Technicolor modem, DNS and Windows 8.1

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Warwick

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#129101 3-Sep-2013 20:44

I have recently had the VDSL install and so now have a Telecom Technicolor modem. The modem is attached to a switch with a bunch of ethernet connections to various devices. Everything works fine over ethernet. I also have a few wireless devices that connect to the modem. One of these devices is a Zenbook laptop which is running windows 8.1 preview. This device (and only this device) will randomly fail to connect to various websites.

I've explored this issue trying to isolate the problem. I have the latest wireless divers for the network card and have pretty much eliminated drivers as the problem by connecting to an ADSL wireless network where it performs flawlessly.

I've tried plugging the laptop into the ethernet and while this intially looked promising I also had random failures to connect to websites.

Suspecting a DNS issue I manually set the DNS settings for the wireless adapter to the DNS settings in the Technicolor modem. This immediately fixed the problem. I have since altered these to Googles public DNS settings as using the VDSL settings was a problem when the laptop is connected to nonVDSL routers.

So I have a work around but I'm puzzled why the DNS isn't reliably obtained automatically from the modem for this laptop. I know that there are issues with Windows 8.1 wireless connectivity but this is a very specific problem which I haven't found referenced elsewhere. The Zenbook has a Qualcomm Atheros AR9485WB-EG wireless adapter. Any suggestions as to what might be going on here?

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#897932 18-Sep-2013 19:20

I've also been experiencing this same issue. No problems with 8.0, but on 8.1, unless I hard-wire the DNS settings for the network adaptor, no end of problems.

And hard-wiring the network adaptor isn't really a starter for me because of the need to utilise VPNs which redirect DNS.

freitasm

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#917274 19-Oct-2013 08:48

I'm unlocking this thread because it seems Windows 8.1 does show a DNS problem when connecting to Technicolor modem devices.

More information in this topic but I am leaving this one here as a placeholder so Telecom knows there's some firmware update that needs to be applied.

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Warwick

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#917278 19-Oct-2013 09:06

I had hoped that this would be resolved with the release of 8.1 however this hasn't proved to be the case. It is starting to look as thought this might be an issue that is triggered by installing Chrome. My experience to date is that 8.1 using IE as a browser is fine however once I install Chrome and use it the DNS problems begin.

The interesting thing is that once problems begin with Chrome then IE starts having the same issue. Uninstalling Chrome does not resolve the issues as IE continues to have the DNS problem. As far as I can tell the various refresh options don't help - you need to do a complete reinstall. In my case that means reinstall of Windows 8, fully updating 8 then doing the 8.1 update. Doing this again right now!

My next approach will be to run 8.1 and not install Chrome and see if the problem reappears. So starting to look like a Chome/windows 8.1/technicolor modem compatibility issue.

nathan

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#917563 19-Oct-2013 22:57

has anyone logged a call with Telecom support about this?

"Technicolor have engineered a firmware fix that will be incorporated in the next maintenance release.."

http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Home-Broadband/Windows-8-1-RTM-Technicolor-TG587n-v3-DNS-Issues/td-p/189123

plambrechtsen

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#917594 19-Oct-2013 23:55

If anyone who has the problem please message me the case number and I can chase up.

l43a2

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#917600 20-Oct-2013 00:06

i have a script i can post that may help with this - credit to Jarrod

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/27411242/dnsissues.bat check the bat to ensure its connecting to the right IP address for your gateway (VDSL MODEM ONLY) also make sure you have the telnet feature enabled!!

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Warwick

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#918922 21-Oct-2013 08:23

Thanks. That script seemed to do the trick.

I see there will be a firmware update to sort this. How ill I know when this is available?

Batwing

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#937502 19-Nov-2013 19:57

VDSL installed yesterday. Getting issues loading webpages ONLY on windows 8.1 - used a laptop for a few hours, updated to 8.1, suddenly won't load webpages about 80% of the time, then intermittently and seemingly randomly does load them. But any other internet use is fine (steam/windows update/dropbox sync, others). All other devices, android, windows 7, windows xp, windows 8 (prior to update) all work fine.

PC and laptop both running 8.1 both suffering from failed loading of webpages, in chrome, firefox and IE. So far the only fix I've found is to change DNS fat the PC end... not ideal.

Aaaand as I wrote this I found this topic - will be calling Telecom tomorrow.

