Why aren't I watching PhoneShop on 4OD whilst I eat my tea this evening?
Well that doesn't make any sense to me at all then ! 4oD is 100% unusable for me and has been since yesterday afternoon. It was just fine earlier in the week. Even the 4oD home page is missing lots of stuff as well as all the various adverts and so on for the very same reason: By far the majority of attempts to resolve realmedia.channel4.com fail when using any PN DNS server but they never appear to fail at all when using any other DNS server.
It seems to be just another stupidity in my PN service that I'll have to find a way to mitigate because there's absolutely no point in raising a ticket that's for bl**dy certain.
I give up. Time to go outside into the Real World I think.
BTW, where do I send the cheque ... or better still, perhaps you could send me your name, address and bank account details so I can transfer the $1,000,000,000 that I'm due from my recently deceased Nigerian uncle's estate into your account
It seems to be just another stupidity in my PN service that I'll have to find a way to mitigate because there's absolutely no point in raising a ticket that's for bl**dy certain.
I give up. Time to go outside into the Real World I think.
BTW, where do I send the cheque ... or better still, perhaps you could send me your name, address and bank account details so I can transfer the $1,000,000,000 that I'm due from my recently deceased Nigerian uncle's estate into your account
Correction: 4oD is still not working at all as I almost certainly still had numerous cached IPs hanging around from trying different DNS servers and so on when I tried streaming random vids. After a browser restart and flushing the DNS cache, it's mostly just as was reported yesterday by various peeps. A failed lookup for realmedia.channel4.com means nothing works as it should do. The only other maybe relevant thing is that the tests were done just prior to midnight whereas it was AFTER midnight when I restarted the browser, cleared any cached DNS data and tried streaming vids again. Traffic Management works in mysterious and largely unknown/undocumented ways and all that !
The success rate from looking up realmedia.channel4.com using various DNS servers is as below:
212.159.13.49 cdns01.plus.net 5/50
212.159.13.50 cdns02.plus.net 4/50
212.159.6.9 cdns01.plus.net 1/50
212.159.6.10 cdns02.plus.net 2/50
194.72.9.34 bcn.customer.bt.net 50/50
194.74.65.68 indnsc40.bt.net 48/50 (2 timeouts)
8.8.8.8 google-public-dns-a.google.com 50/50
8.8.4.4 google-public-dns-b.google.com 50/50
208.67.220.220 resolver2.opendns.com 50/50
208.67.222.222 resolver1.opendns.com 50/50
156.154.71.1 rdns2.ultradns.net 50/50
As for yesterday and earlier on today, it's only PN servers that appear to be having difficulty and they're only providing a valid IP for <10% of the queries. Tracerts to the various servers below just for info.
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 47 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 31 ms 212.159.2.124 vl55.ptn-lb01.plus.net
5 32 ms 212.159.13.49 cdns01.plus.net
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 32 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 31 ms 212.159.2.124 vl55.ptn-lb01.plus.net
5 32 ms 212.159.13.50 cdns02.plus.net
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 31 ms 212.159.2.124 vl55.ptn-lb01.plus.net
5 47 ms 212.159.6.9 cdns01.plus.net
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 32 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 47 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 31 ms 212.159.2.124 vl55.ptn-lb01.plus.net
5 31 ms 212.159.6.10 cdns02.plus.net
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 32 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 * * no response * - - -
5 * * no response * - - -
6 31 ms 212.159.1.135 po4.thn-gw2.plus.net
7 47 ms 195.66.224.11 linx3.ukcore.bt.net
8 31 ms 109.159.254.119 - - -
9 31 ms 194.72.9.202 vhsaccess1-pos8-0.ealing.fixed.bt.net
10 * * no response * - - -
11 * * no response * - - -
12 * * no response * - - -
13 * * no response * - - -
14 * * no response * - - -
15 * * no response * - - -
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 47 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 * * no response * - - -
5 * * no response * - - -
