Broadband forum: Can't Post on CNET Forums Using DSL, Dialup Works

My apologies for not getting back to you, but I have alerted my colleagues about this post to see if anyone else has any ideas.

Mark

Thanks Mark and Bob. This Dialup connection isn't as difficult to use as I expected. I just turn off the DSL Modem which is followed by a warning about a lost connection, and then double click the icon associated with my 56K modem.

At this end, I think the main variables are the DSL Modem and the DSL Service.

There is something called "RIP & Rebuild" that can be done by the DSL provider. I think a technician must make the request to 2nd Level Support. That process apparently resets and completely rebuilds one's connection to the DSL provider and would involve the hardware and software at their end. I wonder if functionality at their end might be something less than 100% involving some feature used by CNET.

I don't really suspect my DSL modem as all other internet activity works perfectly.

Bob, I'll take a look at the DNS information that you referenced.

Thanks, Kent

And it's a mystery to all why it comes and goes as well as works for most but not all.

So it's always on my list.
Bob

DSL is now working and no changes have been made at this end. This will make it difficult to do much more unless it stops working again.

Earlier today I did a quick test with the Google DNS addresses as suggested by Bob. I was not able to post on CNET but I am not sure if the new addresses were actually active.

Tonight I experimented with those addresses and also some invalid ones and there seems to be a delay before they become active. Either that or one needs to close and open the browser. I was also not sure if I needed addresses for IPv4 or IPv6. The addresses for IPv4 do work and I assume that is what this system uses.

I'm back to using DNS addresses selected automatically and I rebooted the system before writing this post.

Thanks again to Mark, Bob, Lee, and Ed for your help. I'll repeat the tests tomorrow.

Kent

Mark,

No, the Google Public DNS did not help. Last night when I was able to post using DSL no changes had been made and suddenly DSL worked. I have no idea why. The IP address was somewhat higher than what I typically get. Today things are different and DSL will not work.

My current IP Address using Dialup is drastically different from what I get using DSL.

This is not a trial of DSL. I've had this service for about 6 years with almost no trouble.

Sorry that my comments on Google Public DNS were confusing. I tried it very quickly initially and it did not help. However, I was not sure at that time whether the new settings were active. I also experimented with invalid addresses just to make sure that nothing worked.

I'm currently using the Google Public DNS addresses and have verified that they work.

So, the bottom line is that I don't know what is causing the CNET Posting Problem when using DSL.

Kent

But that's a machine thing so a boot to Linux should have that covered.

To me this stinks of the old ATT issues we ran afoul of for Samsung HDTV apps. Something about ATT's DNS. We never got the exact list of servers that Samsung needed access to but Google DNS helped.

-> But there is that other area worth looking at. Ready?

Many new routers/DSL included have a firewall setting. I don't want to go over this again in too much detail except we know to turn it off.
Bob

Thanks Mark and Bob.

I just flushed the DNS cache using the WinXP Command Prompt Window and received the proper response back. The Browser was closed at that time. Unfortunately, I was not able to post on CNET after flushing the cache.

I wonder if DNS is really suspect since I can Preview the attempted post.

Every day I attempt to Post on the Test Forum to see if DSL works. So far I have only seen things work once over the last several days.

Interestingly, the IP address was higher than what I normally get. I was also able to post using Ubuntu Linux and that post is in this thread. The IP address at that time is shown in the post.

I'm hoping that I'll catch another day when things work and then check the IP address to see if there is any pattern.

It's also interesting that Bob occasionally sees this same problem. For now I'll see if I can gather any additional data from these experiments. If so, I'll use my Dialup Connection and post any information. I'll now shut down the DSL modem and post this note which I am composing offline in Notepad.

Kent

that as AT&T assign IP addresses to your computer, (or modem/router), for your DSL connection each session, that you make the call to AT&T and attempt to explain the problem.

But lets see what others say.

If you do call AT&T then I wish you luck because I doubt the first person you speak to at their call center is going to understand any of it and I suspect you are going to have to ask to speak to a tech. You might ask to be assigned a static IP address, but I understand AT&T only apply those in business cases.

I did see this;
http://forums.att.com/t5/Email-Internet-Security/MY-assigned-IP-address-from-AT-amp-T-keeps-changing-while-I-m/td-p/2019861

It is their forums. The first post doesn't really seem to apply to you, but have a look at the only reply and his list of things that can cause "Sporadic or intermittent loss of your connection". Again, not applicable to your situation, but then at this stage have a look at any cause?

In fact I wonder if you would also want to post your problem in AT&T forums. We don't normally solicit CNET members away from these forums, but in problem specific problems like yours I think that might be a good idea.

Mark

but with your question, 'could this be a problem at CNET's end", I would have to initially say no.

Only because your particular problem is not being seen with anyone else.

Just a thought, probably a wild one, when you are allocated this 69.226 or 69.228 IP address again, visit this site; http://dns-ok.us/

In fact, visit it anyway with the IP address that works, so you can see why.

Do you see an image with a green background and the words, "DNS Resolution = GREEN" if you visit with those strange IP addresses? If so, forget I mentioned it because everything is fine in that respect.

For an explanation, have a read of this discussion; http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7583_102-561604/will-the-internet-end-in-july/?tag=posts;msg5303940 . Carol explains the situation well.

It is a wild thought, I admit.

Mark