Annoying, random, internet problem

[queenmob]

I have a problem:

The internet connection in our house is a bit flaky – we use WLAN in a house with 7 people. SO sometimes the connection slows down.

Since yesterday ( I tested the connection of the modem directly with another laptop in the house) the following happens on my computer: Sometimes (about every half hour) I can’t access the internet anymore by browser or mail, but skype is just fine. I am connected to WLAN and it shows that there is stuff downloading and uploading, but when I try to access a website I get the error page. Sometimes this just happens randomly in the middle of great connection.

We just got a new modem today, which is much faster and I still have the problem…

Sometimes it helps if I keep on reconnecting and connecting, and re-entering the password…but that’s kind of random too, I mean if it helps or not. I re-installed the driver for my W-LAN modem. I have Windows Vista. In my internet protocol settings everything is on “automatic” (IP and DNS).
Sometimes a page randomly works, another page doesn’t – sometimes e-mail works, but websites don’t (via firefox AND explorer). Skype ALWAYS works when the problem occurs.

When running diagnostic the error message claims: “Communication with “DNS-Server (192.168.1.1)” is not possible.

I really don’t know what to do anymore.

[boredoom]

You said you replaced the modem - have you done anything to the Wi-Fi router as well, or does the modem have built-in Wi-Fi?

[queenmob]

No we have a router that works just fine.
I didn't do anything with the router, I just unplugged it yesterday to plug it into my landlady's laptop for test reasons. I am not sure yet if others in the house experience the same problem or just me.

[queenmob]

A friend told me about a problem where the "DNS protocols" are messed up (thats why skype is still working, because skype uses the IP adress (?)).

and deleting them (DNS files (?)) or replacing them in the command line helps - but I have no experience whatsoever with stuff like that. Sad thing is, I am still the perosn in the whole house who knows the most (and that is not much).

[mumblethrax]

It's a DNS problem--Skype works because it doesn't rely heavily on DNS. Everytime you look at a website (say, nerdnyc.com), your computer has to figure out the associated IP address. It needs to query a DNS server at least once to look it up.

Your computer is looking to the router as a DNS server--that might be because your router is supposed to be caching DNS query results. I'd look at the router configuration for DNS options, and fiddle around with them. I know that's not exactly helpful....

[stormsweeper]

Your router is being overwhelmed. (192.168.1.1) is the IP address of your router, and it's sending itself out as the DNS server to all of your computers. You might be able to change that in the router config.

[queenmob]

Can I do that from my computer, or do I have to do that from the computer the router was set up at?

[mumblethrax]

Routers typically have an web page for administration, which you should be able to get to from any computer on your network. Try going to http://192.168.1.1

[queenmob]

thanks, will try!

[boredoom]

Should she really mess with the router? Wouldn't it be simpler to set DNS to some outside address, like Google's?

http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/