here is the whole chronicle so far... well, not ALL of it... first will be the original post, then some select replies from the twenty or so places i posted it with the links where the originals can be found... many people posted things i already mentioned in my original post, like it works for them using all zeros for the dns numbers, etc., so, i am omitting most of those replies if they only confirmed what i already knew... i will continue to whittle this info down as time goes by... so far, this is just my raw collected info... also note that the first reply i list here, by 'curt205' is the solution that worked for me... _______________________________________________________ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DreamcastBrowsers/message/4513 _______________________________________________________ i am trying to get to the bottom of this fricking mystery... people have asked about it all over for months and many have just given up... when trying to get online (again, on dreamcast) you get online and get the message "no response from master server" and cannot get a server list... the usual advice is changing dns numbers to all zeros (seems to work for many people and used to work for us) or to 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 or some post some dns numbers provided by sega, but, when i see these, they are from last year, sometimes as long ago as last summer... for many, including us, none of this works... now, if i sit there, changing nothing, just re-connecting over and over, i can usually get a server list eventually, but, even this is not working lately, even after 20 and 30 tries and other absurd numbers of attempts... so, this is what i want to know, and i am posting this in several places... 1 - what isp do you use? 2 - what dns numbers do you use? 3 - are you able to get a server list on your first try at connecting? 4 - of course, anything else you can think to add, info-wise... i am looking for some commonality here... i started hearing this, for most people, when seganet got out of the isp business... i have searched the web, usenet, quake boards, everything, and can find nothing that works for us (or apparently many others)... again, i have seen that many people have flat given up, deciding it went pay to play or whatever and just don't even try anymore... i can connect with EVERY other game, with no problem at all (ut, starlancer, pso, pod speedzone, 4x4 evo, afo)... but, i just cannot get a server list on q3a... needless to say, i am looking more for "i connected yesterday and did it this way" than "well, i used to do this and it always worked for me", but, i will take any info anyone wants to offer... i would think that, after this long, someone would have the definitive answer up somewhere, but, no matter how long i look, no matter where i look, it seems no one knows the answer... _______________________________________________________ curt205 it seems the idiots at earthlink/seganet have Upgraded the servers and have throwed the support for dc out of whack and just will not admit it. also here is a long shot to try,....might work to...get a new dial in number. could be the system that is at the current number that is out of whack. _______________________________________________________ http://alwaysgame.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00047i _______________________________________________________ TheWrabbit I'm currently at work so I can't confirm the "server listing" problem you mentioned. But I don't think the whole reason behind Quake 3 not connecting is not of just DNS numbers. I may be wrong, but the DC version of Quake 3 is/was connects to the main Q3A servers thru Sega.net servers. This just as so that DC players can play with/against MAC and PC players. But the servers since then has been updated several times now, that the DC version cannot recognize them. I have had simular problems with my MAC version of Q3A. I would not even see a "server list" until I had downloaded and installed the newer patch(s). I believe Sega is not attending to its Sega.net Q3A servers that in turn connect with the main Q3A servers. Which means they have not upgraded or updated them at all. I have a regular ISP Dial-up, and I usually connect at 48000-49333kbps. I haven't played with the DNS numbers like you mentioned. (I only play with them when I want to start a LAN game.) I just thought that Sega's servers where down all this time. I would love to go online with DC Q3A again if only just for one more time. _______________________________________________________ insidious_plots yeah, there are still plenty of dc'ers playing and, once connected, i can manually enter an server ip number and play, and i have seen many other dc'ers do this same thing... now, over on the gamefaqs q3a board (and a couple of others on gfaqs), jeff "hal9000" hedges posts updates about the servers, as he is the "network producer" (i am clueless as to what that means, specifically) for games like q3a and ut, so, i am hoping for some kind of reply from him, but, posts from him are few and far between... from the replies i am getting to this post elsewhere, and talking to people in quake, i am noticing that nearly everyone uses the all zero's dns and i have not met anyone using earthlink yet, which may explain why so many seganet isp customers started having trouble after the switch over to earthlink... i am beginning to suspect an isp issue... anyway, i can confirm the game is playable, and know several dc q3a'ers that connect with no problem... since i know nothing about networking protocols and all that, i really don't know where to look for specific, technical info or what kind of info to be looking for (such as, whether dns numbers have anything to do with it), so, i am doing what i would normally do with the help group stuff, just asking questions and comparing answers, looking for commonalities... though, since i have gotten so much useful info from this board in the last year or so, i will post whatever i end up finding out here when i think i have figured it out... well, or when i decide i am terminally stumped, i suppose... _______________________________________________________ Ustink I haven't played QA III online in a loooong time but I'll try it now just to see if I can connect. I'll let you know the results. _______________________________________________________ Ustink Hey insidious, I just got online with QA III and got the server list and everything. No problemo. The only thing I didn't do was enter into a game. I use Mindspring which merged with Earthlink a while ago. I don't know if it makes a difference but my DNS numbers are these: Primary DNS: 207.69.188.185 Secondary DNS: 207.69.188.185 Good luck. _______________________________________________________ dRxL I just connected today. For the first time in a very long time. And I was a bit surprised since I thought that all the games were "pay to play now". I use the BBA, so this info probably isn't very usefull to you. IP adress in the "european" range (194.182.238.12). 