[miffed]

I have mentioned before , than my Three mobile Broadband seems to work best when I am within range of a Wifi access point (Bloody typical) and whenever I really need it , it lets me down.
Well, things have gone a step further now - for some reason , even with 'decent' speeds ,I feel as though I am only getting half the internet

Some sites are fine , but quite a few of the sites I use are pretty unusable - I am either unable to log in , or unable to post on forums - or information submitted on forms will just 'hang' the browser - It seems to me that it is ok for getting info off the internet , but when it comes to uploading any info it simply doesn't want to know !
If I go through my T-mobile connection , it is fine - BUT I am only in a 2.5G area for T-mobile (something else I don't understand ? if three and T-mobile are sharing masts , how come I get HSDPA on Three , and only 2.5G on T-mob ?

[getti]

they WILL be sharing masts and are well into getting it sorted but there are still a load of masts not shared yet. It's a huge project taking around 2 years to fully complete

[miffed]

Ah cheers , so it is not all up and running now ? that would explain a lot

...Back to the weird Broadband behavior - I can access Gmail through the webpage , but cannot send mails (server error ) - any attempt to access Gmail through the notifier (mac) results in network errors - all a bit weird

Also , some sites will simply not work at all - it will either hang on them or I will get


Network Error (tcp_error)

A communication error occurred: "Operation timed out"
The Web Server may be down, too busy, or experiencing other problems preventing it from responding to requests. You may wish to try again at a later time.

For assistance, contact your network support team.


Interestingly though , if I go through a proxy , all is fine and dandy!

Conclusion ? Three still sucks !

[Hands0n]

if it is working through a proxy then the fault is with 3's default proxy service. I suggest you stick with the solution you have found.

You may also want to consider using OpenDNS rather than rely upon 3's. Other mobile operators also have flaky DNS. No names mentioned "V"

:)

[miffed]

Well changing the DNS servers helps , but it's a bit strange !

Can't remember whose they are , but I remember using 4.2.2.1/2 with good results in my old SPV 3100 , so I popped them in there , and all worked well for a fair few hours , (seriously , MUCH better ! ) everything worked for a good 12 hours or so , I was able to log on to sites that were previously impossible , and virtually every site I tried to access "worked"

Then , I noticed the Autotrader site suddenly started messing around ,and simply could not access ebay at all ! - ....back to square one again !

After numerous cache clears , resets , unpluggings , reinstallings (I even put the bloody thing in front of the fan to cool down a tad - I had no joy whatsover ,
As a last resort , I looked up some more DNS's , and tried them , lo and behold it is working fine again ! - Not sure how long for though ? is it possible that Three are "discovering" my use of other DNS servers and blocking them ?

[Hands0n]

is it possible that Three are "discovering" my use of other DNS servers and blocking them ?

Possible, yes. But unlikely unless they are using some really funkydoodle technology, and actually know how to use it! I know they're complete control freaks, but I'm not convinced that they're doing that. If they were that good you would not be having issues with their own DNS. But my experience is that the Mobops IP networker skills are a bit naff. Even the mighty Vodafone cannot get their DNS right, still, after continual problems - as their own forum will soon show.

The chances are that the DNS servers you were using either got overloaded (time of day, USA waking up, getting to their early evening etc ...). That or routes between Three and the DNS servers getting busied up.

It looks like you'll be in for a period of experimenting to find the best set of options. Try to find the "open DNS" offering that works best for you.

[Ben]

Yeah, OpenDNS are good if you're stuck for DNS servers:
208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

[Overseah]

Hi does Open DNS work with 3 Mobile broadband, whenever i try to set it up according to the instructions on Open dns, I get a message stating that these settings will be applied on reconnecting to the internet, as the connection is currently active.
However, the settings just reset to the original 3 dns
thnks

[Hands0n]

Yes, OpenDNS will work with any provider. The settings are put into the Network Connection of Windows rather than use DHCP to have them assigned to the PC.

For you to get the message you refer to I suspect that you are changing the setting in the wrong place. Do it in Windows and not the applet supplied by 3.

[Overseah]

Thank you for your advice, but I have tried this from within windows, not a 3 application, but my settings simply revert to original ones :confused:

[miffed]

Yes , you are correct , it does seem to revert to the original settings - they must be "dictated" by the e220 or the network

On the Mac , you are not able to delete the old DNS servers , you can seemingly add more though - When I do this - it seems to improve things for the first couple of hours , then it all goes to pot again - the "tell tale" site for me are ebay (simply will not access it at all under "normal" settings)

I tried it on the eee (now running Linux) - Changing the DNS was a breeze , there is even a box to tick which allows you to "overide server settings" - this worked once , then the second time I tried to connect the modem wouldn't even intitialize ! - I tried deleting then reinstalling the modem , and the same happens , works fine untill you alter the DNS then it dies !

