OT (maybe) Need to kick start my connection

So I get broadband (Freeserve) and all is well, adslguide tells me I'm
getting 476kb/s which I'm happy with. BUT... my browser often doesn't
load pages. I've tried both IE6 and Mozilla 1.4 and both have the
same problem. Click on a link and after 30 seconds or so get a "The
page cannot be displayed" or "server timed out" message. In IE6 the
progress bar advances to the right to about 20% then resets to zero
and starts again, but the browser then gives up at about 10%.
Sometimes (in IE6) if I click on the resultant "Detect Network
Settings" link, the page will load - but mostly it doesn't. (IE is
set to automatically detect anyway) The really funny thing is that if
I use mailwasher to check my email accounts while the browser is hung
searching for the site, it seem to kick start the connection and the
page loads - every time, even if there is no mail to download.

This never happened when I used Freeseve dial-up so I assume there's
something wrong with my ADSL settings. Does anyone have any idea
what's going on?

(If this is too OT, any pointers as to where I should ask the
question?)

TIA
Mark

PS. If it helps I've got the CopperJet modem and WinXP Home SP1

On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 21:49:21 +0100, Colin Wilson
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> Does anyone have any idea what's going on?
>
>Do you have a DNS lookup address entered anywhere which may be pointing
>the browser to the wrong place ?

Colin
Not that I can see, all the ticks are in the "Obtain DNS address
automatically" boxes.

Mark

> >Do you have a DNS lookup address entered anywhere which may be pointing
> >the browser to the wrong place ?
> Not that I can see, all the ticks are in the "Obtain DNS address
> automatically" boxes.

Try checking on the TCP/IP connection itself - on 98se you right click on
network neighbourhood, then select the tcp/ip -> (network card chipset)

Check what it`s got under the properties for that too - I once had a
similar problem and it turned out to be something in there IIRC - not
that I remember ever putting it in though...

<snip>
> It was no better, so I've gone back to automatic.
> Thanks for the suggestions though.

No probs, sorry it didn`t work out :-}

"Mark Phillips" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> So I get broadband (Freeserve) and all is well, adslguide tells me I'm
> getting 476kb/s which I'm happy with. BUT... my browser often doesn't
> load pages. I've tried both IE6 and Mozilla 1.4 and both have the
> same problem. Click on a link and after 30 seconds or so get a "The
> page cannot be displayed" or "server timed out" message. In IE6 the
> progress bar advances to the right to about 20% then resets to zero
> and starts again, but the browser then gives up at about 10%.
> Sometimes (in IE6) if I click on the resultant "Detect Network
> Settings" link, the page will load - but mostly it doesn't. (IE is
> set to automatically detect anyway) The really funny thing is that if
> I use mailwasher to check my email accounts while the browser is hung
> searching for the site, it seem to kick start the connection and the
> page loads - every time, even if there is no mail to download.
>
> This never happened when I used Freeseve dial-up so I assume there's
> something wrong with my ADSL settings. Does anyone have any idea
> what's going on?
>
> (If this is too OT, any pointers as to where I should ask the
> question?)
>
> TIA
> Mark
>
> PS. If it helps I've got the CopperJet modem and WinXP Home SP1

Mark

I had a similar problem when I changed from BTO to Virgin as my ISP.
Some sites I could get to some not.
I fixed it by changing the MTU to 1456 from 1458.
Most people I believe use 1458.

OT. Beware putting your correct email address in your posting. It is a
major source of spam.

HTH

eric

> I had a similar problem when I changed from BTO to Virgin as my ISP.
> Some sites I could get to some not.
> I fixed it by changing the MTU to 1456 from 1458.
> Most people I believe use 1458.

BT has a small utility here that acts as a toggle between 1458 and 1500 -
it should work with any ISP - run it once, it sets it to 1458, run it
again and it`s back to the default of 1500

http://www.broadband1.bt.com/across_...item16.asp?t=2

It didn`t seem to have any effect on my USB modem when I was using it,
but your mileage may vary. You have to reboot after resetting it for it
to take effect.

On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 14:16:56 +0100, Colin Wilson
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> I had a similar problem when I changed from BTO to Virgin as my ISP.
>> Some sites I could get to some not.
>> I fixed it by changing the MTU to 1456 from 1458.
>> Most people I believe use 1458.
>
>BT has a small utility here that acts as a toggle between 1458 and 1500 -
>it should work with any ISP - run it once, it sets it to 1458, run it
>again and it`s back to the default of 1500
>
>http://www.broadband1.bt.com/across_...item16.asp?t=2
>
>It didn`t seem to have any effect on my USB modem when I was using it,
>but your mileage may vary. You have to reboot after resetting it for it
>to take effect.

Eric & Colin
Eric, thanks for the tip. Colin thanks for the link.
I ran the utility and now sites I couldn't get to load like a dream.
Fingers crossed its fixed.

Thanks again guys
Mark

PS, Colin, I took your advice about the email address

> Oops! Sorry, it was Erics advice! ;-)

No worries - the next thing is to get mailwasher installed pronto and any
spam that comes to that address bounce without viewing it.

If you use lookOut, you may also want to check that it won`t download any
remotely held images etc as you preview html mail, as they`re often
tagged to identify to a backend database that your address is valid.

