Slow Internet In Thailand? Try Opendns Settings.

[BergRace]

I have tipped others about this in Thailand, and they where very happy with the results.

Alter your DNS's address to those of OpenDNS:

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

For those who need instructions go here:

http://www.opendns.com/

This is a free service, nothing to download=100% safe. It is merely two IP addresses you alter, the only thing to remember is to write down your current ones in case you would like to go back.

Jørn Berg

[AsiaCheese]

I've used these DNS settings for about 1 year now; seemed to improve the speed of "finding" URLs. TOT's DNS seemed to have a major problem resolving Google.com [what can you say...]

[JAS21]

I have tipped others about this in Thailand, and they where very happy with the results.

Alter your DNS's address to those of OpenDNS:

Well my internet TOT 3Mb is very quick when tested to bangkok but ping 495ms Download 0.35 and upload 0.34 to the UK. I have just changed to Open DNS as suggested and these are the times after changing. Having problems now for about three days. Even on this site sometimes the page won't scroll...any ideas.

[Chaaang]

Thanks! Will give it a try!

[webfact]

I'd like to mention DNS Advantage which helped a lot of users to resolve (some) DNS issues

http://www.dnsadvantage.com/

156.154.70.1

156.154.71.1

I've set up DNS advantage as Preferred DNS server

and openDNS as Alternate DNS server

[BergRace]

I have tipped others about this in Thailand, and they where very happy with the results.

Alter your DNS's address to those of OpenDNS:

Well my internet TOT 3Mb is very quick when tested to bangkok but ping 495ms Download 0.35 and upload 0.34 to the UK. I have just changed to Open DNS as suggested and these are the times after changing. Having problems now for about three days. Even on this site sometimes the page won't scroll...any ideas.

Here is what I get using OpenDNS from Osl to Bkk:

I tried with my default I.s.p. values and this is what I got:

Ping 406ms, Down 0.29Gb/s, Up 0.13Gb/s

So you can se the OpenDNS settings helps a tad but not by much.

I am on a 7.5Mb/s Down and 1.0Mb/s Up Cable. So one can only deduct that Scandinavia to Bkk is slow to say the least.

Ps.!!

You need to restart your computer after altering the settings.

Edited July 11, 2009 by BergRace

[BergRace]

I'd like to mention DNS Advantage which helped a lot of users to resolve (some) DNS issues

http://www.dnsadvantage.com/

156.154.70.1

156.154.71.1

I've set up DNS advantage as Preferred DNS server

and openDNS as Alternate DNS server

I have now tried DNS Advantage three times, and it is consistently slower than using OpenDNS.

[BergRace]

One final note on DNS Advantage and OpenDNS, they are both American companies and they now where you go...

Careful with filesharing using either.

[jackr]

Lets face it, unless you have the baht to burn on a leased line (still no guarantees) or are fortunate enough in being positioned in the right place on the right exchange with decent wiring and some sort of support, you are screwed regards decent connectivity here, whatever ISP/package/promotion. One has two choices, suck it up or pull your hair out.

[jackr]

One final note on DNS Advantage and OpenDNS, they are both American companies and they now where you go...

Careful with filesharing using either.

And Thai companies don't? Unless you're using proxies, any ISP/DNS server anywhere knows where you're looking.

And as for the yanks being concerned on the file sharing issue; they're not. They gave up chasing people a month or so back, finally realising the futility of it all and the fact that those doing the chasing are just as indictable as anybody else. Everybody, everywhere downloads and uploads files, tree-huggers n all; plus the average Jo would hardly be targetted in muang Thai for downloading the odd movie.

[BergRace]

One final note on DNS Advantage and OpenDNS, they are both American companies and they now where you go...

Careful with filesharing using either.

And Thai companies don't? Unless you're using proxies, any ISP/DNS server anywhere knows where you're looking.

I am fully aware of that.

