Internet is being stupid, why?

[jtwhite]

I'm a very techinical person and I know a lot about computers, the Internet, and Web design but I'm completely stumped on this one.

I have Charter Communications as an ISP (that could be the reason right there). Recently, the internet has been HORRIBLE, every few pages "Connection was reset" , "Cannot find server...." However, it doesn't actually disconnect, I can still chat on MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk and other stuff.

What could explain this? I've tried calling Charter (like that'll help anything) and they have no idea what's going on. I've reset the modem and router. I don't know what else I can do.

It doesn't seem to be related to any particular Web site. :?

[ichwar]

It seems like your problem is with the browser, not with the internet since you can still use IM clients fine.

[Smith6612]

This can be from a few issues, to Charter's DNS servers crapping out, a lossy cable line (bad signal coming into your home/out to the CMTS), or perhaps network congestion, and of course, PC problems or a Bad Ethernet cable. You need to rule some things out first of all. If you have another PC, try using it online for a while and see if it does the same thing. If it does, it's a problem from the Ethernet cord and down, up to the ISP's network. Once the PC is ruled out, rule out the DNS. Switch your DNS servers to 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.2.3 (these should be servers) and see if the problem remains. If it does, swap out your Ethernet cable. If it still remains, call Charter and have them look at your cable signal levels if they locked you out of your modem.

[jtwhite]

I have a wireless network. My laptop does the same thing. My desktop uses an Ethernet cord, and it does it as well. I use OpenDNS, so I doubt DNS is the problem. Charter has already reset the modem numerous times.

I use FireFox 3.5.1 on all computers.

What can I do?

[zapzack]

Plug the modem directly into your pc.. if that solves the issue then your router is a P.O.S... If it doesn't solve your issue.. It could be your modem.. and that would have to be replaced.. I would also call to have your signal measured..

[jtwhite]

WOW! Believe it or not, I switched my DNS servers back to Charter and the problem has yet to occur again! Pages actually connect and load faster.

I thought OpenDNS was supposed to be great and all?

[Smith6612]

WOW! Believe it or not, I switched my DNS servers back to Charter and the problem has yet to occur again! Pages actually connect and load faster.

I thought OpenDNS was supposed to be great and all?

OpenDNS can have it's problems just like anything else on the internet, despite their redundancy. Here, I'm running a network side DNS cache which is getting info from 6-7 DNS servers, two of the servers which are from OpenDNS. This network side cache does at least allow me to be able to visit sites for up to a week after DNS entries have been removed (every night around 2AM or whenever I force an update, the cache will refresh. If entires are not found on any of the DNS servers the cache checks upon, I can see what entry will be disappearing within a week), and allows me to keep things up and running when the DNS servers are down, and what is even better is should I ever disable my Internet Connection I can still resolve the names of many websites that I've visited. No need for Windows' cache (disabled here anyways). Should for some reason my cache get messed up to a point to where I have to repair and rebuild it, I can simply tell the software to tell PCs to use the list of DNS servers in the same order the cache looks up sites until I flip the switch. Keeps for reduncancy, as after all, if my Linux router were to go down, my network goes down completely and will not come online again until I look at it should the box fail to boot (all of my PCs here are put under a rule to where they must be booted and ready to go within two minutes. Newer boxes have less than a minute to get going. If something is taking more than this "threshold" I have, I'll know, especially if the network is down for a few minutes).

[zapzack]

Maybe charter is blocking opendns?

[Smith6612]

Maybe charter is blocking opendns?

Highly doubt that. They'd be rummaging over Net Neutrality and since you're able to get them on and off, they're most likely not doing a thing. Charter is going through some financial issues at the moment though so that might be connected in some way.

[rebellion]

Just as I suspected. Charter. :O. First of all, never contact them via phone. You would tell them that the internet is down, and they would try to sell you network setup. Second, they are impossible to understand. I wouldn't recommend the online chat either.... ugh. Here is a little sample:
Me: Hi, how often does the DNS cache rebuild itself?
Agent: Hi. Please ask about our new 5 MBs internet plan!
Agent: It doesn't,, you rebuild.
Me: Huh?
Agent: You have to rebuild DNS cache
Me: No, I'm talking about your automatic cache.
Agent: It is automated
Me: I figured that. I didn't really think someone was manually searching and building a cache. What I'm saying is, how often does it rebult itself.
Agent: It is automated.
Me: I KNOW IT IS AUTOMATED. HOW OFTEN DOES IT REBUILD ITSELF
Agent: It rebuilds itself.
Me: I
Me: KNOW THAT. How often????
Agent: Let me check
Me: Thank you.
15 minutes later:
Agent: We don't know.