Forum Discussion
Connection Problems- Only with AOL
The problem started a week to 10 days ago. I can not connect to AOL via my hughes Gen5 connection. We both use aol mail (yes, I know there are better options, and I may look into that, but when you have had the same address forever, switching is hard to do)
Now, not only can I/we not connect to our mail, we also can not connect to aol.com (main website) I thought this might be a router problem, as a couple of other websites were pretty slow. Just put in a new TP-Link AC1200. It is working fine. All other websites come up quickly. Running Win10. This is happening on ALL of our computers, 3 laptops and this decktop. When trying to connect, I get the "This site can't be reached. Mail.aol.com took too long to respond". This desktop is running wired through the router, the other computers are running wireless.
When I break the phones out, and go to the 'mobil hotspot route', we can connect. Again, on all 4 computers.
We have exceeded our download allowance, but we are working on 7 gigs of purchased allowance. Regardless of that, this started when we were still in our allowance, and it happens during 'Bonus Time', so I do not think it is an 'allowance' problem.
I am pretty computer literate, so this isn't a basic knowledge issue (I hope). I have also torn up Google looking for answers. There was something about disabling the IPv6 settings. No joy. Then there was something about changing the IPv4 settings and going to a directed DNS Server address. Tried that also. No good.
Wife, who is NOT computer literate, suggested a System Restore. I do not think that will work, but I was halfway through this post when she brought it up. I will try that, and come back if it works. Otherwise, assume it didn't. Can't think it would anyway, unless there is some virus that infected all 4 computers, through Malware Byes, and is specific to Hughes not connecting to AOL.
So, short story, in review. Can not connect via Hughes to any form of AOL (including the help articles listed in Google searches) If it says AOL in the address, it will not load. It WILL load via a phones' mobil hotspot.
One other thing is that, if you'd like to schedule the file downloads, but you don't like the idea of leaving your PC on (I don't), or messing with trying to schedule the downloads to your PC, you can schedule the file download(s) to your Android or IOS device using the PlayOn Cloud app, then copy the files to your PC.
BTW, don't forget to change the resolution on the app if you want it to be better than standard. I'm fine with standard, which is DVD quality, but some people want it to be better, regardless of the increased file size for the program/movie. I believe 720p is the maximum resolution, but that's still very good.
If you try it and you like it, please let us know. I'm still deciding whether to get it, though I probably will. It's cheap, and lets you easily take advantage of the Bonus Zone data, and even those twenty days of data resets with your upgrade (make sure first, though, of course). :)
You should try the following...
1. Shut down your connected devices.
2. Turn off your router.
3. Unplug your HughesNet modem from either the wall outlet or the power brick (NOT at the back of the modem), then disconnect your router from the modem.
4. Connect your desktop directly to the HughesNet modem with a LAN cable.
5. Wait at least a minute (from when you first unplugged the modem), then plug your HughesNet modem back in.
6. Wait at least five minutes so that the HughesNet modem is fully up and ready, then start up the directly connected desktop and try to go to the sites.
7. If that works, then shut the desktop back down and disconnect it from the modem. Then reconnect the router to the modem, reconnect your desktop to the router, turn the router on, wait a few minutes for the router to be fully up, then start the desktop again and retry the sites. If it works, try your other devices.
I tried all that a couple of days after this all started. No joy.
System Restore did not work last night either. Not that I expected it to.
But, not to be stubborn, I tried it again.
Modem was unplugged at the brick. Currently running directly from Hughes Modem to computer. Same situation.
Wife is on the other computer, in the kitchen, running off her Verizon hotspot, answering her mail.
If the DNS records are corrupted, you have to turn off every device connecting to the modem before rebooting the modem. Failing to do that may just re-corrupt the DNS entry because you're likely repopulating it with the bad one instead of getting the correct one off the internet. The correct procedure is:
1. Turn off all devices (computers, phones, anything connected)
2. Turn off the modem and or any additonal routers by unplugging the power cord from the wall socket.3. Wait a minute and restart modem/routers.
4. Wait until the system light on the modem is lit and start turning your devices back on.
Tried that. No AOL/Yahoo. It works on all my devices when i go off Hughesnet.
Lorenzo wrote:Tried that. No AOL/Yahoo. It works on all my devices when i go off Hughesnet.
This forum doesn't automatically give an indication of who or what is being replied to, so if you're replying to a specific post, especially when it's a long thread like this one, it's best to indicate what that post is, whether by quoting the post, like I did with yours, or just typing what it is you're replying to, like in a letter. To quote the post, first click reply in order to start the reply to it, then click the quote button on the upper right of the message body. You can also edit the quote if it's a long one and you're replying only to a specific part.
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I had a similar problem last year, except it effected several sites for three days. I think your problem is probably somewhere out in that never-never land past the Hughes gateway. When I run a traceroute from a Linux terminal for aol.com it goes through 30 hops. I don't claim to be an expert on all this, but it seems to me that a problem with any of these hops could make aol.com unreachable. Your hot spot is probably not using the bad hop and therefore works.
I know this is not going to be much help, but I've seen this sort of problem before, and I think it will eventually be resolved. Posting about it here is a good start.
I have the same problem with AOL and also Yahoo. Also a couple other sites. I finally troubleshooted and found it was Hughesnet that was the issue. I could get the sites at work, at ISP's other than Hughesnet, and my Android. Very frustrating. Haven't found a solution.
You're piggybacking on an old thread that the mods ought to lock, since it's old and solved. If you have an issue you'd like to report or troubleshoot, you need to start a new topic. Go to Tech Support and click on "start a topic."
Issues logging on to specific sites are known and engineers are working on it. See this response.
Lorenzo wrote:
I have the same problem with AOL and also Yahoo. Also a couple other sites. I finally troubleshooted and found it was Hughesnet that was the issue. I could get the sites at work, at ISP's other than Hughesnet, and my Android. Very frustrating. Haven't found a solution.
