Problems using Channel 4od this week?

rebelden

For the past few days im getting 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme. Anyone else having the same problem

endakenny

It's the same with me. Perhaps an e-mail of complaint can be sent. Check the Channel 4 website.

endakenny

Here's how to make a complaint:
http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us

jeffbluesmoke

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

icdg

Just tried it and it seems to be working fine for me.

Mind you, using 4OD always brings the risk of seeing that promo with David Mitchell and his ergonomic management keyboard, which annoys me ...

jeffbluesmoke

firefox and adblock plus = no ads (still love that ergonomic keyboard bit though)

endakenny

jeffbluesmoke wrote: »

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

Why would 4oD block people routing from eircom?

solerina

jeffbluesmoke wrote: »

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

Sorry to be so clueless, but how do I do this ??? My 4OD is still not working, another eircom customer here and never had problems with 4od before, thanks

Rockys Lover

cheers jeffbluesmoke, my True Blood viewing is sorted!

Solerina - Control panel, network connections - should be easy from there

Richard tea

Thanks Jeff, its working now but the 4od site seemed to take a long time to load Could changing dns options effect broadband speed?

profsasquatch

We were having the same problem and contacted Channel 4 directly, they were very helpful and confirmed that they do provide their service to the RoI with no restriction (see the FAQs on their own) and suggested several things to try to resolve the issue. Having attempted all the solutions 4oD suggested with no success, I contacted Eircom directly. Initially they tried to fob me off but eventually I had the situation resolved with the same work-around that jeffbluesmoke recommended.

But, why are Eircom's own DNS servers currently not allowing people to view 4oD content? 4oD is the only UK content provider I'm aware of that makes their content freely available to users in the RoI and yet the country's biggest ISP's default DNS servers aren't allowing people to view the content. Maybe it's the sceptic in me, but the only reason I can think of is that they are saving themselves a lot of bandwidth (=money) by stopping people streaming 4oD content.

icdg

I don't see what gain it would be for them and they are not blocking RTÉ Player or TV3/TG4's catch up service.

Like I said, I'm on Eircom and having no problems with 4OD.

B.Racker

No 4 OD for a week !!

Will try a TOR solution and post results.

profsasquatch

icdg wrote: »

I don't see what gain it would be for them and they are not blocking RTÉ Player or TV3/TG4's catch up service.

Like I said, I'm on Eircom and having no problems with 4OD.

Like I said I'm a bit of a sceptic. But RTE, TV3 & TG4 are all, located in Ireland and operate on a network that is already largely run/owned by Eircom and they would likely be paying Eircom or someone else who pays Eircom to use Eircom's network. 4oD comes from the UK so Eircom would have to pay someone else.

I may well be wrong but seeing as it appears to be a problem with Eircom's DNS servers, or the ones they use, as the work around is to bypass their default DNS servers, it would be great if they sorted it out as some of us are having problems.

endakenny

jeffbluesmoke wrote: »

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

Thanks, jeffbluesmoke. My sister studied this and figured out the rest of it.

batistuta9

jeffbluesmoke wrote: »

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

where are you entering this from the router is it?
and what IP add. do you use the one already there?

Kathy22

I couldn't figure out how to configure the DNS with the instructions above but the below instructions helped:

http://thomasgeraghty.wordpress.com/...ch-to-opendns/

This is thanks to Richard tea who posted it in the Arts board (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75409914#post75409914)

So glad to have my 4OD back

endakenny

Go to the Start Menu, at bottom left hand corner of computer screen.

Go to Control Panel - Network Connections

Right-click on "Local Area Conection - Click on "properties"

Scroll down to "Internet Protococl (TCP/IP)"
Highlight and click "Properties"

Click "Use the following DNS server addresses"

Fill in Preferred DNS server 208.67.222.222

Alternative DNS Server 208.67.220.220

Click OK.

mum2be

Hi endakenny, I've been following this on Boards for a few weeks as I can't get 4OD either.
When it comes to filling in the preferred dns server number 208.67.222.222 it tells me that the network address entered is invalid. Any ideas on what I should do? Thanks.

batistuta9

@mum2be I'm only after trying this a minute ago and it works. cheers enda

make sure it's Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) that your doing it to, that's the only thing i can thing of but that mightn't even be right. It definitely works though so give it another go

mum2be

batistuta9, thanks, I was able to enter the numbers on version 4 but I've still no luck with 4OD. Anyone else able to help? Thanks.

mum2be

Hi, I'm trying the tutorial that was mentioned in a previous post, hope I've luck with that.

mum2be

Hi, got it and it's working. Thanks for posting these solutions.

