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Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

FIXED
pwgb
Newbie
Posts: 3
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎13-03-2024

Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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.

 

15 REPLIES 15
Champnet
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 2,892
Thanks: 1,085
Fixes: 14
Registered: ‎25-07-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

 

HPsauce
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 7,150
Thanks: 242
Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎02-02-2008

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

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

Last updated:  (2 seconds ago)

MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 16,157
Thanks: 6,148
Fixes: 444
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Dan_the_Van
Hero
Posts: 3,045
Thanks: 1,481
Fixes: 90
Registered: ‎25-06-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

 

HPsauce
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 7,150
Thanks: 242
Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎02-02-2008

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

Probably an intermittent issue somewhere.....

Dan_the_Van
Hero
Posts: 3,045
Thanks: 1,481
Fixes: 90
Registered: ‎25-06-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

@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

greygit1
Aspiring Pro
Posts: 411
Thanks: 56
Fixes: 1
Registered: ‎26-06-2023

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

pwgb
Newbie
Posts: 3
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎13-03-2024

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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.

 

 

Dan_the_Van
Hero
Posts: 3,045
Thanks: 1,481
Fixes: 90
Registered: ‎25-06-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

Fix

@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!

Dan_the_Van
Hero
Posts: 3,045
Thanks: 1,481
Fixes: 90
Registered: ‎25-06-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

pwgb
Newbie
Posts: 3
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎13-03-2024

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

@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. 

 

 

ToodlePip
Hooked
Posts: 9
Thanks: 3
Registered: ‎15-03-2024

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

Champnet
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 2,892
Thanks: 1,085
Fixes: 14
Registered: ‎25-07-2007

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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

For Info :

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

 

ToodlePip
Hooked
Posts: 9
Thanks: 3
Registered: ‎15-03-2024

Re: Can't connect to a website through Plusnet

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