Can't access brewery websites.

[Fatso1]

Internet appears to work normally, but cannot connect to any of the three breweries I routinely order from - Nirvana, Greene King, and Adnams. Three can't be coincidence. Various 'reasons', but mostly 'the connection was reset'. 

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Thanks for the update and please let us know if this does happen again.

Michelle

[Fatso1]

Update on this problem - I again tried entering the Google DNS server addresses in the relevant windows under DHCP, and (only after restarting the router), all brewery sites were accessible. Unfortunately, despite doing factory resets (many of which I'd done before in attempting to cure the problem) I now can't re-create the problem. I've also tried using the TalkTalk DNS addresses in Windows, set to bypass those in the router, and can still access brewery websites, which indicates that the problem doesn't lie with the TT DNS servers. So it's a bit of a mystery. I've been round this loop before, where it started to work but stopped not long afterwards, so we'll see what happens. If it was affecting anything other than brewery websites I would suspect a router fault of some sort. My Android 'phone is now also connecting to the brewery websites via Wi-fi, whereas I previously had to turn Wi-fi off to force it to use the 02 network, or use a public Wi-fi service.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Can you please update your community profile to include your:

• Name
• Telephone number or Account number
• Alternative contact number

We'll then look into this further. Please do not post this information on this thread. Once you've updated your profile please post in your topic to confirm it's updated.

Thanks

Michelle

[Gliwmaeden2]

@Fatso1 be aware that Talktalk hasn't issued that router for a while now, and it no longer receives updates. 

There's just a chance that it's less secure than it was previously if it can't be updated, and that could throw a spanner in the works when it comes to site issues. 

Nowadays the usual router is a Sagemcom. Might be worth a try?

[ferguson]

So sorry to see that, I think this may have slipped through the net. I have re-escalated it for you. 

[Fatso1]

In the absence of any solution, and with all online brewery shopping websites still blocked, it looks like I'll have to change my supplier - I'm not living with that sort of censorship.

[Fatso1]

Hi Ferguson - sorry for the slow response - too much Christmassing. The router is an EchoLife DG8041W Home Gateway, and claims to be running v1.05 talktalk firmware. This was supplied by talktalk a couple of years ago. I'm not particularly familiar with it as it's given me surprisingly little trouble.

[ferguson]

OK, which router do you have? Is it not one of those mentioned in the link I posted earlier? 

[Fatso1]

Hi Ferguson - unfortunately I don't have those menu options on the router. There is no internet connectivity option  in the advanced settings for the internet menu, and despite much rummaging on this router (which I have to admit I've never had reason to access in the past), I can't find an option to set the DNS server manually.

[ferguson]

OK, what I meant was try DNS servers other than TalkTalk? And you can't change them in the DHCP settings.  Click on See internet settings > Manage advanced settings > Internet connectivity > DNS IPv4. It will show Obtain DNS Automatically. Click on that and select Manually Specify DNS. Enter 8.8.8.8 in the Primary and 8.8.4.4 in the Secondary server boxes. Click Apply at the bottom. See how you get on

[Fatso1]

Sorry, spoke too soon - I could access the Greene King website, but not its online shop. Rummaging continues.

[Fatso1]

Hi ferguson - I've had a rummage in the router, which is normally set to its default settings as supplied (its a DG8041W). In the DHCP server settings, the primary and secondary DNS server entries were blank. I've entered the TalkTalk addresses ( 79.79.79.79 and 79.79.79.80) as each, and I can now access the brewery websites. 

Thanks very much for persuading me to tackle the router. If, when and why these entries had changed, and why the problem was only affecting brewery websites, I don't expect I'll ever know, but at least I'll know what to do next time. Must order some beer now.

Thanks again, problem resolved.

[ferguson]

OK, it means that HomeSafe won't work. You could try to see if it helps with your issue just to test and then let us know, then change back afterwards. 

[Fatso1]

Hi Ferguson - I've had a look at the router's DNS settings, but they're set to TalkTalk's defaults, as they have been since they sent me the current router. They note in your link that changing that would lose some of TalkTalk's protections, probably unwise unless TalkTalk are hoping to start a new prohibition.

[Fatso1]

Hi again Ady - I'm wondering if this is connected to a Windows update - all my regular websites have started asking me to confirm cookie choices, which suggests at least that my cookies have been cleared. Can't think why that would just affect breweries though.

[ferguson]

Have you tried changing your DNS settings as I mentioned earlier?

[Fatso1]

Hi Ady - Yes, it's still the same. Out of interest, I tried a brewery I'm not registered with (Fullers). Same result: 

Hmmm… can't reach this page

The connection was reset.

In case it was related to age verification, I tried National Lottery and Ladbrokes, both of whom I have accounts with, and had no problem accessing them.

I've been getting round this by using my 'phone (with wi-fi turned off so that it connects through the 02 mobile network), and that's working fine, but my ageing eyes would much rather be doing it on my PC's big screen.

Regards

Fatso.

[Ady-TalkTalk]

Hi Fatso1, is this still happening? 

Ady

[Fatso1]

Hi - I've had a look at that, but it's all set up the way it always has been. Still no access to the breweries, everything else (including Ladbrokes) working normally.

[Ady-TalkTalk]

Hi Fatso1, we've got a newly raised incident so I've added your details to the incident. I'll provide updates as I get them. 

Ady