And as for the yanks being concerned on the file sharing issue; they're not. They gave up chasing people a month or so back, finally realising the futility of it all and the fact that those doing the chasing are just as indictable as anybody else. Everybody, everywhere downloads and uploads files, tree-huggers n all; plus the average Jo would hardly be targetted in muang Thai for downloading the odd movie.

The Yanks are still chasing file sharers...

[dave_boo]

While I know it's in vogue to bash the US, come on people. You realise that the root DNS servers are in the US right? I.E., even if you use TOT's DNS, it's still getting the information from the US. And if you think that the government has the capability to sift through all those requests and look for your specific IP (which is obviously NOT from America) than I have some tin foil for you to fashion a hat out of. ICANN is an example of a corporation that actually runs things fairly well. For example, have you seen it blacklist hate sites? What about child porn? What about....?

[bob4you]

thanks for the tip, didn't run speed tests but I can tell you my e-mails with pictures attached load much faster and files download much faster.

[gosompoi]

I have been using opendns for 18 months and it is much faster but better it is more reliable than TOT DNS servers. Also it allows for filtering which can keep the kids safer.

[BergRace]

While I know it's in vogue to bash the US, come on people. You realise that the root DNS servers are in the US right? I.E., even if you use TOT's DNS, it's still getting the information from the US. And if you think that the government has the capability to sift through all those requests and look for your specific IP (which is obviously NOT from America) than I have some tin foil for you to fashion a hat out of. ICANN is an example of a corporation that actually runs things fairly well. For example, have you seen it blacklist hate sites? What about child porn? What about....?

A: They are not sifting through all those requests but logging visitors to known sites such as Isohunt, Mininova and Piratebay.

B: It is not necessarily "the government" but private companies with an agenda, hired to do so by the entertainment industry         and licensed by the state/government.  

C: I am not bashing anyone, merely stating facts, if you do not like them that is your privilege.

[glegolo]

thanks for the tip, didn't run speed tests but I can tell you my e-mails with pictures attached load much faster and files download much faster.

-----------------------------------------

Help anybody!!!!!

I am a user, no question about that, but I am not especially good with computers. I acn manage from day to day with the "simple"stuff.

Now!!!!!! Do I dare to ask anybody of you to help me out here... I am really wanting to try this thing out with the DNS. I live up in Chaiyaphum (Isaan), and I have and pay for 4 mb speed (that I know), but when ever i test there is figures all from 935 download

221 upload....

My kind question is: Can somebody give me a a) to -point list how I shall practicly do to fix this change to opend DNS??

Thanks for your help..

Glegolo

[webfact]

One final note on DNS Advantage and OpenDNS, they are both American companies and they now where you go...

Careful with filesharing using either.

This is MHO

I have more confidence in DNS Advantage over openDNS.

Search for recent issues addressing your concern - specially with openDNS.

Despite some issues my confidence in both of them is thousand times higher than using any Thai ISP DNS

[dgarmaise]

Does either DNS advantage or Open DNS improve upload speeds? My main problem is uploading. I can live with the current download speeds.

[webfact]

I'd like to mention DNS Advantage which helped a lot of users to resolve (some) DNS issues

http://www.dnsadvantage.com/

156.154.70.1

156.154.71.1

I've set up DNS advantage as Preferred DNS server

and openDNS as Alternate DNS server

I have now tried DNS Advantage three times, and it is consistently slower than using OpenDNS.

May I ask which tests you have conducted and which server location's have been used. From which location did you conduct the testing?

I'd like to reproduce it from Bangkok. I am just curious as to if there are any advantages of openDNS over DNS Advantage which I use?

[JAS21]

thanks for the tip, didn't run speed tests but I can tell you my e-mails with pictures attached load much faster and files download much faster.

-----------------------------------------

y kind question is: Can somebody give me a a) to -point list how I shall practicly do to fix this change to opend DNS??

Thanks for your help..