If you`re on the lookout (ha !) for a different email program that is
inherently more secure, i`d recommend The Bat, but it`s commercial

http://www.ritlabs.com/the_bat/index.html

If anyone needs an "older" version of mailwasher with multiple account
support (from before it went commercial and the trial went to one account
only) email me, and i`ll see if I can find it :-} (address is valid)

> > ...any spam that comes to that address bounce without viewing it.
> Wrong (& big time) most spam comes from fraudulent email adresses so
> that if you bounce them they either go back to some other unsuspecting
> user who's adress has been used or cause congestion on the servers as
> the email adress doesn't exist. It is far better just to delete from
> server (& yes it is possible to do that with mailwasher)....

If the problem is "new" then you will be on relatively few spam lists, so
bouncing has the best chance of working at getting you removed before
everyone gets hold of it.

Yes, most spam is from forged headers, and i`ve had days where the email
address you see in the header has had 300+ emails *per hour* where
someone has used it as the bounce address, but they change the bounce
address every few days from previous experience.

My spam filter is now 1601 lines long for mailwasher, and does not
include any "(E-Mail Removed)" bullshit email addresses - the majority
is *@domain.com

A reduced version follows (country name blocking) - I have excluded .nl
..de and .hk from the list as I sometimes get legitimate mail from those
countries, just in case it`s useful for anyone to cut and paste into
their blacklist.txt - i`m sure i`ll have missed some, but if so, they
haven`t been a problem yet !

Sadly, a lot more seems to be coming with .com email addresses now, which
can only really be blocked per domain, unless you are creative (and
careful) with filters (see below)

---
*@*.ar 37811
*@*.at 37809
*@*.bg 0
*@*.biz 37821
*@*.bm 0
*@*.bn 37817
*@*.br 37821
*@*.by 0
*@*.bz 37813
*@*.ca 37820
*@*.cc 37821
*@*.ch 37822
*@*.cl 37800
*@*.cn 37822
*@*.co.jp 37778
*@*.co.za 37817
*@*.com.tw 37822
*@*.cu 37802
*@*.cz 37822
*@*.dk 37820
*@*.ee 37822
*@*.eg 37808
*@*.es 37818
*@*.fi 37799
*@*.fm 37793
*@*.gr 37812
*@*.hr 37793
*@*.hu 37818
*@*.id 37800
*@*.il 37798
*@*.info 37795
*@*.is 37780
*@*.it 37822
*@*.jp 37822
*@*.kr 37818
*@*.lk 0
*@*.lt 37822
*@*.lu 37815
*@*.lv 37819
*@*.md 37786
*@*.mil 37819
*@*.mn 0
*@*.my 37821
*@*.ne.jp 37818
*@*.no 37822
*@*.nu 37793
*@*.pe 0
*@*.pk 37813
*@*.pl 37822
*@*.pt 37817
*@*.ro 37819
*@*.ru 37821
*@*.sc 37807
*@*.se 37818
*@*.sg 0
*@*.si 37818
*@*.sk 37820
*@*.su 37795
*@*.tn 0
*@*.tr 37795
*@*.ua 0
*@*.us 37822
*@*.uy 0
*@*.ve 37808
*@*.vg 37793
*@*.vn 0
*@*.vu 37793
*@*.yu 37796
*@*.za 37822
---

These might be of use in filters.txt

---
[enabled],"phentermine valium penis xanax pharmacy feel young
HGH",Filtered,16711680,OR,Hidden,Delete,Subject,co ntains,phentermine,Subj
ect,contains,valium,Subject,contains,xanax,Subject ,contains,viagra,Subjec
t,contains,penis,Subject,contains,pharmacy,Subject ,contains,"feel
young",Subject,contains,HGH,Subject,contains,"lose
weight",Subject,contains,paxil
[enabled],"more drug
filters",Filtered,16711680,OR,Hidden,Delete,Subjec t,contains,ambien,Subje
ct,contains,prescription,Subject,contains,diazempa m,Subject,contains,adip
ex,Subject,contains,trazodone,Subject,contains,"we ight
loss",Subject,contains,"look younger",Subject,contains,"pain
meds",Subject,contains,"herbal super",Subject,contains,"good health
boost"
[enabled],"digital cable / CATV /
phones",Filtered,16711680,OR,Hidden,Delete,Subject ,contains,"digital
cable",Subject,contains,CATV,Subject,contains,"pay per
view",Subject,contains,descrambler,Subject,contain s,"FREE PAY
PER",Subject,contains,"cell antenna",Subject,contains,"BANNED
CD!",Subject,contains,"cell signal",Subject,contains,"antenna boosters"
[enabled],"general
filters",Filtered,16711680,OR,Hidden,Delete,Subjec t,contains,"coral
calcium",Subject,contains,"pain medication",Subject,contains,"100%
guaranteed to
work",Subject,contains,pharmaceuticals,Subject,con tains,"seek of
spam",Subject,contains,"pain relief",Subject,contains,"stop
smoking",Subject,contains,"your confidence"
[enabled],"loan
crap",Filtered,16711680,OR,Hidden,Delete,Subject,c ontains,"student
loan",Subject,contains,"your debt",Subject,contains,"get your gold
visa",Subject,contains,"home loan status"
---