Road Runner DNS server seems to suck all of a sudden

[sswingle]

Well, like my topic says, when I click on a new site I have never been to, it takes a while sitting there saying "Looking up site" If its a site I go to a lot (like this one) it pops right up. If it is a new site that I have never been to, sometimes it says site not found, and I need to retry.

It is very frusterating and I assume it is because the DNS server is being very slow and/or dropping the requests altogether?

So my question, are there any free publicly available DNS servers that I can point my computer to that would be faster and more reliable.

Thanks!

 

[cleverhandle]

In my experience, this usually this means you're having problems with your DSL/cable connection. The ISP's DNS servers for customers are on their internal networks and it's pretty unlikely that they'll have issues provided that your connection is good. Not impossible, but unlikely. Try a speed test and make sure your connection is OK to start with.

 

[sswingle]

Speed test runs great. 3957.3 kbps on cnets meter. Im supposed to have 5 mpbs, but hey, I can deal with 4. My downloads go fast. Pages on sites that I use a lot come up fast too. I can surf anandtech all day with no issues. Its just when I click someones link to a site I haven't been to before, it takes forever to connect.

 

[sswingle]

My hosts file is clean also, I'm sure someone will ask.

 

[skyking]

It depends on if you have entered the DNS servers manually, or are letting it get set automatically.
Some routers will want to handle DNS, adn will then forward out the requests. That can lead to trouble.
DO you have the DNS servers listed maunally? Give that a try if not.

 

[sswingle]

No, I have none entered manually. The whole point of the question is to get some that I CAN enter manually.

 

[skyking]

That is not what I was getting at. If your router is somehow to blame, you can put those same DNS servers into your computer and bypass it. It is worth a try.
To find out what they are, do an nslookup of some domain at the command line and see.

 

[sswingle]

Ok, tried that. I still get a delay. None have timed out...but the delay is still longer than it should be.

 

[WiseOldDude]

Renew your DHCP lease incase your ISP has updated DNS server addresses and you still have the old IP as part of your lease

 

[BarnyardMonkey]

I'm having almost the same problem with RR.
just posted a message on it.


I get the same "Connecting to Site" wait state for awhile before it actually goes to a page.
but mine is off and on.
like right now its very quick,but earlier today and also just about 45 Mins ago it was delayed very bad.even timed out a few times on me.

Mine has been doing this lately for some reason.it never had this problem 3 weeks to a month ago.



Shawn.

 

[sswingle]

Hola crap. Just did the DHCP release and renew as suggested, and BOOM, everything is working great. Server one and two are the same, but server three changed. It was an odd looking address before, and now it is in line with the first two.

 

[Keitero]

RR's DNS servers just plain suck, I read on the dslreports forums and people suggest using a Level3 DNS server.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Yep I've got the same freakin problems. I've seen people's connections where everything loads INSTANTLY the moment you click on the link. Mine always sits there for a few moments before it even starts to load. My earthlink DIAL UP responds quicker.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
Hola crap. Just did the DHCP release and renew as suggested, and BOOM, everything is working great. Server one and two are the same, but server three changed. It was an odd looking address before, and now it is in line with the first two.

How exactly did you do this?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: deathkoba

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
Hola crap. Just did the DHCP release and renew as suggested, and BOOM, everything is working great. Server one and two are the same, but server three changed. It was an odd looking address before, and now it is in line with the first two.

How exactly did you do this?

If you are using a router, visit http://192.168.0.1 and somewhere in the admin interface will be a release/renew DHCP option. If you are connected directly to your modem, go to start >> Network Connections/Places >> Double-click your network connection, go to the "support" tab, and click "repair".


Has anyone else in the Cincy area of Ohio been having issues with no connectivity from RR?

 

[Nocturnal]

This is an ongoing problem nationwide. If you read the www.dslreports.com RR forum you'll see many other people are having a similar problem. I'm using Level3's DNS servers which are 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.5 which seem to alleviate the problem. Once I go back to using the RR DNS servers I encounter exactly what you're describing.

 

[Nocturnal]

Yes, I just did the release renew thing and it seems as though the DNS servers are a little better. From what I understand locally here they jsut added one more DNS server. I see three listed now.

 

[BarnyardMonkey]

I unhooked from Router and got New IP/DNS from RR,and it did help a little.but still was slower than should be.

I switched to the Level3 DNS as mentioned (4.2.2.1 - 4.2.2.5)
and it is flying now.

Even in peak hours it seems.


Thanks for posting these Level3 DNS Numbers.



Shawn.

 

[sswingle]

Yea, mine started going downhill again about an hour later. I'm not home right now, but will try those Level 3 addresses when ASAP. Thats exactly what I wanted when I first posted

Thanks all!

 

[Tom]

I am having exactly the same problem with RR in Columbus. I'm going to try the level 3 dns numbers too.

I've tried 2 different routers and no router,zone alarm on and off, 3 different computers, so I think its definately a RR issue.

 

[sswingle]

I went to help.rr.com and they show red status for many cities in Ohio. They really need to get their act together. I hope they don't blame it on upping speeds to 5mpbs and lower us back down again.

 

[BarnyardMonkey]

Yeah that would suck if they dropped us.

Seems its all in the DNS Numbers though.


Tom, i'm in Columbus as well and changing the Numbers helped big time.
The 2 i posted worked best for me.


Good Luck.



Shawn.

 

[natto fire]

Scott! what's up? This is Nate, talk about a small world. Anyhow, I have not been experiencing the DNS probs you speak of. Of course I may have not even used my connection the days that were problematic, and I am on a RR Lite account (capped at 45 KBps). Didn't know you were on AT, and I'll drop you a PM sometime.

 

[Antoneo]

Do I change the DNS server list in my Windows Network Connections properties or do I have to log into the router itself and change those settings?

Reason being I have multiple computers behind my linksys router and would like to do this once than every single machine or perhaps I have to make the changes to both the router and the connection properties?

 

[BarnyardMonkey]

If your behind a Router you gotta change them from the Routers Config.

It should have the "Auto detect DNS" type entry,you need to specify your own.
then put in the Level 3 DNS Numbers and you should be fine.



Shawn.