Skinny fibre and Smart DNS service

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denkennz

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#301915 15-Oct-2022 11:59

Hi. I'm currently with Orcon for broadband and I have the router DNS servers configured to Smart DNS Proxy addresses. I'm thinking of switching to Skinny (or another cheaper ISP). Can anyone confirm that Skinny allows me to use SmartDNS Proxy service, with the DNS servers configured on the router? I also need to be able to block Google's DNS servers on the router. Thanks.

shk292

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#2982961 15-Oct-2022 14:18

The Smart Modem from Skinny allows user-defined DNS service

There is also a page where you can block access to sites by URL - not sure whether this could block Google DNS though

robjg63

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#2983032 15-Oct-2022 17:31

Blocking google would be a function of the router. So are you saying 'does the skinny supplied router allow blocking of certain IP addresses ie google'?

Don't know.

I use DNS4ME (many years now) and have never needed to block google DNS though - so not sure why you need that.

I believe the main issue with using a DNS unblocker (like DNS4ME) is, these don't work with any ISP that uses CG-NAT. Effectively, a bunch of people have the same IP address as far as the world is concerned. So DNS4ME might not work as it needs to use your IP address to work out if you are a customer OR you may end up getting another customers settings....Ideally you want a unique IP address. So ideally, no CG-NAT.

That said, if you search here on geekzone, you will find people have said that skinny (Fibre) do not use CG-NAT (Nor Bigpipe nor Spark - because they all use the Spark network). They do use CG-NAT on the 4G network though - so that's a no go.

So DNS4ME should work on skinny fibre, but you may find that occasionally your IP address changes and you would have to update your IP address on the DNS4ME page (under User Console/IP access Zones). I have seen people say they have held on to the same IP address for many months (or even a couple of years) under this setup.

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spmiller

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#2983165 15-Oct-2022 22:25

Blocking Google's DNS is useful when you have devices that have it hard coded (e.g. Chromecast). I haven't found a good way to block it that doesn't cause long delays on those devices (presumably it is eventually timing out and falling back to the DNS server specified by DHCP).

denkennz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2983180 16-Oct-2022 06:39

Thanks for the replies. Yes, blocking Google servers is for getting the Chronecasts to work for geounblocked content.
I think I'll give Skinny a go. Orcon has been fine, but they're increasing their prices and it got me looking around. Skinny (and a few others) are a lot cheaper.
Thanks.

shk292

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#2983286 16-Oct-2022 11:17

I've switched from Slingshot to Skinny recently and Skinny is rock solid, with my speedtest results always greater than the provisioned speed.

The only downside is that my IP address changes more often, so you need to keep this updated in DNS4ME

allan

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#2983289 16-Oct-2022 11:52

shk292:

I've switched from Slingshot to Skinny recently and Skinny is rock solid, with my speedtest results always greater than the provisioned speed.

The only downside is that my IP address changes more often, so you need to keep this updated in DNS4ME

If you use a dynamic DNS service (no-ip, DynDNS, etc) and pop that into DNS4ME, you fdon't have to worry about IP address changes.

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snnet

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#2983301 16-Oct-2022 12:55

Rather than actually blocking google's dns servers I'm assuming you need a router with the ability to insert static routes and also be able to change the DNS on so that google's DNS points back to the router's IP as per the SmartDNS Proxy guide?

denkennz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2983358 16-Oct-2022 13:53

Yes that's right. Sorry if some of my terminology is a bit off 😁 With my current set up on my Orcon modem (Netcomm) I have the Primary and Secondary DNS servers set to the SmartDNSProxy servers. I also have a static route set up for each Google DNS. So as long as I can do the same (or equivalent) with Skinny I'm happy. With Orcon my IP address hasn't changed for a long time. But it's not a big deal if it does change occasionally. I'll just need to refresh this in the SmartDNSProxy settings.

snnet

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#2983366 16-Oct-2022 14:32

All good, just checking

I'm not sure what Skinny are supplying for a fibre router (maybe you can continue using what you have but may need to change VLAN setting if applicable) - but I know with the cell data options the modems don't let you change the DNS on the router itself for the cell data connection - my SM2 seems to allow a change on Fibre though so the last thing I guess to find out is if the modem being used supports static routes

shk292

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#2983451 16-Oct-2022 19:10

Skinny supply the "Smart Modem" with fibre connections, and as in my post further up, it allows changing to user-defined DNS

It also allows setting up static routes, but I have never tried this, might have a play some time to see how it works

@allan - thanks for the tip re dynamic DNS, I've now set this up with NOIP so hopefully no more setting IP addresses required

robjg63

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#2983633 17-Oct-2022 10:24

Rather than casting as your main means of playing media, how about buying an Amazon Fire Stick, or Chromecast with google TV?

As these run an operating system, you can just set the DNS servers in the network settings on the devices to use your SmartDNS DNS servers.

No need to muck about in your router.

You also have a nice navigable menu accessible with a remote control on your TV.

If you google it, you can find out how you can install apps for those 'other services' you want to use that you don't normally get access to.

For what its worth (in my opinion) - The new Amazon Fire TV sticks are easiest to work with.

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Spyware

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#2983636 17-Oct-2022 10:40

denkennz: So as long as I can do the same (or equivalent) with Skinny I'm happy.

Can't you simply use the Orcon router with Skinny and change the WAN settings.

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denkennz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2983745 17-Oct-2022 14:02

I have 3 Chromecasts so I'll keep using them until I can't anymore. But the Chromecasts with Google TV sound good.
Orcon will probably ask for the old router back. But that could be an option if they don't.
Thanks.

spmiller

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#2983853 17-Oct-2022 14:44

robjg63:

Rather than casting as your main means of playing media, how about buying an Amazon Fire Stick, or Chromecast with google TV?

As these run an operating system, you can just set the DNS servers in the network settings on the devices to use your SmartDNS DNS servers.

No need to muck about in your router.

Does anyone know if the Chromecast with Google TV specifically can use a custom DNS server? I wasn't able to find out by Googling.

robjg63

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#2983921 17-Oct-2022 15:41

spmiller:
robjg63:

Rather than casting as your main means of playing media, how about buying an Amazon Fire Stick, or Chromecast with google TV?

As these run an operating system, you can just set the DNS servers in the network settings on the devices to use your SmartDNS DNS servers.

No need to muck about in your router.

Does anyone know if the Chromecast with Google TV specifically can use a custom DNS server? I wasn't able to find out by Googling.

Yes it can. You just need to set it up manually an give it a static ip address on your network rather than using DHCP.

I have to say though, having just switched from CCwGTV to Amazon fire tv 4k Max (the same price), the fire tv stick plays smoother, seems quicker and overall seems more responsive.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler