Airport Extreme cannot find server

J

jpinter

Registered
I have an airport extreme that was working perfectly until a few months ago when I started having problems going to a web site www.golfsmith.com that I have visited numerous times in the past. I get the following error message: Safari can’t open the page http://golfsmith/ because it can’t find the server “golfsmith. When I disconnect the Ethernet cable from the AEBS and connect it directly to the computer I am able to open this site. My Macbook Pro responds the same way wirelessly and when I go to another friends house I can connect to that site with my MBP. BTW my friends cannot connect to that site via my AEBS but can via their home router

I have reset the AEBS to factory defaults several times, restarted my Comcast cable modem then AEBS then iMac in the order specified. I have also tried changing my DNS settings to both opendns and DNS Advantage but I have the same results with both.

I also have a dashboard item that mysteriously stopped checking local gas prices and may be related to the problem. Also I suspect that sometimes when I click on a link in a search engine and get that message is the AEBS problem again. Thanks for any help you can provide,
John
 
Safari can’t open the page http://golfsmith/ because it can’t find the server “golfsmith
Click to expand...
Shouldn't it be "http://golfsmith.com"?

Perhaps you have OpenDNS servers in your DNS settings for your ethernet connection, but have different DNS servers specified for the AirPort connection. Some DNS servers, like OpenDNS, do "auto-completion and correction" whereby you can enter "http://apple" and it is automatically corrected to "http://apple.com".
 
Check To see if you have the DNS Trojan for Mac that has been going on with the free tool DNSChanger Removal Tool. Then head over to the web site OpenDNS.com and use their superior free DNS. They have introduction video that will show you the benefits of using their DNS over you own ISP. I use this service and IMHO my surfing is faster than using my ISPs.
 
That quote was from the error page. It doesn't matter how I enter the url it defaults to this: <http://www.golfsmith.com/> without the brackets of course. Also When I change the DNS settings on the APBS I also change them in the desktop so both have the same DNS servers selected.
John
 
As you suggested I ran the DNSChanger Removal Tool and it indicated my system was clean. I have used openDNS several times and DNS Advantage that also redirects. Any other ideas?
John
 
Satcomer said:
Did you try the OpenDNS.com suggestion to see if that works?
Click to expand...

I am using OpenDNS now. However I just discovered that the DNS info is being used by the iMac settings and not the AEBS settings. When I hook the modem directly to the iMac I can navigate to the pages without problems but when hooked thru the AEBS the error message says it cannot find the server or something to that effect. Could these two settings even though they are the same be conflicting with each other? How do I go about setting the AEBS to use the DNS servers in it's setup and not use the iMac DNS servers?
John
 
I've been having the exact same problem for quite some time. Only it's not just with one site, it happens with many.

It's also random. Sometimes everything connects fine and fast, and others I get "Cant' find server" for many sites like Facebook, Amazon, etc. It can start working again for a few minutes and then in an instant I'm getting error messages again.

However, my email always works fine.

And this is NOT a Safari problem. I also get the same trouble when I switch to Firefox or Explorer. My ISP says it's an Airport / Mac issue since it all works fine if I direct connect to the laptop and because my email is also working.

In addition, when I'm having this problem, my iPhone also cannot connect to the WWW but can get email.

Any thoughts?
 
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I don't go to video download or porn websites so it's doubtful I have the trojan.

And it's NOT an ISP problem. My email works fine. And if I connect directly and don't go through my Airport everything works fine. So I don't need a new ISP.
 
Did you power off the modem for a minute before you changed devices that directly connected to it? The ISP server keeps track of the MAC address (Not Mac) and powering it of for minute will make the ISP server look for a new device behind the modem.
 
The thing is that it's utterly random.

I can wake up one morning and it all works just fine (like right now)... and then in the middle of the day I start getting "Server Not Found" errors at any site I try to go to.

But... if I keep hitting "reload" "reload" "reload"... eventually it will connect. It just takes up to 5 minutes.

Also... my email works fine during the entire time and so does going to "Google Reader".

It's utterly wonky.
 
To change the DNS settings on your AEBS...
  1. Launch Airport Utility (the current version is 5.4.2)
  2. Select your AEBS
  3. Click on the "Manual Setup" button at the bottom left of the Airport Utility window
  4. On the Airport Utility toolbar click on the Internet icon
  5. Where you see DSN Server(s) enter 208.67.222.222 in one slot and 208.67.220.220 in the other
  6. Click on the "Update" button at the lower right corner of the Airport Utility window.
  7. Wait until your AEBS has reset then quit Airport Utility
 
Jennalynn,

After my last post I have traveled to my summer residence. I have another Airport Extreme I use here and have not suffered the same problems. However, I’m not sure what to expect from the other Airport Extreme when I return to my winter residence.

In my summer residence I use Time Warner Cable for my internet and use Comcast in Fla. for my winter internet connection. I plan to take my present Airport Extreme to Fla. with me to see if the trouble is in the router or possibly with my ISP. If I can isolate the problem I’ll post it here, if you find a solution please post it so I can try your technique. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

John
 
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