"Looking Up/Contacting" Slow when switching between webpages.

net91 · May 27, 2008, 18:47:57

I have recently noticed (as of last Sunday) that their is long pause when switching between websites (for example going from the BBC website to Youtube). Sometimes that pages successfully loads after a while or occasionally it will say it is unavailable, normally the page will load after a while if it is refreshed. This happens intermittently and on random website, sometimes a site will work and sometimes it won't. During the pause the status bar in Firefox displays the message 'Looking up..., and Safari displays the message 'Contacting...' The internet isn't slow when you are on a website (for example a Youtube video will load quickly, it is only when switching between sites.

I have found this issue happens both on a Windows Vista desktop (with Firefox) and a Mac OS X (10.5.2) in Firefox and Safari. Both computers are connected to a Netgear DG834PN router via ethernet. I have tried leaving my router off for an hour, resetting it to factory defaults and re setting it up, emptying the history, cookies etc. from all browsers and am still having the problem. A speed test run on Speetest.net at the time I wrote this post shows I have a ping rate of 43ms, a down speed of 6041 KBS and a up speed of 377 KBS, which seems quite good to me.

I am considering getting my phone company to test my line (TalkTalk), other than that I can't think of anything. Is anyone else having/had this problem or know what might be going on? All replies appreciated.

madasahatter · May 27, 2008, 18:54:22

Strange one - almost like your connection keeps dropping intermittently. When sites time out, can you still ping them?

Rik · May 27, 2008, 18:55:28

Hi and welcome to the forum.

On the Windows machine, try switching to the OpenDNS servers, that will leave the Mac on IDNet's DNS. If the problem goes away on Windows but not Mac, then we know there's a DNS issue with IDNet, though I haven't seen any other reports recently. Do you have the router set to pick up your IP address and DNS automatically?

Do you know when your exchange is converting to 21CN?

I don't use Vista, so the following instructions might not be 100% accurate, but right-click on the network connection, select Properties, then scroll down to TCP/IP and select properties again. On the general tab, de-select obtain DNS automatically, and insert the OpenDNS server IPs, 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220.

Hopefully, someone will correct me if that's wildly wrong for Vista.

madasahatter · May 27, 2008, 18:58:50

Quote from: Rik on May 27, 2008, 18:55:28
I don't use Vista, so the following instructions might not be 100% accurate, but right-click on the network connection, select Properties, then scroll down to TCP/IP and select properties again. On the general tab, de-select obtain DNS automatically, and insert the OpenDNS server IPs, 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220.

Hopefully, someone will correct me if that's wildly wrong for Vista.

Am at work at the moment on XP so can't double check, but that sounds right to me Rik - don't think they changed that in Vista

Rik · May 27, 2008, 18:59:35

Thanks, Mad.

net91 · May 27, 2008, 19:04:56

Sorry how would you ping a website?

Steve · May 27, 2008, 19:07:31

Not quite as easy. right click, network and sharing,view status, properties. Well it would need that little bit extra.

net91 · May 27, 2008, 19:10:41

I will try changing my DNS on the windows machine and post here to let you know the results. Thank you for help.

(I don't know what 21CN is, I will try to find out when my exchange is switching though.)

Sebby · May 27, 2008, 19:35:18

It could be DNS, so as Rik suggests, trying OpenDNS is a good start.

Rik · May 27, 2008, 19:44:03

Quote from: net91 on May 27, 2008, 19:10:41
(I don't know what 21CN is, I will try to find out when my exchange is switching though.)

It's BT's new network infrastructure and is causing a lot of disruption as they convert exchanges.

