If you are aware or not Windstream is using Redirecting DNS to Ad Supported Search Result Pages (a search result page looks
like this if you have not seen it yet) that are powered by Yahoo! Search on their Network as announced a while back in the News Link below:
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Windstream DNS redirectionWhat it does is break some TCP/IP utilities and it serves Search Pages with Ads on them if you mis-type or fat-finger a Domain Name. It also can slowdown how fast DNS resolves so by bypassing the Redirecting DNS you may notice that pages load quicker and new sites are found faster.
The quickest way to bypass this is to setup your Windstream Router (4200 or 5200) to use DNS IPs that you assign on the Router DHCP Server page as that will automatically update all the PCs that you connect to the 4200 or 5200 Router. It is better than having to go into each PC and manually change DNS IPs especially if you are using a Switch with multiple PCs at your home.
Note: If your Windstream Router is in Bridge Mode then refer to your Aftermarket Router's User Guide for the steps to setup the DHCP Server Page with custom DNS IPs.
I highly suggest 4.2.2.1 as the Primary DNS IP and 4.2.2.2 as the secondary DNS IP. You can also choose whatever you prefer or even use Open DNS which is explained here. »
www.opendns.com/Supposedly Windstream setup two DNS IP that are clean and do not perform the normal DNS Redirections. You can also use those if you wish. They are listed in the News Link below:
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Windstream Offers 'Clean' DNSThis is the page in the 4200 or 5200 that you make the changes. It only takes a minute or two to setup the change and save it.
First thing you need to know is what modem do you have, most people now have the Speedstream 4200 but there is also a Speedstream 5200 which is the same device when it comes to setting up the unit, there is also a 2Wire 2701HG which you should visit here(»
portforward.com/english/routers/···atar.htm) if you have a Xbox 360 and here (»
portforward.com/english/routers/···hway.htm) if you have a PS3.
Second thing you need to know is do you have a second router plugged in to the modem or are you using a switch (99% of the time you have a router to share the connection with other computers) if using a switch you can go to the last section (“Now using the Speedstream 4200/5200 by itself”) and start there .
Now In most cases you have two options a. use your existing router to control the PPPoE session (Have your public IP) or b. Let the Windstream provided modem continue to control the PPPoE session.
Now the Speedstream modems provided by Windstream are pretty good they are full fledge NAT (NAPT) routers and can (in theory) handle 254 clients all you need to add is a switch or switches, and they don’t seem to have a problem of a small NAT table. IMHO the only thing they lack that would steer me towards using a different router is QOS but if your router doesn’t have QOS consider using the Speedstream, It is confirmed working 100% with the Xbox 360 and should have no problems with any outer that support UPNP .
Nat Level/Type 2 on the PS3 is "Open Nat" not Moderate NAT. Info here. »
www.pregamelobby.com/forum/sony-···ps3.html
If you have any question you should ask first because at some stages of this you will not have a internet connection.Now if you are using a router connected to the modem and you chose option A, you need to bridge the modem which may mean plugging you computer directly to the modem for a minute and following the information posted here (»
Windstream DSL FAQ »
How do I change into Bridged Mode with the 4200 or 5200?) then plug you computer backup to you router and plug your router to the modem. Once that’s done you will need to go to your routers web based configuration page (Normally »
192.168.1.1 but check your routers owner’s manual) and configure the WAN/Internet type as PPPoE/My ISP requires a Username/Password, and enter your information (if you don’t know what your login information is Call Windstream Tech support at 866-445-3402) and look for a “Keep alive” or “Timeout” setting nearby and check it or set it to 0. Once that is done confirm you can browse the web (you may need to reboot the router) once you can see if you modem supports something called UPNP (Universal Plug and Play, check the manual) if it does enable it (some have different levels, look for something close to “Enable full Internet Gateway Device (IGD) support” might not read the same its just an example) again you may need to restart the router when change it or it may do it itself, Now run a check on your console If you don’t get Open Nat/Nat Level 2 you are going to have to manually port forward, Since every router is different I suggest you go here (»
portforward.com) Select you router then select a Xbox 360 game or PS3 game (All Xbox 360 games use the same ports and all PS3 games use the same ports)
If you choose option B. you need to go into your router web based configuration and disable the DHCP server (This varies by model and brand so look at the owner’s manual), and you should change the routers LAN IP (not the WAN, again look the owner’s manual) to 192.168.254.253 (this is for SS 4200’s/5200’s the 2-wire will be different and not known at the time of writing this) so you can access it from the new IP range the Modem will hand out. (This is not so much required if your router does not have wireless capabilities that you will need to access later)
Now using the Speedstream 4200/5200 by itself, with a switch or letting it handle the PPPoE session. All you need to do is disable the firewall (»
192.168.254.254/FwLevel.cgi , Select Firewall Level: Off, and click apply) and enable UPNP (»
192.168.254.254/upnpcfg.htm select “Enable full Internet Gateway Device (IGD) support” and click apply). It should ask you to reboot and once it dose you should now have open NAT.
WARNING: Important Note Regarding Confusing Terms:Description of NAT and how it impacts your online experience - XBox 360»
support.microsoft.com/kb/908880Three types of NAT issues that can occurOpen: This means that you router has optimal settings, and you should not run into any of the issues described in this article.
Moderate: This means that you can talk to other players who have open or moderate NAT issues, but you cannot talk or play with users who have strict NAT issues.
Strict: This means that you can talk only to other players, but you cannot talk to players who have moderate or strict NAT issues.
Settings > Network Settings > Internet Connection Test - PS3»
manuals.playstation.net/document···est.htmlNAT Type* Check how the PS3™ system is connected to the Internet. This information can be used to judge the ease or difficulty of connecting to other PS3™ systems when using voice / video chat or the communication features of games.
Type 1: Connected directly to the Internet
Type 2: Connected to the Internet via a router
Type 3: Connected to the Internet via a router
With type 3, it may not be possible to communicate with other PS3™ systems, and voice / video chat and the communication features of games may be restricted. In this case, see [Connecting to PlayStation®Network] in this guide.
6dB or below is bad and will experience no synch or intermittent synch problems