Cherrycola

Thank god for google, and finding this! Ive been wondering for weeks why 4OD wasnt working, emailed them and got no joy.

This fix has worked perfectly. :D

Id love to know why its an Eircom problem though, and why they havent sorted it out. :rolleyes:

Feu

thanks for the DNS workaround folks

Feu

Eek it's still not working for me. Do i need to reset modems or do anything else special after i put in the DNS numbers?

ta

pow wow

Any ideas how to implement that fix on a mac? Cheers.

jujumushu

pow wow wrote: »

Any ideas how to implement that fix on a mac? Cheers.

Second that! Can't get it working on Safari, Chrome and Firefox... used to work fine all the time but since they updated the website I can't get it to work at all

dr.pepper123

*bump* another mac user looking for help

pow wow

A friend gave me the following fix which has worked on my Tiger mac:

Go to Apple icon > System Preferences > Network ( wireless option ) > configure > TCP/IP tab

In the DNS Servers box use the following DNS addresses (separating the rows by hitting enter)

8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

Click 'Apply Now'.

That's with Eircom btw. Hope it works for you guys too!

adcom

Hi All,

Thanks for posting this thread. My 4od isnt working either, however i am a UPS internet customer, not eircom. i have the latest version of flash player etc and i was watching content on 4od last week but this week nothing- not even an error message. it lets me press play, warns me of language etc and then it does nothing- no error message or anything- the picture on the screen just stays there. The youtube channel isnt working for me either. Any ideas od solutions would be well appreciated!!

Thanks a million!!:)

mrsberries

adcom wrote: »

Hi All,

Thanks for posting this thread. My 4od isnt working either, however i am a UPS internet customer, not eircom. i have the latest version of flash player etc and i was watching content on 4od last week but this week nothing- not even an error message. it lets me press play, warns me of language etc and then it does nothing- no error message or anything- the picture on the screen just stays there. The youtube channel isnt working for me either. Any ideas od solutions would be well appreciated!!

Thanks a million!!:)

Adcom, Im exactly the same as you. Also a UPC customer and nothing wrong with the connection. Im able to view some clips on the actual C4 channel but nothing on 4od.

Irish Steve

This is getting interesting, off thread for a moment, but interesting. I am beginning to wonder if there is a wider DNS issue that's somehow affecting DNS providers in general, and across a wide number of suppliers.

I've been seeing very slow responses to DNS resolutions, and made a switch to OpenDNS a few days back, and the issues seem to have been reduced, and my ISP is neither Eircom or UPC, I'm using Imagine, who historically have not been a bad ISP.

My suspicion is that there's either some strange and unreported DNS hacking type attacks going on, or someone/ a group of someones has/have found a way of compromising DNS servers that is causing massive slow downs at those servers.

Then again, I suppose it could be nothing more sinister than huge numbers of people using sites like Amazon or E-Bay or the like to find bargains at prices they can afford, given the crazy distortions that are still being reported in some areas of retail.

What I do know is that I am seeing things like packet loss, and slow response times from server that as far as I can tell are part of the Internet routing system rather than specific devices in the local ISP's farm. It may be congestion, or technical issues with either cables or hardware, bottom line is that whatever it is, the end result is a poor performance to the end user, which too often is then blamed on the ISP, even though it may be totally outside of their control.

I've also seen some very strange routings on recent ping path checks, things like routes to the States that were going via Paris and London before heading across the Atlantic. That may be down to costs and who owns which particular piece of cable, but it seems strange to me to route several hops in the wrong direction before reversing that route.

It could even be that someone somewhere is doing something malicious, and these are the ripple down side effects of activities that are aimed at other areas of the net that we're not seeing in the links or routes that are being discussed here, that's much more nebulous, but have to admit that the nature of the issues is beginning to make me wonder.

If I was to be totally cynical and paranoid I'd be suggesting that the IMF and ECB are having all Irish Internet traffic routed through Europe so that they can make sure that we're not moving funds out of the Euro before the thing collapses, but that would be just being totally paranoid with conspiracy theory;), so we won't go there will we:), even they are not that powerful are they:p

Rowley Birkin QC

I'm having trouble using 4OD but put it down to the fact I was trying to use it on a Touchpad.

icdg

Okay, take the conspiracy theories to, er, Conspiracy Theories, please!!!!!

batistuta9

Irish Steve wrote: »

This is getting interesting, off thread for a moment, but interesting. I am beginning to wonder if there is a wider DNS issue that's somehow affecting DNS providers in general, and across a wide number of suppliers.

