Problems accessing Google Service

[#1]

I have continual problems with pretty much anything Google-related.  It appears to be totally random and inconsistent.  Sometimes I can load sites, then not doing anything on them.  Other times I can't even load the sites.  I hit reload numerous times and then find the site will load.  Some times (the rarity) I can actually access the sites fine for 10 minutes plus at a time.
Sites affected include:

• Google Mail - http://mail.google.co.uk/


• Google Calendar - https://www.google.com/calendar/


• Google Docs - https://docs.google.com/

I also have pretty much the permanent problem of not being able to send email via smpt.gmail.com, even though I never have a problem receiving emails.  This is documented at
http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,100331.msg851455.html
I have the problem across multiple laptops, an iPad and an iPhone.  And I don't experience these issues on the numerous other networks I access (work, friends houses, etc)
My DNS servers are even set to use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (see http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/)
I've drawing blanks from Plusnet, who say speak to Google.  Google are not helpful either.  I'm drawing blanks on all fronts.
My year is up soon and if this continues I will seek an alternative ISP.  When I first join Plusnet, I didn't have any of these issues.  They all started around Oct/Nov 2011 and have persisted since.
Has anyone encountered similar issues and found resolution?
Regards,
Ian

[#2]

I'm wondering if your router's MTU size setting is too high for Google sevices.
Do you have problems getting to the sign-in page of eBay ? - as that page failing is a good indicator of MTU problems.
Try  http://www.ebay.co.uk/  and then hit the blue [Sign in] button in the middle of the screen.
Does it take you to a page that asks for "User ID" and "Password"  ?,  does the screen load properly ?

[#3]

I'm on FTTC, and hit problems on occasion last year - not just Google, but *everything*, though similar issues. The problem would come back to DNS... and even though I ran my own DNS server, and this server didn't go via the DNS settings of the router, the solution was to hard-code the two Plusnet DNS servers into the router.
I really don't understand *why* it worked, because everything I know about my DNS setup meant that the server was not querying the router... but fixing the router did indeed get rid of the problem.
I'd suggest trying some different settings for your DNS servers to see if it alters behaviour.

[#4]

I have a Thomson Gateway TG585 v8.  Do you know how to check / set the MTU.  And also hard-code the Plusnet DNS servers?
The current Primary DNS server is 212.159.6.10, the Secondary DNS is 212.159.6.9 and the Default Gateway 195.166.128.235.
Regards,
Ian

[#5]

Regarding DNS servers this should help http://community.plus.net/library/dns/how-to-change-the-default-dns-servers-in-a-thomson-speedtouch-... and I recommend setting one to Google and one to Plusnet and then have the computer get the DNS servers from the router

[#6]

For MTU, you need to access the command-line via telnet.
I've not used the Thomson much, except as a backup, but I think I've used this page for some ideas before: http://npr.me.uk/telnet.html