using UnBlock US DNS settings at router level

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theobrandt

61 posts

Master Geek

#136204 18-Nov-2013 19:32

Hi all
I understand that in order for a Roku 3 to stream Netflix, the DNS address (for unBlock US or what ever) needs to changed on the router, you can't do that on the device. I was wondering if there is any downside to that.
limited knowledge here, but DNS servers just tell your computer where to retrieve the site you are after, so the traffic still goes the most direct way? Is there any possibility that my Huawei Home Hub or Vodafone will pack a sad at changing the DNS settings?? cheers Theo

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1097 posts

Uber Geek

#936889 18-Nov-2013 19:48

Hi Theo

How many other devices are on you network?
The reason I ask is that changing DNS settings on the router would (by default) change them for all other devices.

Using a DNS server other than those supplied by your ISP (Vodafone) may be detrimental to your general internet access speed. For example, YouTube/iTunes/Software updates may end up downloading from overseas instead of accessing from a New Zealand server.

Certainly no harm in trying, if you notice any 'slowdown' you could manually set the DNS settings to the Vodafone DNS servers on your other devices (or change the router settings back)

As a longer term solution you could buy another cheap router (with a LAN & WAN ethernet port), set that to use Unblock US DNS settings, and then put the Roku behind that. This is what I do at home so we can actually just choose a different wifi network if we want to use the Unblock US settings.

Toastiewarm

57 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#936892 18-Nov-2013 19:51

I run unblock-us.com using Vodafone ADSL in Auckland and it works fine (I'm using a Huawei 556 router).

Sometimes it takes an extra second or two to resolve hosts when browsing but other than that it is fine.

We notice Hulu has much better routing than Netflix but both are definitely usable. Netflix may buffer twice near the start whereas Hulu just streams straight away.

If you have any trouble let me know and I should be able to help

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#936914 18-Nov-2013 20:00

I just have an old router sitting in our lounge that the HTPC and a couple of other devices plug into, which is set to use unblockus. That way it doesn't affect the rest of my home network\other devices. I haven't had any issues with the double NAT, etc.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#936917 18-Nov-2013 20:05

I have a 2nd router behind my main VDSL router which just has a permanent VPN into the US, using Astrill

Works fine, then I can choose to use NZ access point or US access point

theobrandt

61 posts

Master Geek

#936933 18-Nov-2013 20:31

As I have a spare modem router, placing that in the lounge between the Huawei and the Roku sounds like the solution.
further to that, as it is a 4 port modem router with the input being for a ADSL signal, do I just input into one of the four ports and attach Roku to another one?
might be another thread! cheers

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#936989 18-Nov-2013 21:33

theobrandt: As I have a spare modem router, placing that in the lounge between the Huawei and the Roku sounds like the solution.
further to that, as it is a 4 port modem router with the input being for a ADSL signal, do I just input into one of the four ports and attach Roku to another one?
might be another thread! cheers

I don't think that will work

Since your upstream is an ADSL port

My router has upstream Ethernet, which I then have plugged into my Fritzbox which does VDSL

One of the DNS services might be better for you unless you want to buy a new router

Also,the Astrill VPN maybe costs us50 a year

I personally just prefer the flexibility rather than using a DNS service

NZ255

47 posts

Geek

#937617 19-Nov-2013 23:16

If you have DD-WRT or Tomato you can use Dnsmasq, I have it set at home so only specific sites use the Unblock Us DNS such as netflix.com, hulu,com etc.

server=/netflix.com/dns.address.goes.here

Equinox IT

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lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#938215 20-Nov-2013 21:47

I have Unblock set in the router but since all my PC's are wired (only use wifi for mobile devices) I just code the DNS addresses of my ISP directly in the PC and don't use DHCP.

That seems to work okay.

The only desktop I want to access US servers to watch Netflix etc. I let the IP settings come from the router.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

SepticSceptic

2187 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#938369 21-Nov-2013 10:27

Silly Q, but can you not use Google's DNS ( 8.8.8.8 ) as a DNS setting in the router ? Does it not terminate in the USA ?

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#938382 21-Nov-2013 10:39

SepticSceptic: Silly Q, but can you not use Google's DNS ( 8.8.8.8 ) as a DNS setting in the router ? Does it not terminate in the USA ?

no it doesn't work like that :)

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#938395 21-Nov-2013 10:55

unblockus works by (I believe - they're not too forthcoming with how they actually do it and this is not really my area) directing you to reverse proxies for certain websites (netflix, bbc iplayer, hulu, etc, etc) so when you submit DNS requests that say "take me to Netflix" the unblockus DNS server actually directs you to unblockus reverse proxies which fiddle with the traffic so that it looks like you're in the US to the netflix servers.

TLDR: it's not the location of the DNS servers that matter. ;-)

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#938476 21-Nov-2013 14:09

I suspect UnBlock has to rewrite your source IP addess with their ones to fool the servers.

Of course this doesn't take into account the transparent proxies some ISP's use here (TCL/VF was the most well known) who would intercept your port 80 packet requests,overwrite the DNS requests to point to their own server and then forward the traffic.

Supposed to help the end user but it meant Netflix and the like still think you are not in the US

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

gehenna

8497 posts

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Moderator

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Lifetime subscriber

#938481 21-Nov-2013 14:17

I prefer to use the DNS settings on a per-device basis and only as required - I definitely don't want all my internet traffic going through these unblocking services, only the video traffic for each device. Do you really want all your browsing traffic to go through a 3rd party overseas? That's a lot of trust to put in an off-shore service.

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#938492 21-Nov-2013 14:51

gehenna: I prefer to use the DNS settings on a per-device basis and only as required - I definitely don't want all my internet traffic going through these unblocking services, only the video traffic for each device. Do you really want all your browsing traffic to go through a 3rd party overseas? That's a lot of trust to put in an off-shore service.

Except as noted by the OP, you can't do that with a Roku. There is no way to set up the IP parameters on the device. So you need the router to have them.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

theobrandt

61 posts

Master Geek

#938498 21-Nov-2013 15:08

That's why I liked SideFx's solution: "I just have an old router sitting in our lounge that the HTPC and a couple of other devices plug into, which is set to use unblockus. "
And I guess taking that option to it's logical conclusion- use a DD-WRT capable router and specify the UnoDNS by device, so the WiFi from the 2nd router is still going back to my usual ISP DNS.

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