktop calendar/contacts sync services provided by French website:

www.memotoo.com.

I can access it from my phone (via O2).

I can access it on numerous other ISPs from a desktop PC.

Other people I know on VM can access it.

But from my home VM cable internet (ex-Telewest, Bristol, "azte") I just cannot.
It is not blocked as such, it just times out.

I've tried other non-VM DNS servers. I've tried pinging the ip address. I've tried other computers. I've tried accessing it from my phone via wifi. I've tried 4 different browsers.

I don't think it's my router (I did try going via the DMZ) - but I can't plug a PC directly into the cable modem (8 year old Motorola surfboard) because it only accepts one particular Ethernet MAC address.

According to memotoo they don't generally block any ip addresses.

I can browse to the website by using a web proxy, but I don't think that will work for accessing the server using syncml or LDAP from Outlook or Thunderbird.

Always the same - no response.

Any ideas? Anyone in the Bristol / azte area able to access this website?

Any help or suggestions gratefully received.

I might try phoning VM broadband support but I haven't yet.

Cheers,

Rob

[Jon T]

Originally Posted by coffeecat

I don't think it's my router (I did try going via the DMZ) - but I can't plug a PC directly into the cable modem (8 year old Motorola surfboard) because it only accepts one particular Ethernet MAC address.

If you power cycle the modem between swapping connected equipment, it will recognise the new MAC address. Just wait for the lights to stabilise before switching on freshly connected equipment.

[v0id]

https://www.opendns.com/start/

[webcrawler2050]

Can you go to

start >> run >> cmd

type tracert memotoo.com
and paste the results

Can you also do
ping memotoo.com

And paste the results

[coffeecat]

@ Jon T

Thanks will try that with the modem 2mrw

@ v0id thanks - have tried opendns

@ webcrawler2050:

Here's the results:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\zzz>tracert memotoo.com

Tracing route to memotoo.com [88.191.99.247]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * 38 ms dd17862.memotoo.com [88.191.99.247]

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\zzz>


C:\Documents and Settings\zzz>ping 88.191.99.247

Pinging 88.191.99.247 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 88.191.99.247:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\zzz>
weird eh?

Rob

[die5el]

Working fine here i can access the site btw i am using opera 10 beta as my browser also works fine in ie 8

[Ben B]

Try using a proxy webcache.virginmedia.com I think it is.

[webcrawler2050]

At the same time, could you try this please.

Close all browsers *IMPORTANT*

If on XP - go, start >> run >> CMD

type - ipconfig /flushdns

Your hops, arn't even getting past your modem - may I suggest a power cycle of the modem and or router please.

At the same, time, do you have a software firewall installed/

[coffeecat]

@Ben B - using the virginmedia webcache allows me to browse to the site, so thanks for that. However I'm not sure if/how I can enable a proxy like that for non-browser software and non-http traffic. I'll google that.

@webcrawler2050 - I tried the flushdns thing, and power cycling the modem + router. Still no luck.

Later I'll try bypassing the router, but at the mo I need my web connection to be working.

Thanks,
Rob

[coffeecat]

Postscript to this story... tonight I was able to connect a PC direct to my modem (bypassing the router) and access the Internet by power cycling the modem as suggested. And suddenly I can access memotoo.com just fine. Back via the router again, and it's unavailable again.

So the problem is my router!

Absolutely no idea why just yet.

Now I need to figure out why, and how to fix... (have an option or two to try)

Ill post here if I find the cause.

Thanks all for your help (with my first post)

Rob

---------- Post added at 21:07 ---------- Previous post was at 20:52 ----------

Quick bit of googling - looks like I might need to reset the MTU value lower. Shame cos on this (cheap VOIP ATA adapter) router, you can't do that. Pah

[coffeecat]

Second Post Script:

When I was upgraded this year (on el cheapo M tarrif) from rock solid 2Mbps down / 256 kbps up, to the "free" 10MB upgrade, all I got was a rock solid 500ish kbps up (great), and a paltry 2.5 -3Mbps down. Never got round to complaining yet.

But now I've binned my ropey old VOIP ATA router, I've got between 9.8Mbps and about 6 MBps down depending on time of day. And I can access memotoo with a Funambol Outlook plugin, to synchronise my phone contacts, calendar and notes over the air with all my PCs. Result!

Just goes to show eh?