Pls suggest an upgrade

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MantaRay

13 posts

Geek

#193746 22-Mar-2016 20:10

Hi

I'm on adsl at the moment, with the technicolor tg582n modem and an apple AirPort Extreme (4th gen old style) router.

I'd like to be able to 'hard wire' the Unblock-us DNS settings but I can't change the DNS settings in the modem (well I can, but they don't persist) and the router is bridged to the modem so I don't think I can alter the DNS settings there.

I have a couple of smart TVs, a couple of WD TV Live boxes, an iPad Air, IPhone 6+, laptop and I do a fair amount of HD streaming.

I'm in a small flat at the moment, but will hopefully be upsizing in the future

I don't know what I should get that will solve my DNS requirement and remain reasonably future-proof without going over the top.

Any brands to avoid?

Thanks

Yabanize

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#1517996 22-Mar-2016 22:15

Bridge usually means you can alter it on your router.. give it a go

MantaRay

13 posts

Geek

#1518731 23-Mar-2016 22:23

Thanks @yabanize, tried, apparently DNS settings on the AirPort Extreme only work when it's not bridged and the technicolor is untreatable. Tried unbridging but no success with that. So I'm gonna have to upgrade and I'd really appreciate suggestions :)

NonprayingMantis

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#1518771 24-Mar-2016 07:23

My recommendation would be to change DNS by device rather than in the router. It gives you the flexibility to leave one or two things set to your ISPs DNS which will then make streaming local services a bit better (including YouTube)

E.g. Watch Netflix USA on your WD live set with unblock us DNS, but watch YouTube, lightbox, tvnzondemand, fanpass etc through your smart tv.

mdf

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#1518831 24-Mar-2016 10:02

You will get the most flexibility from something that runs custom firmware, like DDWRT, OpenWRT or Tomato. If you want to go (much) more advanced, there's EdgeRouters and Mikrotiks.

You can get a reasonable solution using DD-WRT (IMHO the easiest custom firmware to get started with) and a basic to mid-range TP-Link (available from PB-Tech). But have a read through the DD-WRT website and (particularly) the Peacock Thread to make sure this is something you are comfortable having a crack at.

Note that there a very _very_ few modem/router combos that run custom firmware; you usually need a two box solution.

MantaRay

13 posts

Geek

#1519318 24-Mar-2016 21:23

Thanks guys, I appreciate your replies; two very different solutions for me to think about. All I want to be able to do is watch Netflix and the BBC iplayer on my various devices but the only devices I have that'll do both are my iPhone and iPad. Thanks again.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

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#1519335 24-Mar-2016 21:36

Personally my way of handling this is at the router level in pfsense, Certain devices have allocated different DNS servers.

ontop of that is a trial situation currently, of devices i personally deal with with allocated specific mappings for anything that should be remapped leading 99% of dns responses still up to ISP but then netflix and the such rerouted just as an dns service would supply.

While it is an over the top solution for most, this is how i deal with the situation. Allows me to at worst case, upon renewing a dhcp lease reallocate the dns on the fly. not to mention is another toy to play with!

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

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TheMaskedOnion

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#1519509 25-Mar-2016 09:55

have you tried this guide?

http://petesentme.com/plusnet/changing-dns-servers-on-a-technicolor-tg582n-fttc

Another way would be to change the DNS in whatever device is doing DHCP for your network.

MantaRay

13 posts

Geek

#1519787 25-Mar-2016 18:56

@themaskedonion yes I have tried it I didn't find the settings persisted, after a relatively short time the ISP DNS settings were back! But thanks :)

Spyware

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#1519791 25-Mar-2016 19:39

Or run your own DNS server (and DHCP if you wish), e.g., bind9 which forwards the relevant traffic, on a linux box, e.g., Raspberry Pi. Or just setup an Ubuntu virtual machine under Sun Virtualbox to do same.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=151&topicid=160383

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.