I've been seeing very slow responses to DNS resolutions, and made a switch to OpenDNS a few days back, and the issues seem to have been reduced, and my ISP is neither Eircom or UPC, I'm using Imagine, who historically have not been a bad ISP.

My suspicion is that there's either some strange and unreported DNS hacking type attacks going on, or someone/ a group of someones has/have found a way of compromising DNS servers that is causing massive slow downs at those servers.

Then again, I suppose it could be nothing more sinister than huge numbers of people using sites like Amazon or E-Bay or the like to find bargains at prices they can afford, given the crazy distortions that are still being reported in some areas of retail.

What I do know is that I am seeing things like packet loss, and slow response times from server that as far as I can tell are part of the Internet routing system rather than specific devices in the local ISP's farm. It may be congestion, or technical issues with either cables or hardware, bottom line is that whatever it is, the end result is a poor performance to the end user, which too often is then blamed on the ISP, even though it may be totally outside of their control.

I've also seen some very strange routings on recent ping path checks, things like routes to the States that were going via Paris and London before heading across the Atlantic. That may be down to costs and who owns which particular piece of cable, but it seems strange to me to route several hops in the wrong direction before reversing that route.

It could even be that someone somewhere is doing something malicious, and these are the ripple down side effects of activities that are aimed at other areas of the net that we're not seeing in the links or routes that are being discussed here, that's much more nebulous, but have to admit that the nature of the issues is beginning to make me wonder.

If I was to be totally cynical and paranoid I'd be suggesting that the IMF and ECB are having all Irish Internet traffic routed through Europe so that they can make sure that we're not moving funds out of the Euro before the thing collapses, but that would be just being totally paranoid with conspiracy theory;), so we won't go there will we:), even they are not that powerful are they:p

I had the problem before with 4od as well but it the DNS fix posted here sorted that problem, i never noticed anything like pages being slow to load etc.(if that's what you meant by very slow responses to DNS resolutions) if i were to be paranoid i'd blame the irish tv networks - them telling irish ISP's to block access so people would have to watch their players but that's probably not happening either & a far fetched conspiracy theory.

But you know that all irish traffic gets routed through dublin(this could be monitored???) in one of the colleges - tallaght it i think - (your the guy who posted in IT bubble thread right) anyway what i wanted to tell you is a lecture told our class that brittain is starting to/going to/trying to monitor all traffic going through their main routers in london. some packets coming to ireland pass through london as well so you weren't that far off. Also i've seen packets going to paris & london before dublin, i tried cisco & nhl.com there now but they went straight to the states after dublin

DitzyPoo92

Anyone have step by step instructions on how to do this on a Windows 7 laptop? I'm a bit lost when it comes to computers

batistuta9

DitzyPoo92 wrote: »

Anyone have step by step instructions on how to do this on a Windows 7 laptop? I'm a bit lost when it comes to computers

1. open the start menu & type in view network connections, it'll appear at the top
2. open it, then right click your internet connection(one with the green bars) click on properties
3. click on Internet Properties Version 4(TCP/IPv4) then click properties
select use the following DNS server addresses.
For Preferred DNS server enter 208.67.222.222
For Alternative DNS Server 208.67.220.220
click ok

Feu

I will definitely expose my bimbo status with this comment, but it could help someone else, so here goes:

I was putting [as suggested!!!] the above numbers into the LAN properties box. And 4od was still missing. It was only when i did as batistuta suggested and put the new numbers into the actual working connection [wireless] with the green bars, that it worked. for what is now clear to me a very obvious reason!

/shameful searching of 4od back catalogue....

V6DEC

Folks - This is not a Problem with Eircom DNS Servers, it's simply a problem with the DNS-Proxy that is build into older Eircom modems.
Just specify the Eircom DNS Servers directly and you will be sorted.
Please see the following article and a post by me for details:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74835351

V6DEC

BTW: Eircom DNS Server's are 159.134.0.1 & 159.134.0.2.
Avoid using OpenDNS - Eircom's Servers are much faster! Run a DNS Test and see for yourself....