6 31 ms 212.159.1.135 po4.thn-gw2.plus.net
7 31 ms 195.66.224.11 linx3.ukcore.bt.net
8 47 ms 109.159.254.129 - - -
9 32 ms 194.74.77.250 vhsaccess1-pos7-0.ilford.fixed.bt.net
10 * * no response * - - -
11 * * no response * - - -
12 * * no response * - - -
13 * * no response * - - -
14 * * no response * - - -
15 * * no response * - - -
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 47 ms 72.14.223.32 - - -
5 32 ms 209.85.252.188 - - -
6 * * no response * - - -
7 * * no response * - - -
8 46 ms 216.239.49.28 - - -
9 47 ms 209.85.255.126 - - -
10 47 ms 8.8.8.8 google-public-dns-a.google.com
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 32 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 47 ms 72.14.223.32 - - -
5 31 ms 209.85.252.188 - - -
6 * * no response * - - -
7 * * no response * - - -
8 47 ms 216.239.49.28 - - -
9 47 ms 209.85.255.126 - - -
10 47 ms 8.8.4.4 google-public-dns-b.google.com
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 * * no response * - - -
5 31 ms 212.159.1.129 po4.pcl-gw02.plus.net
6 31 ms 195.50.122.129 - - -
7 250 ms 195.50.122.86 - - -
8 32 ms 208.67.220.220 resolver2.opendns.com
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 31 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 * * no response * - - -
5 31 ms 212.159.1.129 po4.pcl-gw02.plus.net
6 47 ms 195.50.122.129 - - -
7 219 ms 195.50.122.86 - - -
8 31 ms 208.67.222.222 resolver1.opendns.com
1 0 ms 192.168.1.1 Router-adsl
2 63 ms 195.166.128.202 lo0-central1.ptn-ag01.plus.net
3 31 ms 84.92.3.137 gi2-6-111.ptn-gw01.plus.net
4 * * no response * - - -
5 47 ms 212.159.1.129 po4.pcl-gw02.plus.net
6 31 ms 195.50.122.129 - - -
7 31 ms 4.69.139.120 ae-52-52.csw2.London1.Level3.net
8 31 ms 4.69.153.133 ae-57-222.ebr2.London1.Level3.net
9 31 ms 4.69.143.73 ae-46-46.ebr2.Amsterdam1.Level3.net
10 31 ms 4.69.153.202 ae-56-221.csw2.Amsterdam1.Level3.net
11 47 ms 4.69.139.162 ae-21-52.car1.Amsterdam1.Level3.net
12 47 ms 212.72.42.82 - - -
13 31 ms 156.154.71.1 rdns2.ultradns.net
This is getting way more than a bit silly now 
@stumpy21: MTU is very important and having a 'wrong' (or inconsistent) value somewhere along the way can lead to all kinda weird issues ... however, this is definitely not an MTU problem it is a DNS problem. Use of the Internet is 100% reliant on having reliable and consistent DNS, nothing works without it unless you either know or are prepared to establish the relevant IP address manually then type it into the browser and/or place an entry in a hosts file and so on.
The PN DNS servers that I (and a few other customers) are using are clearly failing to provide a sensible and consistent answer when queried but every other DNS server in the world [##] appears to be quite capable of providing the right answer each and every time.
Conclusion: There is some weird issue with PN DNS and/or it is somehow unable or unwilling to obtain authoritative data for some reason or other best known to PN.
[##] At least all those that I've tried anyway !
Needless to say the problem still exists today so this is now at least the 4th consecutive day where access to 4oD is impossible for those customers using PN DNS servers that are affected by this issue ... unless they b*gger around with their local DNS settings.
Surely there must be at least one person in PN Towers (or even another customer) who actually understands what DNS is all about (and how PN have it implemented and configured) who can therefore provide some insight as to what exactly is going on here and can advise how (and when) it's going to get fixed
@stumpy21: MTU is very important and having a 'wrong' (or inconsistent) value somewhere along the way can lead to all kinda weird issues ... however, this is definitely not an MTU problem it is a DNS problem. Use of the Internet is 100% reliant on having reliable and consistent DNS, nothing works without it unless you either know or are prepared to establish the relevant IP address manually then type it into the browser and/or place an entry in a hosts file and so on.
The PN DNS servers that I (and a few other customers) are using are clearly failing to provide a sensible and consistent answer when queried but every other DNS server in the world [##] appears to be quite capable of providing the right answer each and every time.