Glegolo

Its already been pointed in an earlier post, however go to www.opendns.com and it tells you...if I can do it you most certainly can...you can even print out the instructions www.opendns.co/start/device/windows-xp/print only of course if you are using XP

[edwinchester]

I have periodically used DNS Advantage and OpenDNS with good results.

However sometimes they become virtually unusable and switching back to the Maxnet settings gets things moving again.

Maxnet blocking access? Not sure but others have complained of the same thing.

[BergRace]

Does either DNS advantage or Open DNS improve upload speeds? My main problem is uploading. I can live with the current download speeds.

Very likely not, all the tests I have done have given me fairly equal upload speeds, likewise ping speeds. The most variable has been the download speed.

[glegolo]

thanks for the tip, didn't run speed tests but I can tell you my e-mails with pictures attached load much faster and files download much faster.

-----------------------------------------

y kind question is: Can somebody give me a a) to -point list how I shall practicly do to fix this change to opend DNS??

Thanks for your help..

Glegolo

Its already been pointed in an earlier post, however go to www.opendns.com and it tells you...if I can do it you most certainly can...you can even print out the instructions www.opendns.co/start/device/windows-xp/print only of course if you are using XP

-----------------------------

a big big thank you from

Chaiyaphum and Glegolo

[dave_boo]

A: They are not sifting through all those requests but logging visitors to known sites such as Isohunt, Mininova and Piratebay.

B: It is not necessarily "the government" but private companies with an agenda, hired to do so by the entertainment industry and licensed by the state/government.

C: I am not bashing anyone, merely stating facts, if you do not like them that is your privilege.

Interesting that in point A: you use the non-specific "they" and in point B: you use vague terminology such as "It is not necessarily "the government"". I'm not claiming to be smart, but that implies to me that you do believe that the government 'may be' involved but are trying to dance around the issue by using weasel words.

Just out of curiousity, how do these private companies get that data? Have they hacked into the servers of the offending companies and are keeping track of their logs? Are they redirecting requests for the offending companies and logging them (man in the middle attack)? Are they in cahoots with the ISPs to provide logs that list when each and every request to those sites comes up?

Do you realise just how impossible it would be to do that (unless of course you're on Time Warners server...)? If you read about the companies hired, what they do is actually join a tracker and note the IP from their connected peers. It's not illegal to visit the sites you have mentioned; it is illegal to share copyrighted material. Until you do that, there's no way you could be tried. Furthermore, if you live in Thailand, you're well beyond the jurisdictional reach of the US in regards to this. And if you're that worried about it; use Tor or any other annonymiser.

[lopburi3]

OpenDNS is a lot less open as of now - they have started to block P2P/torrent sites.

[Plus]

DNS simply translates addresses like "google.com" that are easier to remember for humans into numbers like "63.203.133.27" that are understood by computers.

It has no effect on download/upload speed whatsoever.

If OpenDNS does this translation "faster", good for you. In reality, however, under normal circumstances, the translation time is very very very short because local DNS servers, either TOT, Maxnet, or True, keep the local copy of the "dictionary". Most of the "translation" time is spent on contacting DNS servers themselves, and fetching addresses from OpenDNS instead of local ISP will add some ten-twenty additional steps just to reach it.

Also the translation must be done only the first time you enter "somewhere.com", the browser will remember its numerical address for a while so fiddling with DNS servers will make no difference whatsoever for the sites that are already open.

Sometimes local DNS servers are overloaded and slow to respond, in those cases using OpenDNS might help, so I guess it makes sense to use them as a backup. OpenDNS should also give translation faster for unusual sites that are not yet stored in local ISP copy of addresses, because in that case local ISP will ask for translation from other DNS servers until it finds your translation and it might take time.

Overall global database of ALL internet addresses is updated in a matter of minutes for ALL dns servers ALL around the world, it's an awesome system with awesome hard/software, there's little advantage in using one dns server over another.