batistuta9

this is your post from the other thread

This is NOT at problem with the Eircom DNS Servers. The problem is actually the DNS-Proxy built into some old Netopia Modems and those Modems are blocking some DNS packets when you try to access the 4OD Service. By default, when you connect your PC/Laptop/Smart-phone to most Home Routers / DSL Modems you will be assigned via DHCP a private IP Address, and also a defauly Gateway of for e.g. 192.168.1.254 i.e. The DSL Modem itself. You will notice too that you are also assigned (also via DNCP) a single DNS Server IP Address which is that of the modem i.e. 192.168.1.254. In turn, the modem then uses the DNS Servers assigned to it by the Eircom BRAS but what's important to note here is that by default all local DNS requests are just proxied to the Modem and this often causes some issue's like what you may experience with 40D. There are many solutions e.g. Obtain a newer modem but the easiest is to just assign the Eircom DNS Servers directly on your local Network configuration on PC/Laptop/Ipad or whatever. I disagree with the above comment that Google DNS is faster that Eircom's - Download some DNS test tools and run them against both - Eircom will always be your closest/nearest DNS Server and will nearly always reply back quicker than any other DNS Server. Hope this help sort issue's for anyone using an old Modem and trying to access the 4OD Service.

is it by only changing the DNS in the network connections that this will work? i mean even if you change the DNS servers on the router will you still get the problem because of DNCP giving a server add. to the router

allanpkr

help.not tech savvy, im on fixed wireless westnet 4od not working.can anyone tell me how i do it.i also have a blueface configured router .ty for any help

allanpkr

tried 4OD this morning, seems to be back, didnt do anything ,but i did like the EU conspiracy theory. lol

hbonbr

endakenny wrote: »

Go to the Start Menu, at bottom left hand corner of computer screen.

Go to Control Panel - Network Connections

Right-click on "Local Area Conection - Click on "properties"

Scroll down to "Internet Protococl (TCP/IP)"
Highlight and click "Properties"

Click "Use the following DNS server addresses"

Fill in Preferred DNS server 208.67.222.222

Alternative DNS Server 208.67.220.220

Click OK.

Thanks a million Enda.

Thanks also to bluesmoke for getting the technical info, but I needed the step by step before I could implement it.

Must I do this each time i boot up?

What a pain of eircom to do this, I am going to look for alternatives, I hate having to faff around looking for solutions to problems that shouldn't exist

garbarrage

jeffbluesmoke wrote: »

hi all ex-eircom isp tech here

checked the connection with Eircom - failed got the same error 'an error has occured when trying to play a chosen programme'

checked with Clearwire - streaming perfect

issue appears to be with eircom DNS or 4oD blocking people routing from Eircom

Solution -

manually enter yourself and IP address, subnet and Gateway and give yourself the OpenDNS servers

First DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

tested on xp/unix/win7/ios5

jeffers

Tried this. Getting a message that says these servers are not valid. Any suggestions as to why this might be?

stereomatic

I am computer illiterate, I am reading DNS this and DNS that and talks of ex-eircom users saying this and eircom users saying that their computer is working, mine is not. "error" and "Error" followed by more "ERROR". Somebody please give me an answer in plain lay terms without urge or proselytization for what is wrong and why it is wtong and simple as if I am a 3 year old how it can be remedied without promotion or extra charge onto me. Also will somebody please tell me what a DNS is My apology if I upset anybody that is not my intention I am just frustrated

garbarrage

stereomatic wrote: »

I am computer illiterate, I am reading DNS this and DNS that and talks of ex-eircom users saying this and eircom users saying that their computer is working, mine is not. "error" and "Error" followed by more "ERROR". Somebody please give me an answer in plain lay terms without urge or proselytization for what is wrong and why it is wtong and simple as if I am a 3 year old how it can be remedied without promotion or extra charge onto me. Also will somebody please tell me what a DNS is My apology if I upset anybody that is not my intention I am just frustrated

Figured it put myself. No idea what a DNS is but here's the step by step:

1) Click on your start menu (Bottom toolbar on left hand side)
2) click on control panel
3) click on view network status and tasks
4) click on wireless network connection (eircom and a long number)
5) click properties (the one on the bottom left with the shield)
6) highlight internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click properties
7) click on the option to use the following DNS server addresses which will open the 2 entry fields.
8) In preferred DNS server enter 208.67.222.222
and in alternate DNS server enter 208.67.220.220
9) click ok.

Works on my version of windows but they are all similar. If you can get to step 6 you are on your way.

Shryke

I just found this topic. It deserves a bump. The fix given works great. Wtf are eircom playing at?

Qs

Thanks garbarrage, that worked a treat.

icdg

We don't drag up old threads.