I know some say it is not possible or likely , but it really does seem to me that Three "learn" which DNS's you use and block then - in an effort to keep their product useless - bunch of idiots !

[Hands0n]

Hmmm, I wonder if Three are doing something as simple as having a short DHCP age, say an hour or less, so that they can refresh the settings in your computer frequently. This is generally a bad idea as it is (a) pointless and (b) a network overhead of traffic that is not supposed to be so frequent.

I fail to see why Three would want or need to be so proscriptive. If nothing else it makes their service unusable! Why would anyone want to do that to their own service? Most bizarre.

Very annoying indeed and yet another reason not to use Three for any of their services. They really do suck!

[Ben]

Yes, it would appear that Three's competence as a data provider has not changed a great deal from their walled garden days... I mean, really, DNS is such a fundamental thing to get right - without it nothing else works properly!

One thing you could do, which will work for some (but not all) websites depending on how they are served, would be to ping them/find out their IP address and then bookmark that. Going straight to the IP cuts out DNS as your computer wont have to translate the domain to numbers.

[Hands0n]

Or another workaround would be to do as Ben says but then enter that information into your PC/Mac's local Host file. The only downside with both steps is that should the IP address change, which it is entirely possible - hence a key reason for DNS - you will not be able to connect to the site without updating the hosts table!

There is a rather nice expanatory article with pictures and advice here http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9019951


Speed up Web access with a HOSTS file

There's another way to speed up DNS -- by creating or editing a local HOSTS file on your own PC that contains URLs (also called hostnames) and their corresponding IP addresses. Windows will first look there to see whether there's an entry for the hostname, and if it finds it, it will resolve the address itself. That way, you won't have to go out to a DNS server and wait for the response before visiting a Web site.

The HOSTS file is a plain-text file you can create or edit with a text editor like Notepad. You should find an existing HOSTS file in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\HOSTS in both Windows XP and Windows Vista. (In some versions of Windows, it may be located in C:\Winnt\System32\Drivers\HOSTS). The file has no extension; it is named only HOSTS. If you don't find one, create it in Notepad.

Open the HOSTS file in Notepad and enter the IP addresses and hostnames of your commonly visited Web sites, like this:
65.221.110.98 computerworld.com

Each entry in the file should be on one line. The IP address should be in the first column, and the corresponding hostname in the next column. At least one space should separate the two columns. When you're finished editing the file, save it to its existing location.

Make sure to check your HOSTS file regularly and keep it up-to-date, or else you might deny yourself access to certain Web sites. For example, if www.computerworld.com were to change its IP address but your HOSTS file kept the old, incorrect address, your browser would not be able to find the site.

Also a troubleshoot article is here --> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9020261


It is plainly ridiculous that people should even have to contemplate doing such things!!

[Overseah]

Thanks for all the help everyone, I've read the articles above and perhaps it is because i changed settings while connected, and neeed to restart the PC. Maybe windows was having trouble appllying the settings on reconnecting

[miffed]

Thanks for all the help everyone, I've read the articles above and perhaps it is because i changed settings while connected, and neeed to restart the PC. Maybe windows was having trouble appllying the settings on reconnecting


Not tried it in a Windows enviroment , but under OS X and Linux the setting revert to Three's own (useless) settings after a few hours - so you may not have much luck !

I am gutted ! I have mobile data from Three , T-mobile and o2 (via the iPhone ) My friends generally consider me to be the "guru" of all things mobile ! - Yet here I am in my new house (BT are royally screwing us around WRT a phone line !) - and I can't establish a decent connection to the internet ! - Oh the shame of it all !

T-mobile are only givng me 2.5G (although their postcode checker gives me 3 or 4 bars of 3G , I have not had a 3G signal of any description in over 2 weeks)
Three , well , see above

And O2 ? again , no 3G at all , although I must say the iPhone is proving to be the most robust connection & most usable device I have !


I am this ----->
(Do Voda do PAYG broadband on normal sims anyone ? )

[Hands0n]

I am sorely tempted to say "I told you so ...." :D But seeing as I didn't, directly, I'll not taunt you now :p

Seriously people, nothing, absolutely nothing, that Three does surprises me anymore. They have such a strong potential, but that is all it has been for the past five years, just potential. That they have not realised that potential is their own fault. Their prohibitive practises have robbed them of the opportunity to steal a march on the entire UK mobile network industry. But they snatched failure from the hands of success and the rest is history.

Why oh why have they decided to lock down their DHCP settings - particularly the DNS? It serves no purpose. They could argue that it gives them a known basis to support their customers. But as everyone knows Three have not got a notion of how to support a customer. They don't even appear to know what a customer is, let alone acknowledge the existence of one.

In locking down their DNS they have demonstrably impacted miffed and Overseah (above) in this thread. The suggestions of DNS workarounds would have solved their problems until Three can get their own DNS servers sorted out. But no, that is not an option with this ridiculous little network.

