ngdawg

For the past 3 days I have not been able to connect with IRC, either thru Mirc or Xchat. My provider says it's not them-IRC says it might be a connection problem with the provider. Pinging gives no information except a few IP's with failure to connect.
Anyone else having this problem? Any ideas how to rectify?

KWSN

IDK ng, i haven't been able to get in either. Seems like the server is f'ed up.

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ngdawg

I received this email from fingers@fingers.co.za regarding this matter:

"I've just replied to a complainant who's using cablevision's service. in
that case the problem was on their side, a routing problem.

Please could you ask whoever has these issues to do this from a command
prompt:

tracert irc.shadowfire.org > c:\trace.txt

and mail me the contents of c:\trace.txt"

I've done so and await the reply- as of this morning, IRC is still not working.

KWSN

so it's only messed up with people who have cablevision?

being a cablevision user that makes sense... kind of... but that is weeeak.

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Halx

i called cablevision today and put in a report with this info... we'll see if it works

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ngdawg

I spoke with Cablevision tech support just now, he pinged, i pinged (it was a zen experience). Anyway, this person said that his tracert for IRC leaves the network, then times out, leading him to believe it is an IRC issue. Emailing IRC again.....sheesh

KWSN

this is just plain bizarre.... :-/

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Your arms are broken!

ngdawg

With Hal feeding me the script, I called Cablevision. If you ever have to call them and Henry answers, ask for someone else. He swore it wasn't Cablevision's problem, blaming my firewall, IRC, etc.(he even put on the report that my router wasn't connecting-I don't HAVE a router, unless you mean the one out in the garage next to the table saw, but I digress) However, in the voice message that begins the call routing, it is mentioned that there are connection issues out of Trenton. Hal also informed me there were connection issues out to Bethpage, NY.
My 3rd call to Cablevision got me to a man named Jerry. Seems there are some connecting problems they need to iron out.
If anyone who uses Cablevision or Optonline and is having any connection problems with any server, notify them, tell them of the Bethpage and Trenton problems and stay away from Henry!

ngdawg

Copy of email sent to Cablevision:
Below follows email correspondence with the IRC service provider, US.Shadowfire, org:
> I spoke with Cablevision tech support just now, he pinged, i pinged (it was
> a zen experience). Anyway, this person said that his tracert for IRC leaves
> the network, then times out, leading him to believe it is an IRC issue.
> to C&P what i sent earlier: tracert results:
>
> 1 * * * request timed out
> 2 11ms 17 ms 12ms dstswr2-vlan2.rh.pswnynj.cv.net[67.83.249.34]
> 3 10ms 11ms 14ms r4-ge11-2.nhe.prnynj.cv.net[67.83.249.5]
> 4 40ms 8ms 10ms re-srp3-0.wan.prnynj.cv.net[65.19.112.129]
> 5 rl-srpl13-0.in.nycmnyzr..cv.net [65.19.96.71] reports: destination host
> unreachable
> trace complete
RESPONSE FROM IRC/US. SHADOWFIRE.ORG IS AS FOLLOWS:
but it dies on .cv.net - cv.net = cablevision. cablevision need to either
resolve this themselves or with their upstreams.

the destination (196.7.148.15) is reachable in the global routing table
from many looking glasses, and 99% of our other international users aren't
affected, only people behind cv.net from what i can tell. feel free to put
him in direct contact with me should he not agree.

According to others who are serviced through Cablevision/Optonline, they too cannot get into any IRC(Internet Relay Chat) with their provider. Information
received through both Cablevision of Raritan Valley and independent sources shows connectivity issues through routing stations in both Trenton, NJ and Bethpage, NY.
As an internet provider, it is your responsibility to assure complete connectivity and resolve issues such as these in an expedited manner. As this is going on 5 days now, it seems not to be a high priority, and that simply is wrong.
Perhaps, in light of this, I should deduct a percentage off my monthly bill-since I use 3 service providers and my bill is $50 a month for Optonline, I feel it is fair to deduct 33% or about $15 until this is rectified.

Auto-Response - 02/08/2005 08:49 AM
They have yet to respond to my first email.
I have found an IP search site that has proved pretty useful. All timed out ping requests point to Cablevision (cv.net) or Time Warner, the owners of Optonline.

