ARC246 and RR - No data

[wiredgargoyle]

BuTel hasn't been much help on this issue, I'm hoping that someone here might be able to help.

My router began overheating 2 weeks ago, basically shutting down my connection to the internet through it. I removed my router (D-Link 624) from the network, leaving my PC connected directly connected to my cable modem. I now cannot access the RR database using ARC246. There are no other access problems with any other program. Putting the intermittent router back into the equation solves this problem but within 12 hours the router overheats and I lose connection.

What exactly isn't working: Clicking on Internet - Radio Reference in ARC246, I hit connect. There's usually a pause, sometimes WAIT appears on the bottom of the window. The STATE and COUNTY pull downs will ungrey but no data will appear in them. The cable modem data light is blinking as though data is being transferred but ARC246 isn't showing any. Like I said above, putting the router back fixes this issue.

The specs:

Up to date patched WinXP Home Ed.
Using the WinXP firewall, exceptions are allowed
RCA Cable Modem
No other firewalls, virus checkers, security programs running
No software was installed for the router

So, this is what I've done:

- Put ARC246 into the exception list for WinXP firewall
- Turned off WinXP firewall
- used ipconfig for /flushdns, /renew, & /release
- verified my username and password in ARC246 on the RR import page
- accessed the RR database xml page using IE
- uninstalled ARC246, deleted the directory and reinstalled ARC246
- soft/hard reset my cable modem
- removed and reconfigured my network connection in WinXP
- verified I have enough disk space in the partition where ARC is located

I'm baffled. Logically, things should work simpler without the router. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Al42]

My router began overheating 2 weeks ago, basically shutting down my connection to the internet through it. I removed my router (D-Link 624)

Are you using any Bit Torrent type programs? Downloading a lot of large files?

Do you have at least 18 inches of air on all sides of the router (except the bottom, which should be on a hard surface)?

Have you vacuumed the slots on the sides and bottom of the modem?

What exactly isn't working: Clicking on Internet - Radio Reference in ARC246, I hit connect. There's usually a pause, sometimes WAIT appears on the bottom of the window. The STATE and COUNTY pull downs will ungrey but no data will appear in them. The cable modem data light is blinking as though data is being transferred but ARC246 isn't showing any. Like I said above, putting the router back fixes this issue.

Can you access the internet with IE without using the router?

Using the WinXP firewall, exceptions are allowed

Were you using the firewall when you were using the router? (There's no need to.)

I'm baffled. Logically, things should work simpler without the router. Any help would be appreciated!

Have you just put the router back without making any other changes, to verify that the router is the only change?

Without the router connected, go to Start/Run. Type cmd and hit Enter. Type ipconfig/all and hit Enter. Post the address at IP Address:, the address at Default Gateway: and the addresses at DNS Servers:, and we'll see what's wrong.

BTW, http://www.portforward.com is set up for just this kind of problem.

 

[wiredgargoyle]

Are you using any Bit Torrent type programs? Downloading a lot of large files?

Do you have at least 18 inches of air on all sides of the router (except the bottom, which should be on a hard surface)?

Have you vacuumed the slots on the sides and bottom of the modem?

No Bit Torrent running or large files being downloaded while trying to use ARC's function. A fresh reboot of Windows. Programs running in the background are minimal, 99% standard stuff Windows runs and a utility for my MP3 player which I tried turning off too.

The router was well ventilated, there have been reports of my router having overheating problems. The cable modem runs pretty cool and has good ventilation space. It and the router sat alone on one long shelf.

Can you access the internet with IE without using the router?


Were you using the firewall when you were using the router? (There's no need to.)


Have you just put the router back without making any other changes, to verify that the router is the only change?

I have full access to the internet without the router. IE, email, usenet, IM, gaming, etc. all work without the router. No performance hit with up/download speeds and no delays accessing webpages. I initially replaced the router when I noticed the problem with ARC246 before I tried making changes and ARC started working again. After making changes, putting the router back fixes the problem.

Without the router connected, go to Start/Run. Type cmd and hit Enter. Type ipconfig/all and hit Enter. Post the address at IP Address:, the address at Default Gateway: and the addresses at DNS Servers:, and we'll see what's wrong.

IP Address: 24.57.98.36
Default Gateway: 24.57.96.1

DNS Servers:
24.226.10.193
24.226.1.93
24.226.10.194
24.226.1.94

BTW, http://www.portforward.com is set up for just this kind of problem.

I've been there, only thing I see that might help is asking BuTel for the port that ARC uses and try opening that in the firewall. I'm not crazy about opening ports unless I have to, turning off the firewall to test ARC was scary enough. I will go that route next if I have no other alternative.

Thanks for helping!

 

[SCPD]

I now cannot access the RR database using ARC246. There are no other access problems with any other program. Putting the intermittent router back into the equation solves this problem but within 12 hours the router overheats and I lose connection.

What exactly isn't working: Clicking on Internet - Radio Reference in ARC246, I hit connect. There's usually a pause, sometimes WAIT appears on the bottom of the window. The STATE and COUNTY pull downs will ungrey but no data will appear in them. The cable modem data light is blinking as though data is being transferred but ARC246 isn't showing any. Like I said above, putting the router back fixes this issue.

First ... try accessing the web service directly from your browser.

Click this URL ...

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/xml/?sid=1

You will be prompted for your RR userid and password. After you enter those correctly you should see data for one of the systems in the database. As you can see from the URL above ... you are using the standard HTTP port 80 to access the RR DB. You don't need to open any extra ports.

If this works then the ARC software should work (since you've disable the Windows firewall).

The only other thing I can suggest is to clear the ARP cache. Removing the router may affect MAC addresses - clearing the cache allows your computer to re-learn the correct MAC addresses for routing (and it's quicker than a re-boot). From a command window type ...