Conclusion: There is some weird issue with PN DNS and/or it is somehow unable or unwilling to obtain authoritative data for some reason or other best known to PN.
[##] At least all those that I've tried anyway !
Needless to say the problem still exists today so this is now at least the 4th consecutive day where access to 4oD is impossible for those customers using PN DNS servers that are affected by this issue ... unless they b*gger around with their local DNS settings.
Surely there must be at least one person in PN Towers (or even another customer) who actually understands what DNS is all about (and how PN have it implemented and configured) who can therefore provide some insight as to what exactly is going on here and can advise how (and when) it's going to get fixed
> realmedia.channel4.com
Server: cdns01.plus.net
Address: 212.159.13.49
------------
Got answer:
HEADER:
opcode = QUERY, id = 2, rcode = NXDOMAIN
header flags: response, want recursion, recursion avail.
questions = 1, answers = 1, authority records = 1, additional = 0
QUESTIONS:
realmedia.channel4.com, type = A, class = IN
ANSWERS:
-> realmedia.channel4.com
canonical name = oas000562.247realmedia.com
ttl = 45080 (12 hours 31 mins 20 secs)
AUTHORITY RECORDS:
-> 247realmedia.com
ttl = 1875 (31 mins 15 secs)
primary name server = ns1.247realmedia.com
responsible mail addr = dlrfcaddresses.247realmedia.com
serial = 2011120801
refresh = 10800 (3 hours)
retry = 3600 (1 hour)
expire = 2419200 (28 days)
default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
------------
------------
Got answer:
HEADER:
opcode = QUERY, id = 3, rcode = NXDOMAIN
header flags: response, want recursion, recursion avail.
questions = 1, answers = 1, authority records = 1, additional = 0
QUESTIONS:
realmedia.channel4.com, type = A, class = IN
ANSWERS:
-> realmedia.channel4.com
canonical name = oas000562.247realmedia.com
ttl = 47180 (13 hours 6 mins 20 secs)
AUTHORITY RECORDS:
-> 247realmedia.com
ttl = 1357 (22 mins 37 secs)
primary name server = ns1.247realmedia.com
responsible mail addr = dlrfcaddresses.247realmedia.com
serial = 2011120801
refresh = 10800 (3 hours)
retry = 3600 (1 hour)
expire = 2419200 (28 days)
default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
------------
*** cdns01.plus.net can't find realmedia.channel4.com: Non-existent domain
>
OK maybe I am missing something, but why do you keep referring to realmedia.channel4.com ?
If I click on the link provided by:
my 4OD always works OK, with the plusnet DNS servers, using the 585v8 router.
Derek
If I click on the link provided by:
Quote from: Force9Original Direct link?
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/phoneshop/4od ;
my 4OD always works OK, with the plusnet DNS servers, using the 585v8 router.
Derek
The link is to the webpage. The actual video that plays in the flash player in the middle of the page, is pulled from the realmedia.channel4.com domain, along with the adverts on the page.
The problem I'm having, along with the OP and others, is not with the webpage, but is with the video not playing when I press Play (and the adverts not loading - an indication that there's a DNS problem between Plusnet and the realmedia domain).
Though as I've recently said, today I can play the videos though the adverts don't show up.
Hope this is clear.
The problem I'm having, along with the OP and others, is not with the webpage, but is with the video not playing when I press Play (and the adverts not loading - an indication that there's a DNS problem between Plusnet and the realmedia domain).
Though as I've recently said, today I can play the videos though the adverts don't show up.
Hope this is clear.
@ Stumpy21
You are right, the alternative link does get you to the player in a slightly roundabout fashion but some of us (including me!) obviously can't resist trying to solve the riddle as to why realmedia.channel4.com will not even load for some people.
In my case I can ping it, nslookup resolves it into a servername and IP address, but none of these will open the site in IE9 using the 2 google DNS servers! Found out plenty today about the Windows "hosts" file but that doesn't help either (no entries for realmedia.channel4.com).
(What's really frustrating is that I don't even really want to use the bloomin' thing!)
