ISP timeout

[flighty]

Hi,

My connection to www.madasafish.com is suddenly being timed out at 20 seconds.  I have opened 'configure your desktop' and selected 'connection preferences' and set all timeout values to 50 seconds (and applied the changes).  This hasn't worked.  My connection is still being timed out at 20 seconds.

This is new.  The connection has been working well for months.  Could someone advise me, please?

[djohnston]

Have you contacted them? Being your ISP, they may be overriding your settings.

[flighty]

djohnston,

No I haven't yet.  The last time I had to, they just fluffed about changing passwords when they found I was using linux.  Of course, I have to pay by the minute for the phone call so they really do like to spin it out.

I will phone them if nobody else has any advice.  Thanks for your reply.

[djohnston]

Here's another idea. If any of your neighbors are using the same ISP, ask them if they're having the same problem. I know what you mean about telling them you're using Linux, though. Been there, done that.

[Old-Polack]

djohnston,

No I haven't yet.  The last time I had to, they just fluffed about changing passwords when they found I was using linux.  Of course, I have to pay by the minute for the phone call so they really do like to spin it out.

I will phone them if nobody else has any advice.  Thanks for your reply.

Change DNS servers to public ones.

http://www.topbits.com/public-dns-servers.html

Those from 4.2.2.1 through 4.2.2.6 have been very good for me.

[flighty]

djohnston:   if only I knew anybody else who used Linux if would be really good.  I'm an old codger as are my friends and neighbours.....

old polack:  that suggestion seems very interesting.  I'll study the links on the site you recommended to see what it's about.  I'll let you know how I get on sometime tonight. 

Just a thought:  why do we need ISP's?   I vaguely remember reading a good book about hackers and they never seemed to need them.

[djohnston]

djohnston:   if only I knew anybody else who used Linux if would be really good.  I'm an old codger as are my friends and neighbours.....

old polack:  that suggestion seems very interesting.  I'll study the links on the site you recommended to see what it's about.  I'll let you know how I get on sometime tonight. 

Just a thought:  why do we need ISP's?   I vaguely remember reading a good book about hackers and they never seemed to need them.

It doesn't really matter if your neighbors are using Linux or not. I would just ask them if they have had any internet problems in the last day or two. Personally, I would go with O-P's suggestion. He's very knowledgeable about this stuff. If you use the address range he suggests, you would put, for example:

4.2.2.1
4.2.2.2

as your DNS lookup addresses. Go to PCC > Network & Internet > Network Center. Open the pull-down menu next to your connection. Click the Configure button. Uncheck Get DNS servers from DHCP. Enter those addresses as DNS server 1 & 2.

Well, your ISP is your "gateway" to the internet. Without an ISP, you need direct access to the "backbone" of the net. Very few have that option.

[flighty]

djohnston,

Well I played about trying to get the DNS  addresses changed before your post.  Of course I was unsuccessful.  But your instructions made it simple.  Thank you.

Unfortunately I am still in the position where my ISP connection is timing out at 20 seconds or so.  Have you or old-polack any further ideas on that, please?

[luikki]

after the new settings have you rebooted your modem/router?

[flighty]

luikki,

Well, I hadn't but have now.  But my timeout is still 20 seconds.  I've just realised that it is my email connection that's being timed out and I didn't make this clear at the beginning.  I do apologise.

So, should we start again?

[Phil]

Their problem?

http://www.madasafish.com/support/service-status.html?action=messages&ispservice_id=email

Title of Message: Webmail Timeouts (62178) - UPDATE

Created: 04/06/2010 @ 11:38

This is an update to yesterday evening's post about the problems accessing our Webmail service.

Most customers should be able to access our Webmail service however some may still experience intermittent timeouts or find the platform slow to respond.

This is due to a related problem affecting POP3 email collection. As we work to fix the POP3 problems, there may be periods throughout the day when Webmail becomes unresponsive.

We are working on fixing the underlying problems with the utmost urgency and will provide another update as soon as more information becomes available.

We're sorry about the continued inconvenience.

Kind Regards,

Bob Pullen
Customer Support

[flighty]

Phil and everybody else,

Bloody hell, I do feel stupid.  Mostly because I am.  It never occurred to me that it might not be something to do with my computer.  Please forgive me and spend your time with someone worthy of your help.

I'm going to crawl into my hole with a glass of rum for consolation.  Don't suppose it will make me feel better but it's worth the try....

Best wishes,

flighty

[j-retired]

Next time you need to talk to your ISP, put a copy of windows in VBox. It'll run for 30 days without needing validation, and you can answer them honestly and wipe it out when you're sorted!

j

[Phil]

Don't worry,

I have done worse, and several times over....(as have most people)

[djohnston]

I'm going to crawl into my hole with a glass of rum for consolation.

Can we go with you?