C:> arp -d *

As a last resort ... while the ARC program is stalled, run "netstat" from a command window. That should tell you the port and IP that ARC246 is trying to reach. Usually you will see some other junk mixed so you can netstat before and after running ARC246 - looking for what was added - to figure this out.

-rick

 

[wiredgargoyle]

I can access the RR database using that url, no problem with IE. Tried clearing the ARP cache, still no result.

Using netstat WITHOUT the router, it appears to be accessing ports 1097-1104. One example is:

TCP homenet:1097 authorized_proxy6.cogeco.net:8080 ESTABLISHED

With the router CONNECTED, netstat provides these variations:

TCP homenet:1204 s02.hix.nl:http TIME_WAIT
TCP homenet:2869 192.168.0.1:1024 TIME_WAIT
TCP homenet:2869 192.168.0.1:1025 TIME_WAIT
TCP homenet:2869 192.168.0.1:1026 CLOSE_WAIT

Now, ipconfig without the router provides only two differences:

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : wite2.on.cogeco.ca

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.226.10.193
24.226.1.93
24.226.10.194
24.226.1.94
With the router connected, there is no DNS Suffix Search List and the DNS Servers are of the 192.168.x.x variety which I believe is what's expected with a router connected.

MAC addresses are the same for with/without router.

I appreciate the help, as I mentioned in my initial post the fact that I can get into the RR web service without the router using IE but not with ARC is strange. It is something unique with ARC and my system as this issue should have popped up with someone else.

 

[MarkWestin]

DNS Server Problem?

Hello,

I believe that your problem may be caused by a problem with your TCP/IP configuration. You now know what your DNS servers are with the Router not attached. You also see that with the Router attached, they change to 192.168.x.x numbers. The 192.168.x.x numbers refer to your Router or something connected to your router. To change your DNS setting you need to go to Control Panel, Network Connections, Look for your LAN connection (probably the name of your network card's chipset), Right Click on the icon for your card and click properties, scroll down to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", Click on Properties, Click on "Use the following DNS Server address" Enter the first two from your list of DNS Servers. If you want more than 2 DNS servers, more can be entered on the "Advanced" Tab. On the Advanced Tab, pick the DNS tab and you will see a list of the current DNS Servers and you can add the others there.

I hope this helps,

Mark


With the router connected, there is no DNS Suffix Search List and the DNS Servers are of the 192.168.x.x variety which I believe is what's expected with a router connected.

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.226.10.193
24.226.1.93
24.226.10.194
24.226.1.94

 

[Al42]

In addition to what Mark said, if your router keeps overheating, you may just have a defective router, although I used a 624 for a few years with no problem. And, despite what everyone says, I prefer the Linksys WRT54 line.

 

[SCPD]

Using netstat WITHOUT the router, it appears to be accessing ports 1097-1104. One example is:

<snip>

With the router CONNECTED, netstat provides these variations:

<snip>

Now, ipconfig without the router provides only two differences:

Nowhere do I see "www.radioreference.com:http" or "72.3.135.37:http" so ... what the heck is ARC246 trying to do?

-rick

 

[wiredgargoyle]

To change your DNS setting you need to go to Control Panel, Network Connections, Look for your LAN connection (probably the name of your network card's chipset), Right Click on the icon for your card and click properties, scroll down to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", Click on Properties, Click on "Use the following DNS Server address" Enter the first two from your list of DNS Servers. If you want more than 2 DNS servers, more can be entered on the "Advanced" Tab. On the Advanced Tab, pick the DNS tab and you will see a list of the current DNS Servers and you can add the others there.

Adjusted the DNS servers to (24.226.x.x), still no data in ARC246. Tried changing them to the DNS servers I get with my router (192.168.x.x) and except for a long delay accessing webpages in IE, no change in ARC246.

I think I'm just going to buy a new router earlier than I intended. Won't reveal what the problem actually is, but I hope it solves it.

Thanks!

 

[kg4ekc]

Have had a similar problem

I have found that my ARC246 will connect to the net at the office and work fine. This is the system that I installed it on and connect to RR the first time. The second time I tried it at the house on Dial up. I did exactly what you are saying. I have tired it a second time and got the same thing. I did it again at the office with the original setup and worked like a champ. I thought it was just the slowwwww dialup but guess not now that I read what you have described. I will try the software connect at the other office with a different server and see what happens. I suspect this is a ARC issue.

hmmmm.....

 

[Al42]

Adjusted the DNS servers to (24.226.x.x)

If that allows you to get here (the forum), it's a usable DNS for you.

still no data in ARC246. Tried changing them to the DNS servers I get with my router (192.168.x.x)

You should use the DNS servers your router gets, not the one your computer gets when used with the router.

and except for a long delay accessing webpages in IE

That's exactly why.

I think I'm just going to buy a new router earlier than I intended. Won't reveal what the problem actually is, but I hope it solves it.

Have you tried totally uninstalling ARC246, then reinstalling it when you have the computer connected with no router? ARC246 may be saving something it gets upon installation, and that won't work when you take the router out. (Just a guess, but I've written software to access the RR database, and I can't see anything that lack of a router would break - it's just another web page access.)

 

[kg4ekc]

I have tried to connect my ARC246 in the other office with the WiFi System. It does the same thing. I believe that this is something in the software of ARC. I have not found a way to adjust those settings. It was installed while hard wired to one router and works fine on that but will not work on the WiFi and different router or dialup.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Back when I was beta testing ARC396 I had the same trouble with the RRDB. Gommert sent me the following fix that worked:

Close ARc396.
Open the registry editor (select START, RUN and type in regedit).
Goto this key: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BuTel\RRreader\settings".
Check the value for "save"; it must be set to "1x".