You are right, the alternative link does get you to the player in a slightly roundabout fashion but some of us (including me!) obviously can't resist trying to solve the riddle as to why realmedia.channel4.com will not even load for some people.
In my case I can ping it, nslookup resolves it into a servername and IP address, but none of these will open the site in IE9 using the 2 google DNS servers! Found out plenty today about the Windows "hosts" file but that doesn't help either (no entries for realmedia.channel4.com).
(What's really frustrating is that I don't even really want to use the bloomin' thing!)
Hi all,
I'm sorry to hear about the issues some of you are clearly having trying to use 4oD. I've raised internal problem 69516 as there's so many of you (including staff) reporting the same issue. I'll keep you all posted.
@mikeb
We can't do anything about issues with your service if you don't report them. If you're still having general problems with slow speeds I'd advise raising a fault here: https://portal.plus.net/apps/kbdfaults then reply back and I'll jump on that for you.
I'm sorry to hear about the issues some of you are clearly having trying to use 4oD. I've raised internal problem 69516 as there's so many of you (including staff) reporting the same issue. I'll keep you all posted.
@mikeb
Quote there's absolutely no point in raising a ticket that's for bl**dy certain.
We can't do anything about issues with your service if you don't report them. If you're still having general problems with slow speeds I'd advise raising a fault here: https://portal.plus.net/apps/kbdfaults then reply back and I'll jump on that for you.
Just to say I am also suffering from this problem. Can't get any 4oD to stream and any attempt to connect to realmedia.channel4.com results in error message:
Firefox can't find the server at realmedia.channel4.com
Adam, any news yet?
Firefox can't find the server at realmedia.channel4.com
Adam, any news yet?
A quick and nasty solution that ought to work for anyone like me who is still experiencing this weirdo problem when relying on the apparently dodgy PN DNS:
(1) Find the location of your "hosts" file - see HERE for some info if you're not sure what it is and where it hides ! If there isn't a template file there already then create a new one noting that it's just called "hosts" without any extension. Do not create a file called "hosts.txt" or similar as this almost certainly will not work.
(2) Add the following line to the end of the file using a PLAIN TEXT EDITOR such as notepad or similar:
(3) Remember to remove the entry if/when PN sort the DNS problem out or you're likely to get similar problems with 4oD if/when the IP address changes at any time in the future.
I've absolutely no idea why anyone using any other DNS should be having any problems (unless you're using an Ad Blocker) because googleDNS, openDNS and several others that I've tried appear to be resolving this address without any major issues. I have noted that very occasionally a subtly different IP is returned and whilst this might just be a load-sharing kinda thing it might also be an error of course but I haven't bothered to check to find out.
PN DNS is still almost 100% refusing to resolve this address sensibly whereas every other DNS I've tried still returns a sensible (and presumably correct) answer almost 100% of the time. Hard-coding the address as detailed above has been working just fine for me ever since last Friday when I first noticed there was some weirdo problem with PN DNS.
(1) Find the location of your "hosts" file - see HERE for some info if you're not sure what it is and where it hides ! If there isn't a template file there already then create a new one noting that it's just called "hosts" without any extension. Do not create a file called "hosts.txt" or similar as this almost certainly will not work.
(2) Add the following line to the end of the file using a PLAIN TEXT EDITOR such as notepad or similar:
208.71.123.62 realmedia.channel4.com #temporary fix for PN DNS error
(3) Remember to remove the entry if/when PN sort the DNS problem out or you're likely to get similar problems with 4oD if/when the IP address changes at any time in the future.
I've absolutely no idea why anyone using any other DNS should be having any problems (unless you're using an Ad Blocker) because googleDNS, openDNS and several others that I've tried appear to be resolving this address without any major issues. I have noted that very occasionally a subtly different IP is returned and whilst this might just be a load-sharing kinda thing it might also be an error of course but I haven't bothered to check to find out.
PN DNS is still almost 100% refusing to resolve this address sensibly whereas every other DNS I've tried still returns a sensible (and presumably correct) answer almost 100% of the time. Hard-coding the address as detailed above has been working just fine for me ever since last Friday when I first noticed there was some weirdo problem with PN DNS.