DNS Server Not Responding

[jebusmcgee]

Hi,

Im currently having issues with my internet access. Seems that the issue is "DNS Server is not Responding." I have used OpenDNS, my Protocol Version 4 and 6 are both on "Obtain IP address automatically" and I have tried "Obtain DNS server address automatically" as well as using "208.67.222.222" and "208.67.220.220" for Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS respectively. I am able to connect to the internet but my connection is choppy and I am unable to play games that require an internet connection. Using a Linksys E2500.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 
Windows IP Configuration
 
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Brandon-HP
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.
 
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:
 
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8188CU Wireless LAN 802.11n US
B 2.0 Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 48-02-2A-87-DD-FB
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.116(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, June 22, 2012 7:18:21 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, June 23, 2012 7:46:58 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
 
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:
 
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
 
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 12:
 
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:1806:25e4:b39c:6f07(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::1806:25e4:b39c:6f07%12(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
 
Tunnel adapter isatap.{6956FB98-613E-4038-94D9-7347AD4CDB14}:
 
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.116%20(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Any help would be great

 

[2xg]

Welcome to Seven Forums,

Can you please download and install Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector. After the installation double click the shortcut icon from your dekstop, do a screen capture of it then attach and post it here. Let's find out if there's any interference or signal issue.
Wi-Fi Inspector | Xirrus

 

[doubled822]

Before messing around with signal problems, I'd suggest starting with the simple things.

have you tried rebooting your router?

Try changing your DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

 

[chev65]

Either open DNS or Google DNS works fine so that isn't the problem, though I prefer to set up the DNS servers in the routers settings rather than in IPv4 properties so you might considering doing that first.

As 2xG suggested it would be helpful to see if there is any channel overlap and also which security and encryption is being used. These two things have a greater effect on the wireless connection quality than anything else.

I like using Xirrus for this also, as it's easier to read than inSSIDer .

 

[jebusmcgee]

Xirrus Screenshot:

 

[chev65]

Xirrus Screenshot:

As suspected your neighbor TheZoo-guest is also using channel 1, this will cause problems because you are also using channel 1 and you both have about the same signal strength. You should go into your routers settings by typing the default gateway http://192.168.1.1/ into your browsers URL, or just click on the link. Admin is usually the default password.

You can then change the channel to channel 6. Channel 11 is also being used so using channel 6 puts you right in the middle for best possible band width and no channel overlap.

You should also remove those static DNS servers from your IPv6 properties, as it could be part of the problem.

DNS servers would go either in your IPv4 properties or type them into your routers settings for DNS servers. Try changing the DNS server to Google's DNS at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

That should fix you right up.

 

[codekiddy]

Do you know how to change DHCP and DNS server IP address in windows?
In case you don't see this Change TCP/IP settings

after you do that restart everything (computer and router).

That should do the trick.

 

[2xg]

I second.... and...Thanks for uploading the Xirrus screen cap, it's quite helpful.

You can then change the channel to channel 6. Channel 11 is also being used so using channel 6 puts you right in the middle for best possible band width and no channel overlap.

Please keep us posted.

 

[doubled822]

Xirrus looks like a great tool--I will have to check that out myself. If you haven't already, I do recommend securing your router! (Admin page and wireless access)

 

[barriboy]

tl;dr: make sure your modem and router power adapters haven't been switched

Hi guys, sorry to revive the thread, but it's the most recent "DNS server not responding" thread I could find. I've already resolved my problem, but it was so weird and hard to diagnose that I thought I should put up my solution somewhere so that people may see it if they google their issue.

I had followed dozens of threads from this forum and others pertaining to "DNS server not responding," but I tried everything and was still at a loss. Additionally, my roommate's mac was having trouble, as it thought it was connected wirelessly at full signal strength, but couldn't actually load anything. Wired worked fine on my desktop, but only one of the three windows machines I had could connect to the wireless.

It turns out that my roommate had reset the router and modem because she couldn't connect, but plugged the wrong power cables back in. The modem took 12V at 1A while the router took 9V at 1A. Because both cables used the same connector, she accidentally plugged the 12V adapter into the router and the 9V into the modem. I guess the over-volting wasn't enough to fry the router, but it was enough to cause all these weird things. The only reason I figured this out was because we had a spare router that was the same make and model. When I went to plug in the new router, I noticed that it's matching adapter was plugged into the wrong device. I switched the adapters and haven't had any trouble since.

I imagine this is a very rare kind of problem, but it you absolutely can't find the solution to this very broad error message, it might be something as silly as having the wrong power adapters plugged in. If you can't get anything to work, try finding the manual or online specsheets for your equipment and make sure your power adapters are correct.

To think I spent hours chasing this problem...