Amazingly, I've had non-stop problems connecting to Google, especially Gmail. It's been going on and off for about a year but has been particularly bad recently. I never have a problem anywhere else, on Lamma or elsewhere. Has anyone else ? I've actually had to instal Spotflux to get access to Gmail, and also this forum, which was also 'blocked'. Very strange.


G

Blocked by what?
No one is blocking Google or lamma.com.hk in Hong Kong.
If you were in Mainland China, maybe.

Your IP tracks to New Jersey, so I suppose you are using a VPN.
Your earlier posts were via Netvigator, and no one else with Netvigator has reported those problems.

Exactly what error message do you get?

If you can't get Google, call up Netvigator and yell at them.
But more likely you have a DNS or firewall problem.

I also have had the same problem.
Gmail works ok but google doesn't work at all about 80% of the time. I have to use yahoo most of the time to do searches now. Google map also doesn't work.
I have a strong suspicion that it has something to do with Mainland China. I have been active as a commentator on the SCMP website in support of democratic reform in HK and wonder if I have somehow attracted the attention of some mainland agency. I just can't imagine what it is or how it's happening. Have been meaning to go and visit Google's offices to ask them about it but haven't had time. Mentioned it to Netvigator but they seem to think I'm just crazy or something.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

That's very strange.
I can't imagine it's specifically targeted. It would be very difficult, and quite pointless to do.
(Easy to block everyone, difficult to block specific users' outward connections.)
If "they" wanted to stop you commenting on SCMP, then they would block that.
(SCMP comment pages on any political issue are so full of astroturfers and just idiots I wouldn't waste my time even trying to comment there myself.)

I suspect some problem with your PC setup rather than your connection.

How about if someone using a laptop or smartphone uses your wifi. Can they get Google?
If so, then the problem is in your PC.

Try using Google DNS servers. Either will work much better or not at all.
This can be specified either in your PC or in your router.
See Guide to Changing Your DNS Server

Our PC has the same problem when we try to use google and also paypal for some reason. Fine on our iphones through the same wifi connection though so must be an issue with the PC but cant imagain what would have caused it.

Might be some security setting in your browser.
Try Google Chrome.
If that doesn't work either, it's a system-level setting, either firewall or DNS.

Thank you. Will give it a try and report back.

It happens in the same way with multiple devices. When I bring my work laptop home (which works fine with google search at school) then it doesn't work at my home. take it back to school and it works fine again. Other search engines work fine. It's just Google associated websites. I'm deeply suspicious of some sort of interference somehow from the mainland. Google also doesn't work well on my wife's computer. Occasionally it works - most of the time a google search just turns up nothing - keeps loading - nothing happens - now error code - nothing.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

You could be being blocked as a spammer. That can happen if you have a Trojan sending out spam from a PC on your network without your knowledge.
I checked your IP against a spam blacklist and it came up a few times:
http://www.dnsbl.info/dnsbl-database-check.php

Specifically on SORBS: http://www.sorbs.net/cgi-bin/db


Even after you remove the infection it takes a while before they take you off such lists.
If you turn off your modem/router for a while you will get a new IP and have a clean record. But if you are still infected you'll soon get blocked again.

Wa!!
Thank you so much Alan!!
I'll get right on top of this.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Now that I look again, I see that the spam hits are dated 2011.

So quite likely you have no infection, but you have the IP of someone who did.


Go to http://myip.dk/ and note your current IP. (It should be 210.0.179.233 )
Now disconnect your modem for 10 minutes. Reconnect and see if you have a new IP.
If so, you should be okay.

Go to http://www.dnsbl.info/dnsbl-database-check.php and see if you still have any black marks.


If you still have problems, give me a call on 29824804 when you're in Tai Peng and I can see if I can work it out.