This topic

DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:02:52 GMT

Hi all,

I started using a TP link TL-WPA4220T for the first time yesterday afternoon. We have an older cctv box and wanted to connect it to the wifi/use an app and it’s nowhere near the BT hub, so the TP link seemed the obvious answer.

It all connected up fine using WPS and everything has been working fine since then, until an hour ago when our main PC disconnect and stated “DNS server not responding”.

I’ve restarted the BT hub and every other device has reconnected fine (phones, iPads kids laptops and Xbox) but that main PC still won’t connect and neither will my main Sky Q box. Sky says it’s connected to the broadband but has no internet connection.

I’m assuming it’s to do with the TP link but it’s all been working fine for more than 24 hours until now.

Can anyone help in a “WIFI for dummies” kind of way please?

The PC that won’t connect is in the same room as the cctv box and therefore the TP link extender that I’m using to connect the CCTV via an Ethernet cable - not sure if that makes a difference... And the Sky Q is in the same room as the BT hub and the first TP adapter.

Thanks if anyone can help

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 20:25:54 GMT

UPDATE

I’ve unplugged all the elements of the TP link and everything is ok again. Does this mean I just can’t use the TP link? Or is there some way to configure it to keep everything compatible? It’s a shame because we also had a second extender improving the signal in my sons garden cabin and now he can’t use this either :o(

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

Les-Gibson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:31:43 GMT

It sounds like the TP Link units stopped communicating with one another, you may well have cleared the fault simply by powering them down

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:45:02 GMT

Thanks for your response. If the TP links stopped communicating with each other, would that have stopped the Sky and PC from connecting to the internet? The actual BT hub was fine and solid blue, and the Sky and pc shouldn’t have been reliant on the TP link, as they normally just connect to the BT hub with no problems. Thanks

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:47:46 GMT

Make sure the TP link devices aren't using the same wifi channel as the hub.

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

Les-Gibson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:48:22 GMT

Sorry, I was under the impression from your first post that your Sky box was connected via the TP link

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:58:37 GMT

Thanks - could you explain how I do this please? How and what do I check?

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:01:44 GMT

Check in the hub manager which channels are being used for the 2.4G and 5G wireless (Advanced settings >wireless > configuration), and then check in the TP Link app which channel the extender is using. Change one or other if they are using the same channel.

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:03:04 GMT

Sorry no. Everything in the house has been connected just to the BT hub until yesterday. The TP link was bought purely to connect my cctv box upstairs. No other devices need to be reliant on the TP link.

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:08:01 GMT

Will try that tomorrow thanks! I haven’t used a TP link app so far... it’s just all connected up on its own - I’ll have to try and find the app!

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

DarrenDev — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:15:56 GMT

Classic symptoms of another DHCP server being introduced on the network. Your devices will refresh their IP configuration every 24 hours - when attempting to refresh, another device could have replied that doesn't itself have internet access.
You say your son is also using an extender to boost signal in his cabin - is there any chance he's plugged a router into his end? Possibly to use it as a switch? Maybe an old BT Hub? If so, it needs to be configured to turn off the DHCP server.

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:32:15 GMT

Hi thanks for your reply. No nothing plugged in at the cabin end, apart from the extender -that one will be purely used as a wireless wifi booster because it’s quite far down the garden and he doesn’t always get great signal. So I have the BT hub in the lounge, plugged into this via Ethernet is the first TP adapter, in the cabin we have one TP extender (nothing else) and upstairs we have the other TP extender which then plugs into my cctv DVR box via Ethernet. When I introduced the TP link I plugged everything in, linked both extenders using WPS and everything just started working. I didn’t have to change any settings or configure anything. No problems until (like you said) about 24 hours later. Can you advise any further please? For now I’ve had to unplug all the TP stuff to get my PC and Sky Q connected back to the internet. I should add that if you give me any instructions, I will need it described really basic terms LOL 🐵

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

DarrenDev — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:54:19 GMT

OK, so you have a few variables introduced at the same time. The best thing you can do is test one part at a time.
You say that your PC fails to access the internet when this problem is present, so let's use that as the test. I'm going to assume your PC is running Windows, so tap the start button in the bottom left of your screen and start typing on your keyboard:

command prompt

You'll see a black rectangle app icon, and an app called "Command Prompt" - select it. In the black box that appears type the following command and hit enter:

ipconfig /renew

You'll see a bunch of text appear - you can ignore it for now.

After each test, run the above command and then try to access the internet from your browser on that PC as normal.

My recommended order of events would be:

1. Plug everything in - i.e. the situation that normally breaks it. Wait for the TP-Link to connect, then run the above command and see if the internet is broken. If it is, then continue with step 2 - otherwise, my idea is blown, and we need a new plan.

2. Unplug everything to put it back to working state again, and run the above commands to confirm it's working.

3. Plug in just the TP-Link master device near your hub, wait a minute for it to boot, then test.

4. Plug in the extender you're using for CCTV, but don't connect the CCTV to it. Wait a minute for it to boot and connect, then test.

5. Plug the CCTV into the extender, and test - confirm that both the PC and CCTV are working.

6. Plug in the cabin extender. Wait a minute for it to boot and connect, then test.

If it still hasn't failed at this point and there are any other devices that you're also connecting, add them one at a time before testing.

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

Les-Gibson — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:04:44 GMT

@louthompson1wrote:
Hi thanks for your reply. No nothing plugged in at the cabin end, apart from the extender -that one will be purely used as a wireless wifi booster because it’s quite far down the garden

You make it sound like an extremely large garden, is it in excess of 300M? if so you're wasting your time

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:19:48 GMT

The garden is 120ft so any devices used down there are about 150ft from the hub, which is at the front of the house. We also have a BT disk by the back door. Sometimes the wifi reaches the cabin and sometimes it doesn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

louthompson1 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:24:07 GMT

Thanks so much, I will give all that a try, I have to wait to late afternoon as my children are homeschooling on live lessons so I can’t keep messing with the internet during the day. So because it worked fine for the first 24 hours, should I run these tests straight away or wait until the problem occurs again? If I pair all the TP stuff up again now I reckon there’s a chance it might work fine again for the first 24 hours. Thanks

Re: DNS server not responding after introducing a TP link

DarrenDev — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 11:21:02 GMT

The commands I gave to run on your PC should cause the issue to happen straight away rather than take 24 hours. Try step 1 and after running those commands it should fail straight away. If it doesn't, then there's something else at play.