I have continually been tempted to try out Three's mobile data offering, it is certainly good value on paper. But the reality is far to scary to contemplate subjecting myself to their arcane (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arcane) practises again. It just puts me off completely and I find myself unable and unwilling to do something completely stupid like walk into another contract with these people.

It is a very great shame that they engender such a reaction in people. The UK needs a network like Three could be. But it certainly does not need a network like Three that exists in fact.

[miffed]

I am this ----->
(Do Voda do PAYG broadband on normal sims anyone ? )


Eh ? Surely that can't be right ? I just had a look and the best they can offer PAYG customers is £1 a day for 15mb - then 2 per MB over that ? :eek:

I have not desire to return to the stone age of mobile data pricing thanks !

[Ben]

I wonder if Three's protection of their own DNS is based upon current or future potential for advertising revenue from mistyped URL's, etc? :S

[3GScottishUser]

Have to say I only now use 3's mobile broadband as a last resort. Its only costing me £5 a month and can be handy for use in the car and in areas where there is no Wi-Fi but it is pityfully slow at the best of times and there are still major areas of the population that have no coverage!

[Hands0n]

I wonder if Three's protection of their own DNS is based upon current or future potential for advertising revenue from mistyped URL's, etc? :S

I suspect that 3 will make use of DNS Hijacks to insert advertising. Its easy enough to do.

[Overseah]

Yes, OpenDNS will work with any provider. The settings are put into the Network Connection of Windows rather than use DHCP to have them assigned to the PC.

For you to get the message you refer to I suspect that you are changing the setting in the wrong place. Do it in Windows and not the applet supplied by 3.

Hi, this was quite a while ago, but when you said this, I wondered whether trying to change in the 3 applet would work instead, or a s well.
I never got round to it till today, when it kept disconnecting and showing sub-dial up sepeeds.
So i changed the settings in 3 and in windows, then it reverted, i did it with the applet closed, then used the same settings as 3s default except with opendns, and now windows confirms it is using these while connected.

I think there has been an overall increase in speed as generally pages load faster and data in/out is transferred at higher rates, also there is much less disconnection
:)

[Hands0n]

@Overseah - Ah, so the finger of suspicion points to 3's DNS servers or the path between your mobile and them (unlikely the latter though). I really do not understand how and why the Mobile Operators seem to get DNS quite so wrong. It isn't rocket science, and just needs an understanding of the technology. But clearly, as with Vodafone too, the operators do indeed get it wrong. And so it is up to the likes of OpenDNS to bail out the poor customer that are affected.

I'm glad you got your problem solved, you should anticipate a more reliable name lookup service in OpenDNS, although it can become busy and slow to respond at times. The OpenDNS servers should allow your computer to achieve the name lookup much quicker which will allow it to begin the page download sooner, the overall impression being that things are happening quicker.

I am surprised that the data transfer rates are hight - although that could suggest that the pages you are typically looking at are built from very many sources and so require many DNS lookups also as the page loads.

Its all good :)

[Overseah]

@Overseah - Ah, so the finger of suspicion points to 3's DNS servers or the path between your mobile and them (unlikely the latter though). I really do not understand how and why the Mobile Operators seem to get DNS quite so wrong. It isn't rocket science, and just needs an understanding of the technology. But clearly, as with Vodafone too, the operators do indeed get it wrong. And so it is up to the likes of OpenDNS to bail out the poor customer that are affected.

I'm glad you got your problem solved, you should anticipate a more reliable name lookup service in OpenDNS, although it can become busy and slow to respond at times. The OpenDNS servers should allow your computer to achieve the name lookup much quicker which will allow it to begin the page download sooner, the overall impression being that things are happening quicker.

I am surprised that the data transfer rates are hight - although that could suggest that the pages you are typically looking at are built from very many sources and so require many DNS lookups also as the page loads.

Its all good :)

Thanks, yes I was surprised at faster connection speeds, but maybe it just appears to do that as is cutting out less?

[CogsTurning]

I had similar problems to the OP (not able to log into gmail, or access ebay or log in to some other sites) so I thought I'd share my solution:

First I tried the OpenDNS fix mentioned here, and immediately had ebay, and slightly better speed in general but still no gmail.

I did some more searching and found a reference to changing your MTU setting.
Once I learned how to change my MTU to 1400 instead of the standard 1500 suddenly everything works, and with much better performance too.

Hope that helps someone.

[Hands0n]

Once I learned how to change my MTU to 1400 instead of the standard 1500 suddenly everything works, and with much better performance too.

Thanks very much for sharing that with us :)

Now that is very interesting indeed. What it means is that 3 have fiddled with the industry standard settings for MTU. That would cause your [default] 1500 sized packets to fragment, and that will almost certainly cause issues across a network as slow as 3G, even HSPA.

I'll stick that suggestion in my amoury of things to do to get stuff working over 3's notwork :D