[BUZZHA]

Mr.Berg many thanks for starting this thread! My speed was increased a lot indeed!

However this is only true for my PC and not for my laptop (using same router). Any reason or solution?

Also the effect is neglected if I use VPN. Any reason or solution?

Do you think this will also enhance my stability? Because in the past sometimes my router did disconnect because he could not find his primary DNS.

Thanks a ton again, Buzzha

[Beggar]

I just can confirm what Plus wrote here. If you call the IP 4711 you got from your ISP or the IP 4711 you got from an external DNS server makes a difference - often it takes longer to get the 4711 from the external DNS server because your IPS has to connect to it and get the data. But the rest of the story is the same. And if your download is faster after using the external DNS server try to put an xspeed on top of your PC. It will make your connection even faster. You can buy the xspeed at me - please send me a PM.

[Pib]

The Google Pulbic DNS has worked great for me. Before when using the TOT/JI-NET DNS, I couldn't pull up certain web sites...it would always give me a broken link. Switched to the Google Public DNS and the problem went away...I can reach the sites with no problems. The Google DNS is free and very easy to setup on your computer. Basically, just configure your network settings to use the IP addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as your DNS servers.

See below web link for more info.

http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/

[welo]

Please, guys, invest just five minutes to understand what DNS does, it doesn't need extensive technical knowledge to get the basics right! (Plus and Beggar already pointed out the wrong assumptions)

Why DNS?

* Computers communicate using IP addresses (e.g. 212.58.246.160) to identify each other on the internet.

* People don't remember IP addresses so they use words. (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk).

* The Domain Name System brings the two together and maps domain names to IP addresses

What happens when I open a website in my web browser?

* You tell the browser to open a website, usually by domain name, e.g. thaivisa.com

* The browser (resp. the operating system) will ask the configured DNS server to resolve the domain name to the correct IP address, e.g. 203.174.85.146

* Now the browser (resp. the operating system) knows the IP address and will initiate a connection to the destination address identified by IP address, the DNS server is no longer involved

I very much doubt that DNS resolving speeds affect test results from benchmarking tools like speedtest.net. Foremost all DNS lookup results are cached (remembered) for a limited time by both Firefox and the operating system.

Note: you can also enter the IP address directly into the browser, and it will bring you to the desired website. To open thaivisa.com just enter http://203.174.85.146 into the browser's address field. The DNS service will NOT be involved to initiate the connection. However, thaivisa uses name references to a second server (static.thaivisa.com) to load images and stuff, so in that particular case the DNS name resolution will still be triggered during the process of displaying the website. The same applies to servers that host banners and advertisements displayed on a website.

Benefits of changing DNS servers

I am still advocating changing the DNS server to openDNS, Google DNS, or advantageDNS for the single reason that Thai ISP's DNS server seem to mess up things sometimes, and I found that switching to alternative DNS servers brings more stability and reliability in name resolution, preventing the odd '404 Server not found' message.

If lines are congested I still find servers to respond slow or download speeds to suck since it has nothing to do with the DNS system...

Downsides of changing DNS servers

DNS lookups usually don't take much time at all, since the ISP's name server are located on its own network 'close' to your computer. This is why your ISP's DNS server should be the first choice under normal circumstances - meaning if they not tend to be overloaded or misconfigured or whatever...

The problem with openDNS and others is that the servers are located 'somewhere on the internet', not necessarily 'close' to your computer. If your ISP has network problems or suffers from 'line congestion', the alternative DNS servers might be affected, too. Meaning DNS requests to these servers will be slow or even time out, resulting in a '404 Not Found' even though the website actually might be in Thailand, but the IP address could not be resolved since the DNS server was not reachable. This definitely happened to me at least once with Google's DNS servers on a 3BB line.

Btw this is why those companies run a network of servers placed in 'strategic positions' around the world to provide faster respond times, however, openDNS for example is still located nowhere close to Thailand, don't know about the others.

welo