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3 separate problems? Or just one?

anotherbob
Grafter
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎02-09-2007

3 separate problems? Or just one?

I'm having what appear to be three separate internet-related problems around the house, and I'm wondering if they're actually related.
1) I posted here last week asking for help with loss of Internet connection. This involves "page not found" messages, and seeing "DNS server not responding" from Windows diagnostics. When this happens I log into my router and "check connectivity", this shows that everything is tickerty-boo with green ticks all the way. The Netwok & Sharing centre" however, shows the dreaded red cross. I have to reboot the router to restore connection. This is still happening.
EDIT. Forgot to mention that yesterday when I right-clicked the wireless symbol I saw the words NG-Profile where I would expect to see the SSID of my Network. I haven't seen it again, and a quick check with my phone doesn't find any nearby networks of that name.

2) I have several internet radios around the house, including one beside my bed set to wake me with agreeable Baroque music. However this has also begun to misbehave. It occasionally fails to connect and I have to reboot it.
3) I have a Passivsytems installation controlling my heating system. This has a cental hub which is connected to the router by LAN cable. Just recently this has been losing its Internet connection too.
It seems to me that these three problems might have a common cause. Can anyone suggest what it might be.
7 REPLIES 7
adamwalker
Plusnet Help Team
Plusnet Help Team
Posts: 16,871
Thanks: 882
Fixes: 221
Registered: ‎27-04-2007

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

The one common factor would seem to be your router.
Assuming you still use the one we provided you with we've published some WiFi troubleshooting tips which would be worth a try:
http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/wireless_broadband/wireless_signal.shtml
If this post resolved your issue please click the 'This fixed my problem' button
 Adam Walker
 Plusnet Help Team
anotherbob
Grafter
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎02-09-2007

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

Thanks for your response. Would you say that any of the potential solutions on that page were applicable to what seems to be a DNS problem?
Champnet
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 2,587
Thanks: 971
Fixes: 11
Registered: ‎25-07-2007

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

Isn't  "NG-Profile" part of a Netgear system ?
Might be worth checking you're going through your router and not a neighbours............
anotherbob
Grafter
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎02-09-2007

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

Maybe that appeared because my Wi-Fi dongle is a Netgear.
dick:quote
30FTTC06
Pro
Posts: 2,286
Thanks: 108
Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎18-02-2013

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

You could try ns_bench http://pflog.net/ns_bench/ and if  you think your router  is playing a part in your DNS Issue, ns_bench will show you.
you can also use nslookup for windows or dig if you feel that will help you to find a problem quickly.
Example of a working Router dns-forwarder using all 3.
(1)
nslookup bbc.co.uk 192.168.1.254
Server: 192.168.1.254
Address: 192.168.1.254#53
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: bbc.co.uk
Address: 212.58.246.103
Name: bbc.co.uk
Address: 212.58.246.104
Name: bbc.co.uk
Address: 212.58.244.20
Name: bbc.co.uk
Address: 212.58.244.18
(2)
dig @192.168.1.254 bbc.co.uk
; <<>> DiG 9.9.3-rpz2+rl.13214.22-P2-Ubuntu-1:9.9.3.dfsg.P2-4ubuntu1.1 <<>> @192.168.1.254 bbc.co.uk
; (1 server found)
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 11885
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 4, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;bbc.co.uk. IN A
;; ANSWER SECTION:
bbc.co.uk. 49 IN A 212.58.244.20
bbc.co.uk. 49 IN A 212.58.244.18
bbc.co.uk. 49 IN A 212.58.246.103
bbc.co.uk. 49 IN A 212.58.246.104
;; Query time: 19 msec
;; SERVER: 192.168.1.254#53(192.168.1.254)
;; WHEN: Fri Mar 07 18:27:40 GMT 2014
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 102
(3)
./ns_bench 192.168.1.254
Nameserver             Response Time (ms)
                             min/avg/max/stdev/retries
192.168.1.254       19.38/19.90/20.44/0.38/0
===========================================================================================
Examples of a failed router dns-forwarder using all 3
nslookup 192.168.1.254 bbc.co.uk
;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached
dig @192.168.1.254 bbc.co.uk
; <<>> DiG 9.9.3-rpz2+rl.13214.22-P2-Ubuntu-1:9.9.3.dfsg.P2-4ubuntu1.1 <<>> @192.168.1.254 bbc.co.uk
; (1 server found)
;; global options: +cmd
;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached

Nameserver              Response Time (ms)
                               min/avg/max/stdev/retries
192.168.1.254       failed
So those are the tools to help you to find the problem If you think it maybe your router! the next step would be to disable the router forwarder using npr's guide option2.
http://www.npr.me.uk/changedns.html that will disable the "Forwarder" which sometimes gives trouble.
p.s. Please let us know your findings.
anotherbob
Grafter
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎02-09-2007

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

Quote from: 11110_110
You could try ns_bench http://pflog.net/ns_bench/ and if  you think your router  is playing a part in your DNS Issue, ns_bench will show you.
you can also use nslookup for windows or dig if you feel that will help you to find a problem quickly.

I'm very grateful for the time you've taken to try and help however I fear you may have overestimated my expertise in these matters  Undecided
30FTTC06
Pro
Posts: 2,286
Thanks: 108
Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎18-02-2013

Re: 3 separate problems? Or just one?

npr has a vast wealth of help on his site http://www.npr.me.uk/ ,  you just need to look at the problem step by step. As i've said already, ns_bench is a small program which will help you quickly tell if your dns-forwarder within your router has stopped responding or not. As above i gave you 3 programs that do the same thing.
Instructions for use of ns_bench on windows are below.
[tt]To use this on windows:
- Extract this zip file somewhere, then either right click
  and "Command prompt here" on the ns_bench folder, or:
- Click start -> run
- type "cmd" (if on Windows ME/98, type command)
- hit enter
- in the command window, cd to where you downloaded and unzipped this,
  probably:  cd C:\Documents and Settings\YourUsernameHere\Desktop\ns_bench\win32
- run the program:
  ns_bench.exe <ip> <ip> ...
  For example:
  ns_bench.exe 192.168.1.254
Note for compiling on windows/cygwin:
- You will need the various build utilities installed in cygwin,
including make/gcc/autoconf/etc[/tt]