Basic webpages not found.

Question

I am on BT infinity and while normal download speeds and a speed test indicate i am getting great speeds, just done a test right now and the download speed is 74.64Mbps.
But on an evening i cannot seem to beable to get on simple websites, such as facebook, amazon, or other websites i use. It seems to have started the last week or so and doesn ot seem to be a problem at any other time of the day, and it doesn't just happen on the one pc.
It happens on Ipads, phones and laptops.
Does anyone have any suggestions, please.

Answer 1

Sorry this is a bit of a rigmarole: BT, Apple and Microsoft conspire to make your life difficult.
I don't think you can fix DNS on ipads.
On a windows laptop there are various roundabout ways to get there, these depend on Windows version.  Try:
1 - right click on the network icon in the bottom right set of icons
2 - choose 'Open Network and Sharing Centre'
3 - click on 'Change adaptor setting' on the left
4 - in the panel that opens, double click on the network interface you are using
5 - in the status window that opens, click Properties
6 - on the Properties window that opens, double click 'Internet Protocol Version 4'
7 - click on 'Use the following DNS server addresses'
8 - on the 'Preferred DNS server', enter 194.73.82.242
9 - on the 'Secondary DNS server', enter 212.118.241.1
10 - Click 'OK' of 'Close' lots of times to close the various dialog windows that opened.
The 'magic numbers' 194.73.82.242 and 212.118.241.1 are ones that I chose based on what was best for me at some point in time.  Other people will suggest alternative numbers.  It doesn't matter too much which you choose as long as they are reasonably good ones (unlike the default BT ones).
Anyway; try all that and see if it helps on the laptop.  If it does, you know that it was indeed DNS issues you had before. If not, I'm afraid you will have to search further for the problem.
If it is a DNS issue, you can contact the mods and see if they can get it chased with BT: may be an uphill battle.  You can buy an alternative router to the HomeHub that allows you to put DNS settings into the router.  That will then work for all devices connected to the router (wired or wireless).
Really irritating BT don't allow you to change DNS on the HomeHub.  It isn't a great bit of kit, but not too bad for many people: for me that is it's weakest point.