212.54.64.170 and 212.54.64.171 as my DNS servers. _______________________________________________________ insidious_plots well, that is very interesting... you are the first to reply having success with earthlink in any form... very useful tidbit... i will add that to my informal database of answers... and i will try those dns numbers... as alice was wont to say, "curiouser and curiouser"... _______________________________________________________ insidious_plots and, though i know hardly anything about how all this works, i suspect the bba info does not apply as you suggest, but, it is also so noted and appreciated and will be tried (i'm desperate here)... _______________________________________________________ insidious_plots well, bummer... no luck with those dns numbers... though, i am assuming mindspring still has it's own machines, even if earthlink owns them... so, earthlink still seems the primary culprit as i have still not heard anyone where i have posted this inquiry say that they use earthlink and can connect to the master server... yet earthlink says it must be seganet and you will never guess who seganet says the problem must be with... so, we have a classic case of buck passing... as i said in my original post, it boggles my mind that there is no definitive info posted about this situation anywhere... it seems everyone came to the conclusion that q3a went pay to play or something... which, considering the problem started about the same time seganet got out of the isp business and began pay to play, seems a reasonable thing to assume, the odds would suggest SOMEONE would hav stumbled across the real case, done some digging, found the answer, and let the rest of the world know... i would think there must be some technical way of probing this matter, but, i am just a dude sitting in a chair, with no technical expertise, who knows almost nothing about these matters... _______________________________________________________ FLIPMODE Hey Plots I TOO inquired about this info a long time ago, When I was having problems. I am an Earthlink user. Just plain ol' Earthlink, not through Sega net. Im going to have to go back and Check,..BUT I remember this hapenning in result to my Q3O, hunt. When I bought the game it was fine. Then After the Sega Turmoil, I had no access. So I: 1-Got some info, about the DNS #'s, and that worked. 2-Then after a month it was locked out again. 3-THEN, I found some Server Numbers to Enter in the field, that I obtained from SOME web site, that Listed EVERY q3 Server. There were 2 Numbers SPECIFICALLY for DC owners. These number actually worked for a while, but there were Only a handfull of players on it(2), and they were definitly not DC owners. All sorts of pc-ish type, alterations were going on in the game. I made a long list of Server numbers, at that point in time, and since I have gotten over my crave for Q3. But I believe my last attempt was a failure, and NOTHING that had worked before will would get me online. So I'll go look for that paper, and see what happens today. _______________________________________________________ insidious_plots well, my problem is solved... someone suggested i change my dial up number and, strangely enough, it worked... i did use the all zeros, so, i haven't done a complete experimental proess yet... plus, i will have to go back to the old number to reproduce the error to try to nail it down for anyone else who will have the problem... so, thus far, my collected info seems to leave it at use all zeros for dns and if that does not work, try a different dial up number... but, at least i am getting somewhere... not that people wil go to a dc browsers info group looking for quake info, but, i will see where else i can get the final info posted... and stuff from the group does show up in google, so, that is a start... so many have given up that, as you observe, there are much fewer dc'ers in quake nowadays... _______________________________________________________ FLIPMODE For whatever reason I could not get onto this site all day. Anyway, good to hear you found a solution. I found my list and nothing worked, and chnaged the DNS, but it did not work. So now I'll try this Dial up number change. _______________________________________________________ Ustink Did you know that I had to change my access number as well about a month back? I couldn't get online for some reason with my DC or pc. The original access number I was using was no longer valid but there was no notification anywhere about it. I had to call them back several times before they eventually figured that out because the other access number that I had didn't work either. _______________________________________________________ SmiggyG I don't get it Ok, about 2 months ago I tried to play some PSO v.1 online and I could not connect. I could connect fine with 4X4 EVO and AFO. I did not try any other online games (Q3A) because I figured they were pay 2 play anyway. I have a backup dialup that work provides and I was able to connect to PSO with that. So I called up my ISP and they set me up on another dialup network and I logged on to PSO fine. Weeks pass and I sign up for the SegaNet Free4All Weekend. I tried all my SegaNet games and could not log on to anything expect PSO and 4X4 EVO. I figured it was a problem w/SegaNet games. So I hear Q3A, UT, AFO, and others are still free. So I get set back up on my old dialup number and now I can get on with most all games except for the Visual Concepts games. But not PSO ver.1 Go figure!?!?!? I just got cable yesterday! YEAH! Finally! But I have not set up the DC BBA yet. Not sure how to. Or do I try to have the DC modem dialup my computer. I'd need help though. _______________________________________________________ http://cgi.