ARTelevision

good work, ng. thanks.

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ngdawg

I tried getting through from school and then pinged and tracert'd from there and here's the results:
ping-request timed out 3 times

tracerts:
10.37.32.1
10.37.38.1
12.144.46.1
206.121.209.221
tbr2-p012103.ny54ny.1p.att.net 12.123.0.130
ggr2-p3120.n54ny.1p.att.net 12.123.3.109
0.so-2-1-0.BR1.NYC4.ALTER.net 204.255.168.1
0.so-6-0-0.XL2.MYC4.ALTER.net 152.63.21.82
0.s0-4-0-0.TL2.NYC9.ALTER.net 152.63.23.129
0.so-7-0-0.TL2.ATL1.ALTER.net 152.63.10.125
0.so-5-0-0.XR2.MIA4.ALTER.net 152.63.81.42
0.so.3-0-0.XR2.MIA4.ALTER.net 152.63.101.45
206.ATM5-0.IH4.MIA4.ALTER.net 152.63.7.225
POS2-0-0.IR2.MIA6.ALTER.net 152.63.86.146
atm6-0-0 sub902.cr2.mia6.alter.net 196.30.229.2
vlan.hr1.cpt1.alter.net 196.30.176.36
vlan10.hrl.cpt1.alter.net 196.30.176.36
reports: destination not reachable

No mention of those IP's being forbidden, etc. and I downloaded Xchat just fine-just could not get shadowfire.org-got a couple others though.
Back to square one.

spectre

It may not be quite what you want to do, but have you tried shadowfire's Java chat?

__________________
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No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

ngdawg

Unable to connect-null. *sigh*
Xchat and Trillian didn't work either.
Shadowfire emailed me this morning saying those latest pings and tracerts are ok, so the problem IS with Cablevision( I don'tsee much difference between the two computers, but that's me-not a geek)

ngdawg

Spoke with Cablevision once again. While there seems to be a problem connecting to Shadowfire.org, it seems to be both ways-the IP's aren't getting along very nicely.
www.dnsstuff.com is a site(thanks, Mike from Cablevision) that allows anyone to tracert or ping out of their network. There appeared to be no or little problem from there, but still had pings timing out. This issue has been forwarded by "Mike" to their network engineers.

KWSN

I'm currently connected very nicely to dal.net and razorville.co.uk. I can't understand what would cause a problem between shadowfire and cablevision.

I'm thinking i'm going to see what happens if I use the java chat while browsing under an anonymizer.

__________________
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KWSN

Using that, I still get the null message.

__________________
Your arms are broken!

hrdwareguy

If you are using IE and are getting the Null Message, do this:

Start/Control Panel/Java Plug In

Click on the Browser Tab and make sure you have a check in the box for Internet Explorer. Apply the settings and restart IE. You should now be able to connect via the Java Chat.

If you don't have the Java Plug In installed, Go to http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html and download the J2SE v 1.4.2_07 JRE and install. Then make sure the above setting is correct and you should be all set.

Once you get connected you should see a huge list of channels. Click Info to get an input field to pop up. Here you can type "/join #tfp" (without quotes) to join the channel.

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ngdawg

Got mozilla......thanks anyway. the gentleman from shadowfire wants to get in touch directly with cablevision-just waiting for a callback from them for a direct email. this, obviously is not something I can handle-it's their war now.

ngdawg

This gets curiouser and curiouser-I'm in through a school mac...pc wouldn't do it yesterday.

ngdawg

below is a copy of the email I just received and my response.

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

To update this question by email, please reply to this message. Because your reply will be automatically processed, you MUST enter your reply in the space below. Text entered into any other part of this message will be discarded.

[===> Please enter your reply below this line <===]
Did you not read my email through? I HAVE called tech support on 4 different occasions. As of today, this has been ongoing for 10 days. I can reach this IP through other providers but not Cablevision. I am not alone in this matter-there are people in the NY area who cannot reach it as well through Cablevision. This is past being an inconvenience, it has now escalated to ridiculous.

[===> Please enter your reply above this line <===]


To update your question from our support site, click here.



