topic Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet in Broadband

Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

pwgb — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:30:07 GMT

Hello

I've been with Plusnet for a number of years now and during that time, I have been able to visit the website http://countrybus.org/ (Ian's Bus Stop) regularly without any problems.

However from last Friday onwards, I have started receiving a message indicating that a connection can't be made to this site.

Message on Google Chrome:

This site can’t be reached

Check if there is a typo in countrybus.org.

If spelling is correct, try running windows network Diagnostics.

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

When I run the Windows Network Diagnostics (through my PC), it displays the message 'Your DNS server might be unavailable'.

I'm getting similar messages in Edge and Firefox and the same error is occurring across all my devices (Android phone, Android tablet and Windows PC).

I've done the usual of deleting browser history and clearing the cache, and have reset my router but all to no avail.

Other users on different ISPs report that they can continue to access the site OK, which is leading me down the path,rightly or wrongly, of this being a issue with my Plusnet connection.

It seems to be just this specific website that I'm having an issue with as I can access all my other usual websites OK through Plusnet.

I've checked on my account and Plusnet Safeguard is currently switched off.

I'm therefore somewhat puzzled as to what's suddenly changed with access to this site in recent days.

If anybody could advise me of a way to resolve this, I would be most grateful.

Many thanks.

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Champnet — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:13:27 GMT

Fascinating site but confirming it’s not available using Plusnet’s DNS servers.

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

HPsauce — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:32:06 GMT

Countrybus.org down? Current problems and status. (downforeveryoneorjustme.com)

It's not just you! countrybus.org is down.

Last updated: Mar 13, 2024, 4:30 PM (2 seconds ago)

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

MisterW — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:42:41 GMT

It resolves fine using OpenDNS (and google) but not using any of the Plusnet DNS servers (including the BT based Safeguard ones)

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:42:59 GMT

It is showing UP for me and working fine not using plusnet DNS which is not resolving the host to an IP Address

nslookup countrybus.org
Server: UnKnown
Address: 192.168.10.1

*** UnKnown can't find countrybus.org: Server failed

nslookup using google DNS

nslookup countrybus.org 8.8.8.8
Server: dns.google
Address: 8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: countrybus.org
Address: 69.49.101.19

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

HPsauce — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:32:22 GMT

Showing UP for me now, and accessed fine using PNs DNS via a Hub2.

Probably an intermittent issue somewhere.....

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:31:59 GMT

@pwgb

You can get around this problem by adding a line to the hosts file located in folder "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"

For windows using a text editor (notepad) in administrator mode add this line making it the last entry

69.49.101.19 countrybus.org

The host file is interrogated before a DNS search

HTH

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

greygit1 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:03:22 GMT

Late to this game, but currently showing as down for me.

DNS Servers 212.159.6.9 & 212.159.13.49

>nslookup countrybus.org
Server: cdns01.plus.net
Address: 212.159.6.9

*** cdns01.plus.net can't find countrybus.org: Server failed

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

pwgb — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:36:13 GMT

Many thanks all for your prompt replies.

@Dan_the_Van

I've updated the hosts file as suggested and I can now see the countrybus.org main page but when I click on any of the links on that main page (opens up an html page), I get the same connection error as specified in my original post.

Any further ideas on this most welcome!

Many thanks.

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:54:52 GMT

@pwgb

When I clicked on TTA1 the link has www in it http://www.countrybus.org/TTA1/TTA1.html

Another example http://www.countrybus.org/RCL/RCL.html

So I've changed the hosts file entry to, use a TAB between .org and www.

69.49.101.19 countrybus.org www.countrybus.org

Seems to work now

Hope it works now for you!

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:33:51 GMT

Addendum to my last post.

It is worth noting the above instructions are device specific and should really be a short term fix.

Plusnet with maybe BT and EE DNS servers are at fault as they are clearly not resolving countrybus.org where as google and other ISP I've tested do.

There must a process in place for plusnet to correct this issue.

Dan

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

pwgb — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:26:11 GMT

@Dan_the_Van

Many thanks, that has done the trick - your help is very much appreciated.

I've marked your suggestion as having fixed my problem, but as you state in your followup post, I'm conscious that this is a temporary workaround to, based on the various replies, what seems to be a wider issue with the Plusnet DNS servers, which still needs to be fixed - not sure how this can be progressed.

I am still somewhat puzzled as to why it is this specific website that suddenly couldn't be connected to and wonder if anybody on the forum has experienced similar issues with other websites- very odd.

Many thanks again for your assistance.

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

ToodlePip — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 22:17:47 GMT

I also had problems today reaching many sites, plusnet DNS seems to have passed out early in the grand farewell party

Changing to Cloudflare Nameservers fixed everything

address 1.1.1.1

and 1.0.0.1

Other DNS severs are available, save a copy of this page if you need it later

https://www.techradar.com/news/best-dns-server

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Champnet — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 22:29:50 GMT

Seems to be working now..........

For Info :

DNS Angel will allow quick website checks using half a dozen different DNS services.

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

ToodlePip — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 23:37:54 GMT

Just as long as you can load the DNS Angel page when your chosen DNS server is offline 😂

The google ones will always work at 8.8.8.8 but they will harvest your usage.

Every time you look a site linked to Cycling* or Morris Dancing*, Google will know and you will get junk mail from commercial interest sites.

* Other wierd passtimes will also be logged by Google

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Champnet — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 08:57:18 GMT

Behind the scenes the DNS Angel page looks no worse than the one you’re reading now…..