Huawei HG659 - amending DNS settings in router for Netflix

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Huawei HG659 - amending DNS settings in router for Netflix - help please Vodafone staff!

jonathan18

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#157389 29-Nov-2014 17:28

Hi there

My parents (for some weird reason - they're in the 80s) have moved over to UFB this week.

The router provided by Vodafone (Huawei HG659) appears to be a bit tricky when trying to change the DNS settings to those for Getflix (they use BBC iPlayer and Netflix) - I enter them in the correct field (referring to the sticky in this forum), but they just don't 'stick' (reboot and the fields are blank).

Going by posts here and on the Voda forums it looks like I need additional admin access to make them stick (and, yes, I want them in the router not at the device level to keep things simple for them).

Could someone, preferably a Voda rep on this forum, please PM me the instructions on how to sort this out? I'm not a voda forum member (not a voda customer) and am doing this on behalf of my parents so would appreciate a response as soon as someone can assist.

Many thanks
Jonathan

(PS, is it standard to leave the modem/router username and password as default? Even the wireless username and password are on a sticker on the back of the router; while convenient it seems a bit risky...)

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#1185659 30-Nov-2014 05:14

Hi did you try this

http://m.geekzone.co.nz/Forums/40/Topic/140852

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sbiddle

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#1185663 30-Nov-2014 07:15

jonathan18: Even the wireless username and password are on a sticker on the back of the router; while convenient it seems a bit risky...)

Risky in what way? It's totally random and unique to every device - and it's the way pretty much every ISP and router vendor deals with the issue these days.

jonathan18

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#1185749 30-Nov-2014 12:16

sbiddle:
jonathan18: Even the wireless username and password are on a sticker on the back of the router; while convenient it seems a bit risky...)

Risky in what way? It's totally random and unique to every device - and it's the way pretty much every ISP and router vendor deals with the issue these days.

... thereby enabling any person near the router to easily find the information to give them full access to both the wireless network and router. Yep, I think that's a 'bit risky', as opposed to providing it separately. I'd imagine many will change any of these settings from the defaults - certainly my parents in their 80s never would have done so.

jonathan18

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#1185750 30-Nov-2014 12:18

rokki: Hi did you try this

http://m.geekzone.co.nz/Forums/40/Topic/140852

Thanks - yeah, I came across this post (it's the 'sticky' I refer to in my original post) both here and on the Vodafone forums - this showed me where the DNS settings are, but as mentioned it's not entering the information that's the problem, but having them stick.

Here's an example of someone reporting the same problem and Vodafone staff offering to PM instructions directly to get around it: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=140696&page_no=1#989262

Cheers
Jonathan

nakedmolerat

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#1185751 30-Nov-2014 12:29

User : Admin
Password: VF-NZhg659

scuwp

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#1185752 30-Nov-2014 12:35

jonathan18:
sbiddle:
jonathan18: Even the wireless username and password are on a sticker on the back of the router; while convenient it seems a bit risky...)

Risky in what way? It's totally random and unique to every device - and it's the way pretty much every ISP and router vendor deals with the issue these days.

... thereby enabling any person near the router to easily find the information to give them full access to both the wireless network and router. Yep, I think that's a 'bit risky', as opposed to providing it separately. I'd imagine many will change any of these settings from the defaults - certainly my parents in their 80s never would have done so.

Sooo...the risk is that someone will swindle entry or break into your parents house, just so they can get the wi-fi password printed on the rear of the modem, and then get access forever thereafter? I somehow doubt it. If it's a random code then can't see a risk myself, and probably better than most user created passwords.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

sbiddle

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#1185781 30-Nov-2014 15:28

jonathan18:
sbiddle:
jonathan18: Even the wireless username and password are on a sticker on the back of the router; while convenient it seems a bit risky...)

Risky in what way? It's totally random and unique to every device - and it's the way pretty much every ISP and router vendor deals with the issue these days.

... thereby enabling any person near the router to easily find the information to give them full access to both the wireless network and router. Yep, I think that's a 'bit risky', as opposed to providing it separately. I'd imagine many will change any of these settings from the defaults - certainly my parents in their 80s never would have done so.

I still don't understand what the security problem is. Fundamentally there isn't one - if you're worried about people snooping around your house and accessing your WiFi that's another issue entirely.

The point of a random SSID and password is to ensure the WiFi is secure. This differs from the insecure world we had before were many devices shipped with no key set.

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jonathan18

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#1185817 30-Nov-2014 17:17

nakedmolerat: User : Admin
Password: VF-NZhg659

Thanks for this! It certainly let me in, but I unfortunately I still have the same problem in that it appears to save the new DNS settings, but they're no longer there upon rebooting the router (and even straight after saving Getflix is still reporting the DNS setting are incorrect).

Are there any other tricks to ensure the DNS settings remain once entered, even when entered via this admin account? Thanks for any further advice anyone can offer.

ckc

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#1185869 30-Nov-2014 18:27

Try a factory reset and see if it sticks.

If that doesn't work, check your firmware version, and if it's an older one, update.

Edit: just found this. Might be important to note the part where Kieran says:

If you then follow the steps to 5 again (after reboot), you will notice the fields are now blank and appear to have forgotten your previously configured DNS servers, this is actually not the case and the settings are saved. If you check your network settings of a connected host it will show Manually configured DNS servers you specified.

jonathan18

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#1185973 30-Nov-2014 22:25

ckc: Try a factory reset and see if it sticks.

If that doesn't work, check your firmware version, and if it's an older one, update.

Edit: just found this. Might be important to note the part where Kieran says:

If you then follow the steps to 5 again (after reboot), you will notice the fields are now blank and appear to have forgotten your previously configured DNS servers, this is actually not the case and the settings are saved. If you check your network settings of a connected host it will show Manually configured DNS servers you specified.

Thanks for the advice will drop by their place to see if I have any luck.

Re the advice in the quote - how do I check the settings of a connected host? How would I confirm what DNS service my devices are using (esp given Getflix is still reporting they're still not correct)? Thanks for any help and sorry for the dumb questions...

Ruphus

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#1185979 30-Nov-2014 22:46

On the router, login as admin. Click on Home Network then LAN Interface. In the DHCP Server section, select manually configure DNS settings. Enter the DNS settings and press save. Don't reboot the router and then renew the IP address on your devices.

I've just done this on my router and it worked.

jonathan18

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#1185982 30-Nov-2014 22:49

Ruphus: On the router, login as admin. Click on Home Network then LAN Interface. In the DHCP Server section, select manually configure DNS settings. Enter the DNS settings and press save. Don't reboot the router and then renew the IP address on your devices.

I've just done this on my router and it worked.

Thanks - will try this tomorrow. I assume that once the IP addresses are renewed it won't be an issue if the router is rebooted? (I'm just worried that I'd not want my parents getting confused/losing Netflix etc every time the router reboots, eg power cuts).

Ruphus

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#1185985 30-Nov-2014 22:55

Give me a sec and I'll reboot the router. Being on VDSL, I don't reboot the router that often.

jonathan18

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#1185986 30-Nov-2014 23:02

Ruphus: Give me a sec and I'll reboot the router. Being on VDSL, I don't reboot the router that often.

Cheers - how did you check that the DNS settings have stuck, given apparently the fields go blank?

Ruphus

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#1185990 30-Nov-2014 23:05

I restarted the router and the DNS settings on my tablet are appearing correctly after renewing the IP address.

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