DNS unblockers and the transparent proxy

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corksta

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#146834 30-May-2014 14:00

With the recent Netflix issues I've learnt about transparent proxies which I didn't have much of an idea of before. I use Getflix on Vodafone fibre, and I'm having issues with this service interacting with the proxy.

I experience this http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=129415 on a daily basis. Stuff takes forever to load, as well as a bunch of other sites. The Mac App Store loads slowly, thumbnails don't load, but as soon as I turn off the service and use Vodafone's DNS everything works perfectly. I never really knew what was causing it until I started reading up on it recently.

I really only use my Roku 3 and iPad for Netflix, Hulu, etc, but of course DNS has to be set at the router for the Roku. I also have a Chromecast which relies on the DNS at the router level to work correctly too.

Changing ISP isn't an option, so to manage my issues as best I can I'm thinking about installing the Asuswrt-Merlin firmware on my AC-66U router and signing up to a VPN service to have more granular control over what uses the VPN and what uses Vodafone DNS.

Is this about my best way of getting around the proxy issues but still having access to Netflix, etc? Any other suggestions?!

freitasm

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#1056552 30-May-2014 14:29

Using a third party DNS will always be risky in New Zealand. Most content is now cached locally or at least in Australia. Third party DNS while may give you access to some content must be used on a controlled basis because it will most likely return IP address in the Us for some CDNs when you try to access resources - and this may conflict with the local CDNs.

If you want to use a third party DNS you should use only on the device you need to use it, keeping the network on the ISP's own DNS.

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corksta

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#1056579 30-May-2014 14:50

Yes that's right. But I either ditch the Roku and only use my Apple TV or get the Amazon Fire TV and configure the DNS on those devices and then lose the functionality of the Chromecast, or I can (to the best of my understanding) load the custom firmware onto my router to have better control of what uses the VPN rather than a one size fits all approach.

davidcole

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#1056582 30-May-2014 14:59

You could use DNSMasq on your router to white list what goes to your VPN (or DNS provider) allowing the use of your ISPs DNS server for most browsing.

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corksta

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#1056669 30-May-2014 17:37

davidcole: You could use DNSMasq on your router to white list what goes to your VPN (or DNS provider) allowing the use of your ISPs DNS server for most browsing.

I looked at that but it's a bit beyond me!

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#1056688 30-May-2014 18:16

You could set the vodafone dns as static on the devices that you dont need the dns redirection on, but use for everyday browsing

lchiu7

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#1057145 31-May-2014 16:51

That's what I do. While the Unblock DNS addresses are in my router, all other devices on the network are wired and have my ISP's DNS addresses hard coded in them.

This is only because of the Roku which you cannot set DNS. For other devices like the PS3, my Sony BD player, I can actually set DNS in them but I don't bother now since those devices are not really used for browsing, just watching video content.

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corksta

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#1057589 1-Jun-2014 16:03

Well I tried the Merlin firmware on my router, signed up to a trial with Astrill, and was able to load their applet into the router UI, but performance wasn't consistent. Hulu would work on the Roku, but not on the iPad or Apple TV or casting to the Chromecast as it was detecting it was behind the VPN. Vudu wouldn't work anywhere.

I have a second router lying around so I think I'll set that up and just have the Roku connect to that, and other devices can connect to it wirelessly as needed.

adimw

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#1058344 3-Jun-2014 08:09

Have you looked into https://www.getflix.com.au/ ? They have a NZ based DNS server now (Auckland) 120.138.27.84 - may help with some of the speed issues?

Coil

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#1058351 3-Jun-2014 08:41

corksta: Well I tried the Merlin firmware on my router, signed up to a trial with Astrill, and was able to load their applet into the router UI, but performance wasn't consistent. Hulu would work on the Roku, but not on the iPad or Apple TV or casting to the Chromecast as it was detecting it was behind the VPN. Vudu wouldn't work anywhere.

I have a second router lying around so I think I'll set that up and just have the Roku connect to that, and other devices can connect to it wirelessly as needed.

I tried that with my setup and since the second router doesnt handle DHCP you cant assign a static DNS server. I suppose on a different subnet and a different IP range it could :O?

corksta

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#1058682 3-Jun-2014 17:24

adimw: Have you looked into https://www.getflix.com.au/ ? They have a NZ based DNS server now (Auckland) 120.138.27.84 - may help with some of the speed issues?

That's who I use already.

corksta

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#1058683 3-Jun-2014 17:27

TimA:
corksta: Well I tried the Merlin firmware on my router, signed up to a trial with Astrill, and was able to load their applet into the router UI, but performance wasn't consistent. Hulu would work on the , but not on the or or casting to the as it was detecting it was behind the VPN. Vudu wouldn't work anywhere.

I have a second router lying around so I think I'll set that up and just have the Roku connect to that, and other devices can connect to it wirelessly as needed.

I tried that with my setup and since the second router doesnt handle DHCP you cant assign a static DNS server. I suppose on a different subnet and a different IP range it could :O?

Yup I changed the second router to 192.168.2.1 and it works perfectly. My Roku is wired to it, Chromecast is connected also, everything else uses the main router and when need be I just connect other things (laptop, tablet) to the second router which has the Getflix DNS in it.