Simon · May 27, 2008, 20:04:47

... and will probably cause a lot more when it's finished!

net91 · May 27, 2008, 20:18:54

I am on the Windows Vista machine in Firefox and as of yet have not encountered the problem. I will continue to browse around to see if it starts to affect me. (I encountered the problem earlier but it was only on one website and I didn't test any others because I put the problem down to being what was happening on the other computer.) Is it possible that this issue could be down to the setting on one machine rather than the router? Again thanks for everyone's replies.

net91 · May 27, 2008, 20:22:50

Quote from: net91 on May 27, 2008, 20:18:54
I am on the Windows Vista machine in Firefox and as of yet have not encountered the problem. I will continue to browse around to see if it starts to affect me. (I encountered the problem earlier but it was only on one website and I didn't test any others because I put the problem down to being what was happening on the other computer.) Is it possible that this issue could be down to the setting on one machine rather than the router? Again thanks for everyone's replies.

Ok never mind I just encountered the problem, going to try the DNS thing.

Sebby · May 27, 2008, 20:27:01

I wouldn't have thought it's down to a setting on Windows. Let us know if the DNS change improves things.

net91 · May 27, 2008, 22:30:09

I have changed to Open DNS on the Windows Vista machine and after sitting flicking between pages for about an hour I have encountered no problems so far. I will test it further tomorrow to check it has really resolved the problem and see what things are like on the mac that is not using Open DNS. Thanks for everyone's help.

madasahatter · May 27, 2008, 22:42:00

Quote from: stevethegas on May 27, 2008, 19:07:31
Not quite as easy. right click, network and sharing,view status, properties. Well it would need that little bit extra.

D'oh!

Sebby · May 27, 2008, 23:20:56

Quote from: net91 on May 27, 2008, 22:30:09
I have changed to Open DNS on the Windows Vista machine and after sitting flicking between pages for about an hour I have encountered no problems so far. I will test it further tomorrow to check it has really resolved the problem and see what things are like on the mac that is not using Open DNS. Thanks for everyone's help.

Good stuff. It could be a problem with IDNet's DNS', or perhaps it's coincidence. May changing the DNS' has flushed the resolve cache. Who knows? To be honest, I use OpenDNS permanently anyway. As well as being very fast, reliable, and up-to-date, it's highly customisable (just sign up for an account and you can do various things).

Dopamine · May 28, 2008, 00:48:34

I've just switched to OpenDNS and 10 minutes of surfing has shown a marked improvement in the speed that pages are found.

However, the tech of OpenDNS versus IDNet DNS is beyond me and I'm not that happy having to leave it configured away from IDNet's default, so is this something that IDNet may be able to solve? After all, surely their DNS (or whatever it's called) should work properly in the first place.

alcav · May 28, 2008, 08:34:06

Hi all.

I am getting very similar problems,ie slow web pages etc.and my connection speed has dropped significantly over the last few weeks

(see attach).

I am using a Netgear router. Any suggestions TIA Alan

[attachment deleted by admin]

lozcart · May 28, 2008, 09:41:18

I've also noticed the same problems particularly during Monday and Tuesday evenings.

My connection speed also dropped over the bank holiday weekend as has my profile, the connection is now back to normal, waiting for my profile to catch up.

Rik · May 28, 2008, 09:48:41

Hi Alan

Follow the instructions to switch to OpenDNS, see if that improves things. If it does, then it's probably an issue with IDNet's DNS servers. The more people affected, the quicker IDNet will be able to find the cause.

Rik · May 28, 2008, 09:49:06

Quote from: lozcart on May 28, 2008, 09:41:18
I've also noticed the same problems particularly during Monday and Tuesday evenings.

My connection speed also dropped over the bank holiday weekend as has my profile, the connection is now back to normal, waiting for my profile to catch up.

Can you also try OpenDNS and see if it helps.

lozcart · May 28, 2008, 10:03:46

Rik

Is it best to change the DNS setting on the router, computer or both.

Thanks.

Rik · May 28, 2008, 10:06:01

If you change them on the router, you'll force a new PPP session. If you change it in Windows, you won't, so for comparative purposes, it's probably best to change it in Windows, so that only one variable changes.

alcav · May 28, 2008, 10:32:11

Hi Rik,

thanks for help,I have tried doing the dns thingy but can't get a connection if I do that

Alan