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.asp?board=27130&topic=2717746&page=1 _______________________________________________________ Muarader64 yea that used to happen to me when i used bluelight and other such nums........i think it depends on ur location.......i c some people that use bluelight that can play q3a with no prob....but when i use it....it just doont work.....id suggest trying as many free isp's as possible........ _______________________________________________________ Ax1oM Just put in the dns numbers 7777 7774 and ur problems are gone! Ur welcome! _______________________________________________________ http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=grec.games.video.sega&hl=en&safe=off&th=cbee5883b1ee2e95_______________________________________________________ Bosco I just think that it has to do with the isp that you use. Anyway, I emailed a Sega rep over a year ago when I had the same problem, and here was his response: Dear Mr. Ross, Thank you for e-mailing Sega Technical Support. It sounds like your internet settings are fine so don't change them. You will need to make sure you have these DNS settings in Quake III. The settings you need are 63.251.242.20 & 12.25.212.20 as alternate DNS #'s. Hopefully, this should help you out. _______________________________________________________ http://boards.sega.com/cgi-bin/segaboards/topic.cgi?forum=16&topic=385 _______________________________________________________ sgrande99 Hi, This was happening to me too,however I called sega at 1-800-872-7342 and you get to speak to a live Sega rep(buy keep pressing 2 and you will here a few message and then you will here please wait for a live rep).Anyway the Dns numbers he gave me that seem to work wonderful are 63.251.242.20 and 12.25.212.20 they work on the first try. I have earthlink as my ISP(they work great with all on-line games.Please e-mail me at sggrande@comcast.net or respond if this helps you out.I know that it helped me because the same things were happening to me.Nobody had answers...until I spoke to that Sega rep. _______________________________________________________ Hi, I'm sorry I gave you the DNS's numbers of my broadband adapter,what you need are the regular modom number's which are 207.217.126.81 and 207.217.120.83 they will give you quick server's to quake and any other on line games. _______________________________________________________ http://boards.sega.com/cgi-bin/segaboards/topic.cgi?forum=1&topic=3580 _______________________________________________________ mastermind502 well about 5 days ago my isp went out and when i need to put a new isp into my dc i use quake3 to do this 5 days ago i connected to the server im using prodigy uu.net access # and 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 for my dns#s _______________________________________________________ wwwwjd I don't believe in the 4221 4222 DNS resolution. It is a lame excuse for using ISP's for free that are only designed for computers: JUNO, Netzero, DOTNOW, Compaq etc etc You SHOULD be using the DNS provided by YOUR ISP, whatever they happen to be.... EarthLink, AT&T, whoever, they will provide you with DNS. I just called up AT&T told them what I was doing [hooking up with DC] and they provided me with the correct login and DNS info. Without DNS resolution, your ISP cannot hook you up to the rest of the internet. If you use a PC on dialup, after loggin in, RUN winipcfg for win98 or ipconfig /all for nt based PCs, and it will display the DNS numbers in detail. Use THOSE numbers on your DC and you should be able to hookup to Q3A. I have, in the distant past, used the 4.2.2.1 4.2.2.2 DNS on free ISPs, but have not tested lately. Perhaps free ISPs got smart, or game servers got smart and they have started rejecting non-assigned DNS like those. Just use the DNS for YOUR ISP and it should hok to the master server okay. Unless something on Q3A servers have changed lately which I doubt... it would be silly for them to change something that works becuase then it would stop working [like Bomberman, Speed Devils, Maximum Pool etc etc] Which ISP or FISP are you using? Try it on your PC and check for the DNS numbers as above. I use AT&T dialup and it worked last time I tried about a month ago, but I will try again tonight and get back to you. _______________________________________________________ wwwwjd Tested Quake 3 - worked fine for me, all servers showed up but no one playing at 6:30am! I used AT&T dialup with THIER DNS numbers not 4221 4222, becuase without AT&T DNS I cannot hook up to anything on the net... cus it goes THRU at&t _______________________________________________________ straycat i dunno i always use 4221 and 4222 with tons of free isps and my real isp sympatico and have never had a problem connecting. the servers to go down from time to time for maint. so its important to keep up on it too. now that i think of it i ve had isps that wouldnt connect unless it was a 4221/4222 or all zeros seems to work too. _______________________________________________________ wwwwjd ISPs can setup DNS routing to path their OWN DNS after connecting via modem to thier network. Often, FISPs will have the 4 number and switch you over behind their scene without you having to worry about it. Bottom line, use what ever the heck works but try your ISPs assigned DNS for fastest thru-put Whether the game servers ACCEPT incoming DNS is up to the design of IP in the server and hopefully they let ANYTHING in. But, strangely, with AT&T I can no longer access AFO! Most others work okay. things that make you go hmmmmmmm And WHY oh WHY didn't sega design ALL dialup games to stream their nawwow bandwidth thru the BroadBand Adapter as an alternative to a modem is beyond my comprehension. _______________________________________________________