DNS Issues

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MSwitch

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#229026 4-Feb-2018 13:40

Hi everyone,

I've been running in to some connectivity issues lately where my net consistently drops - reason "DNS server isn't responding".

I have tried manually setting my DNS to public DNS servers such as Google's 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 and to OpenDNS servers but if I do that only certain websites are available (generally more mainstream sites like Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, etc). Sites like Geekzone or some of my gaming news sites won't load at all and I get a Site Down or Blocked message.

So I can only use the "Automatically assign DNS" on my router but then my connection drops once every 20-30 minutes and requires a couple of reboots to fix itself.

Has anyone encountered this issue before and is aware of a fix?

My router's firmware is fully up to date and is a Dynalink RTA1025WE. I'm on ADSL not Fibre.

Cheers,

Linux

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#1951381 4-Feb-2018 13:48

Have you tried a DNA flush on your PC?

Linux

yitz

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#1951383 4-Feb-2018 13:58

Enter your Internet IP address at http://openresolver.com to check whether your router is acting as an open resolver.

sbiddle

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#1951384 4-Feb-2018 14:05

I simply wouldn't trust a ~12yr old modem connected to the Internet. Many from that era are full of security holes and can easily be exploited and run open DNS resolvers.

Have you considered upgrading to fix your issue? Even a $5 modem 2nd hand on Trademe will be a huge step up.

Dynamic

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#1951425 4-Feb-2018 14:51

My wife's PC at home has a really odd DNS issue.... every few days DNS stops working. If I bring up a command prompt and do an

ipconfig /flushdns

the DNS will start working again fine and the internet will start working again on the computer. I've not made time to look at why this is happening.

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MSwitch

40 posts

Geek

#1951431 4-Feb-2018 15:08

I tried flushing the DNS and it hasn't changed my issue when I swap to other DNA servers which won't load certain sites. But I'll wait to see if it has fixed my issue with constant disconnects.

I used my IP in the openresolver and got "Recursive Resolver is not Detected". I used my external IP.

I have got an AC1200 Belkin Modem Router which we got secondhand and I tried setting up but it never worked properly. I might give setting it up a second go but can this work solo without a modem? Sorry if that's a silly question, my knowledge on all this is pretty limited.

michaelmurfy

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#1951446 4-Feb-2018 15:37

If the Belkin AC1200 is not an ADSL modem then you're best to ditch it. Ask your ISP to send you a router or purchase a HG659 off Trademe and use that.

It sounds like your current router is just on its last legs.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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MSwitch

40 posts

Geek

#1951498 4-Feb-2018 17:11

Thanks everyone, spoke to Spark and went and picked up a new modem from the store. They'll credit my account for it. Got the HG659b which will be perfect for when I get fibre in a month or two

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Linux

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#1951524 4-Feb-2018 17:29

The HG659b can be used on Fibre connections as well

Linux

michaelmurfy

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#1951595 4-Feb-2018 20:27

Fantastic. Let us know if this solves your issues.