Router blocking some sites?

[rearnold]

I recently switched to cable from dialup and addes a Linksys BEFSR41 router to my network. It seems now though that the router is blocking some websites. My old homepage http://www.msnbc.com won't load, but if I try http://207.46.238.109 it loads up fine. This is an identical problem on 3 machines, 1 running Windows ME and 2 running XP. The also happens on various sites, Akaimai.com being another. I've poured over the Linksys manual, and their web site, but can't find anything pertaining to only certain sites. I can use dialup though, and connect to any site.
Does this sound like a router trouble? Or could this actually be an ISP (Charter Pipeline) trouble? They're taking the safe approach and denying everything.
Thanks

[Murman]

your ISP's DNS is acting naughty .. I'm having the same problem

[rearnold]

Thanks, a relief I guess. At least it's not my end. Charter doesn't seem very responsive, acutally they act like they don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I cannot stand the cheesy built in DHCP service on home market routers...find them not always reliable.

Here's an experiment, and it's how I setup all my broadband clients unless I have a real NT server on the network to run DHCP.

Find out your ISP's two DNS servers....easily done by checking the status page of your Linksys web admin, calling your ISP, looking at your ISP's support site, or any docs that they sent you when you signed up.

Now, on one of your workstations, instead of using having your TCP/IP properties set to auto on everything...manually specify the settings.

Assuming your Linksys settings are default....you will want to leave DHCP turned on in the router just for a safety net for you, and assign IP addresses outside the DHCP range, which is 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.253. The router itself takes 192.168.1.1, so that leaves you a range of 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.99 to play with.

IP 192.168.1.11 next computer 192.168.1.12...next computer 192.168.1.13....up to .99
subnet of 255.255.255.0....same for all

Gateway 192.168.1.1 which is the router itself...will be the same for all your computers.

WINS....leave DISABLED for all...not use DHCP...not specified..but disabled.

DNS....host is simply your computers network name, seen on the identification tab. Can be whatever you want. Domain is just your ISP's formal domain name, such as SNET.NET Then enter your ISP's two DNS servers. Reboot.....give it a shot. If it doesn't work, simply change back to what you had, obtain IP auto, disable DNS, and clear your gateway...and you only lost 5 minutes time.

[jujet84]

Just a note to say I had no problem loading up site:cool:

[rearnold]

Thanks, I'll try your suggestion tomorrow.