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#937535 19-Nov-2013 20:31

Batwing: VDSL installed yesterday. Getting issues loading webpages ONLY on windows 8.1 - used a laptop for a few hours, updated to 8.1, suddenly won't load webpages about 80% of the time, then intermittently and seemingly randomly does load them. But any other internet use is fine (steam/windows update/dropbox sync, others). All other devices, android, windows 7, windows xp, windows 8 (prior to update) all work fine.

PC and laptop both running 8.1 both suffering from failed loading of webpages, in chrome, firefox and IE. So far the only fix I've found is to change DNS fat the PC end... not ideal. Aaaand as I wrote this I found this topic - will be calling Telecom tomorrow.

As above there's a known problem with Technicolor routers, WiFi, DNS and Windows 8.1... A firmware update is needed but I don't know if it's available.

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nathan

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#937540 19-Nov-2013 20:36

the BATch file mentioned earlier in this thread is meant to fix/workaround this problem too instead of changing your DNS provider

Please let us know what Telecom say about providing a firmware update fix and timeframes

Batwing

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#937577 19-Nov-2013 21:57

freitasm:
Batwing: VDSL installed yesterday. Getting issues loading webpages ONLY on windows 8.1 - used a laptop for a few hours, updated to 8.1, suddenly won't load webpages about 80% of the time, then intermittently and seemingly randomly does load them. But any other internet use is fine (steam/windows update/dropbox sync, others). All other devices, android, windows 7, windows xp, windows 8 (prior to update) all work fine.

PC and laptop both running 8.1 both suffering from failed loading of webpages, in chrome, firefox and IE. So far the only fix I've found is to change DNS fat the PC end... not ideal. Aaaand as I wrote this I found this topic - will be calling Telecom tomorrow.

As above there's a known problem with Technicolor routers, WiFi, DNS and Windows 8.1... A firmware update is needed but I don't know if it's available.

Yeah just going to ask about that update and report back. Regarding the batch file - I saw that too but what does it do exactly? Had a read of it and wasn't sure what it was actually altering.

Edit: elaboration, the fault is not restricted to wifi. It's technicolor, dns and Windows 8.1. Apologies for messy posting from cellphone.

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hashbrown

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#937808 20-Nov-2013 11:44

Had a quick look at what is new in Windows 8.1 DNS. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn305896.aspx

This would be my top pick.

Parallelize A and AAAA queries

New

A and AAAA DNS queries are issued in parallel, saving time for interfaces that have both IPv6 and IPv4 addresses.

Anyone tried disabling IPv6 as a workaround?

Ragnor

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#938061 20-Nov-2013 18:00

The best work-around is to bin any modem/router made by Technicolor/Thomson and don't look back...

How's that Telecom Geekzone influenced modem/router project coming along?

Batwing

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#938377 21-Nov-2013 10:33

Just got a response from telecom. The best they can say is that the firmware update is coming "very soon" and their best known workaround is manual dns configuration.

Carnan

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#939050 22-Nov-2013 14:33

hashbrown: Had a quick look at what is new in Windows 8.1 DNS. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn305896.aspx

This would be my top pick.

Parallelize A and AAAA queries New A and AAAA DNS queries are issued in parallel, saving time for interfaces that have both IPv6 and IPv4 addresses. Anyone tried disabling IPv6 as a workaround?

Just traced this DNS down today, being home from work with some time to think outside the square and investigate. Pretty apparent it was a DNS issue when multiple pages loads failed and a download I had running was still cranking along ok. Called Telecom, told them of a DNS issue on my line, could be the cabinet or the router says I. Anyhow, got put through to 2nd level without too much grief once I explained who I work for and that I have some reasonable technical nouse.

2nd level checked a few other connections supposedly on same cabinet as me. Decided from what they could see it was the router, so are sending me a replacement.

Then talking to my son and telling him, cos he is also on VDSL in another suburb and he has pointed me to this thread. Which oddly enough did not come up in the earlier searches on the subject.

So I would think Telecom support staff, especially at 2nd level would know of this issue and would inform me that the work around I had already put in place was all that could be done till the firmware is updated. Odd that wasnt the case, but I am pretty sure I was talking to someone offshore.

So the reason I have quoted you hashbrown, is because I turned IP6 off when I first installed my router which was 3 months ago and only updated to 8.1 in the past week sometime.

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