Subject
There has been an ongoing problem with Cablevision's connections to particula...

Discussion Thread
Response (Deepthy) 02/13/2005 12:33 PM
Dear louann108@aol.com

Thank you for contacting Optimum Online. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and will be happy to assist.

If you are still experiencing connections issues to connect to US.Shadowfire.org, please call into our technical support department. We will do further troubleshooting, if it is necessary we will escalate this issue to proper department for further investigation.

For additional information, please feel free to review our FAQ located at http://www.optonline.net/Support . If you require further assistance you may contact us via:

Email: http://www.optonline.net/Cservice/Ar...icle%3D1993861

Live Support: http://ool.hopto.org

Phone: http://www.cablevision.com/index.jht...ype=phone_list

Thank You again for contacting Optimum Online. Have a nice day.

Sincerely,
Technical Support
Customer (louise reeves) 02/11/2005 05:56 PM
There has been an ongoing problem with Cablevision's connections to particular IP's that belong to US.Shadowfire.org, an IRC server.
I have called tech support and have written emails. The emails have not been answered and tech support is so scattered that no one knows what's going on from one day to the next.
Tracerts and pings to 196.7.148.15 are either 'unreachable' or time out. This is NOT a problem with Shadowfire-it is a problem with Cablevision connecting to it. No other provider has this issue and I have used providers in other locations to connect successfully.
It is the PROVIDER'S responsibility to provide service, but it is sorely lacking both in connectivity and customer response.
We will be looking into DSL connections. I won't do business with a company that can't even respond to a customer's concerns and will tell others interested in changing their providers to avoid Optimum Online/Cablevision
Auto-Response 02/11/2005 05:56 PM
Title: If a tech is needed, would it be a Cablevision tech or CompUSA? What is the fee
Link: http://optonline.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...ted=1102350012

Title: I am experiencing an interruption on my Optimum Online service. What can I check
Link: http://optonline.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...ted=1080762582

Title: Why can’t I connect to a specific website?
Link: http://optonline.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...ted=1080165412

Title: I am experiencing Packet Loss/Latency on my connection. Why?
Link: http://optonline.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...ted=1080761797

Title: If after installation there is a problem with the equipment, where can it be retu
Link: http://optonline.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...ted=1102350352




Stupid Bots, I'm thinking.....

SiN

yes ng, I miss you.

I've been having probs w/IRC (only shadowfire) the past couple weeks most of the time myself
(I could connect. but not DO anything)
....but I've got a totally diff ISP than you (duh) and we've been doing so much computer reconfiguring/installing/etc lately, so I was never sure if it was on my end or not...

but I think my prob just got fixed ... bf (who controlls our debian box that acts as router/firewall/etc) said my packets were too big

/me hands ngdawg a GoodLuck Trout™

__________________

ngdawg

Awwwww thanks, Sin. That's one!
So far, still can't get in Shadowfire from home-may never again at this rate!

ARTelevision

why not use the javachat ? - it's better than nothin'

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Glory's Sun

oh man I laughed hard when I read that.. /me gets mind out of gutter


NG: just use the java like art suggested..

ngdawg

G..i can't.....it's a provider problem....nothing having to do with us.shadowfire's IP will come up, regardless of java, anything.In other words, if it's shadowfire, it's dead.

ARTelevision

wow...sheesh - amazing. yeah, it's hard to believe such an issue like that could persist without resolution. it's like a tech black hole or something.

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ngdawg

Thing is, I'm not the only one with this problem but in calling them, you'd think I was.
Those that know me know I love to have a conversation going in the background while I work and this is driving me nuts!!! I went into my friend's IRC Linux room, but I don't understand a word they say!
(Not that I understand half of what y'all talk about, but I had a fighting chance at least!)
Current messages on Cablevision's call-forwarding mention problems in several connection stations, including Mercerville, NJ and Putnam, NY, which may very well be why we have this issue. But it has now been 11 days with no fix in sight.
And, unlike the others who can reroute their connections, use wireless or use another server to get through, I am at the mercy of the provider's expediency (or lack thereof).

ngdawg

YAY!!! I'm ba-a-a-a-a-ck!