If you are reading this, you have successfully connected to the forum. However, you may have friends that are having trouble getting back on the forum after the web host move in mid-March, 2009. Or, you may have more than one ISP (Internet Service Provider) and can get online with one but not the other. For example, one member has 2 mobile data cards from 2 different providers and could get online with one but not the other. Another member could get online with his mobile data card but not on his home Internet with his DSL provider.
The trouble is that different ISPs are taking differing amounts of time to update their Domain Name Servers (DNS) with the new IP address of the forum on our new host. Over time, it will all be resolved on its own. Until then however, if you have an opportunity to help a friend that you know is having trouble getting online or you yourself is still having trouble using one method or another or one computer or another, try doing a DNS Flush.
Depending on your computers operating system, select and perform one of the DNS Flush procedures below, as provided by Michael Kidd. And if the DNS Flush does not work for you, consider the OPEN DNS process, also detailed below.
Thank you and our apologies for the inconvenience.
Jim Beletti and Michael Kidd
DNS FLUSH PROCEDURES - CHOOSE THE CORRECT ONE FOR YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM
For Windows XP:
For Windows Vista:
For Mac OS X Before Leopard:
For Mac OS X Leopard and newer:
OPEN DNS PROCEDURE - "CONSIDER" IF DNS FLUSH DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU
If the DNS Flush does not clear the problem, then the easiest way to have reliable access to the site is to set your computer ( or your router if you use one ) to use a Free DNS provider called OpenDNS. This free service offers high speed DNS services in exchange for providing search results in the event that you mistype a URL.
You are not required to sign up for an account, although if you opt to
do so you'll have much more control over some aspects of your web
surfing. For example, OpenDNS has the most up to date DNS software
which prevents you from being succeptible to DNS Spoofing attacks which
are becoming more of a problem with smaller local ISP's which don't
maintain their software. For a full list of other features, please
check http://www.opendns.com/solutions/homenetwork/
To get started using this service, please follow the instruction on the
following web site: https://www.opendns.com/start/
This site provides directions on how to update settings for several
different types of computers as well as the typical routers in use today.
Hughes Net users: I've recently found out that Hughes Net blocks attempts to use 3rd party DNS servers like OpenDNS. If you use Hughes Net for your internet access, please let me know. There is an alternative way to get your system working, but it is a little more involved.
The trouble is that different ISPs are taking differing amounts of time to update their Domain Name Servers (DNS) with the new IP address of the forum on our new host. Over time, it will all be resolved on its own. Until then however, if you have an opportunity to help a friend that you know is having trouble getting online or you yourself is still having trouble using one method or another or one computer or another, try doing a DNS Flush.
Depending on your computers operating system, select and perform one of the DNS Flush procedures below, as provided by Michael Kidd. And if the DNS Flush does not work for you, consider the OPEN DNS process, also detailed below.
Thank you and our apologies for the inconvenience.
Jim Beletti and Michael Kidd
DNS FLUSH PROCEDURES - CHOOSE THE CORRECT ONE FOR YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM
For Windows XP:
- Click "Start"
- Choose "Run"
- Type "cmd" in the space provided for. Then press "Enter" key.
- When the command window opens, type "ipconfig /flushdns" and press enter.
- Type "exit" and press enter
For Windows Vista:
- Click "Start"
- Click "All Programs"
- Click "Accessories"
- Right Click "Command Prompt"
- Click "Run as Administrator"
- When the command window opens, type "ipconfig /flushdns" on the command line (without the quotes)
- Type "exit" and press enter (without the quotes)
For Mac OS X Before Leopard:
- In Finder, click "Applications"
- Click the "Utilities" folder
- Double-click the "Terminal" icon
- Once the terminal window opens, type "sudo lookupd –flushcache" and press enter (without the quotes)
- When prompted, type in your user password
- Type "exit" and press enter (without the quotes)
For Mac OS X Leopard and newer:
- The procedure is the same as above for before Leopard, except for line 4. In place of line 4, type "sudo dscacheutil -flushcache" (without the quotes)
OPEN DNS PROCEDURE - "CONSIDER" IF DNS FLUSH DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU
If the DNS Flush does not clear the problem, then the easiest way to have reliable access to the site is to set your computer ( or your router if you use one ) to use a Free DNS provider called OpenDNS. This free service offers high speed DNS services in exchange for providing search results in the event that you mistype a URL.
You are not required to sign up for an account, although if you opt to
do so you'll have much more control over some aspects of your web
surfing. For example, OpenDNS has the most up to date DNS software
which prevents you from being succeptible to DNS Spoofing attacks which
are becoming more of a problem with smaller local ISP's which don't
maintain their software. For a full list of other features, please
check http://www.opendns.com/solutions/homenetwork/
To get started using this service, please follow the instruction on the
following web site: https://www.opendns.com/start/
This site provides directions on how to update settings for several
different types of computers as well as the typical routers in use today.
Hughes Net users: I've recently found out that Hughes Net blocks attempts to use 3rd party DNS servers like OpenDNS. If you use Hughes Net for your internet access, please let me know. There is an alternative way to get your system working, but it is a little more involved.
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