Open Dns With True Vision Cable Broadband?

[haybilly]

Hello,

having opened up my Thomson Wireless Router, supplied free by True Vision when I signed up for their 9 MB broadband package--I cannot find any DNS settings--in fact DNS is not enabled--is this just a case of getting the settings correct??

This may seem like a dumb question to the computer literate but I am far from that.

[Guest]

I would avoid using OpenDNS. At least earlier they gave false DNS records in order to route traffic trough their servers.

I prefer to use Google DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

[barryw52]

Try searching for the User manual for your Thomson Wireless Router on Google. It will tell you where the DNS settings are and how to change them. That is unless True have a custom version of firmware that hides these settings from the users also found Google DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 faster than OpenDNS. There are many tools on the internet that you can download that will determine which is the fastest DNS server for you like DNSbench.

[Pib]

Unless something has changed the OpenDNS servers are based in the U.S. which will automatically make DNS lookup of websites slower since your request has to do a round trip to the U.S. before reaching out to the site you want to go to. I used DNSBench before to speed test various DNS services and each time the Thai ISP I was with had the fastest DNS speed (understandable as their DNS servers are in Thailand) and Google DNS was the second fastest since they have DNS servers in Southeast Asia. OpenDNS was one of the slowest ones. The DNSBench testing also showed the Thai ISP DNS servers were just as reliable in finding/resolving website address as GoogleDNS and OpenDNS. Plus, I've never had any DNS issue in Thailand and I've been with TOT, JINET, and True. Yea, yea, other TV posters will no doubt say all their internet problems went away when switching to OpenDSN, GoogleDNS, etc....and maybe that truly was their problem versus another problem....but they wanted to believe DNS was the answer.

When I was on ADSL I used my Thai ISP's DNS as the primary DNS server and Google DNS as the secondary/backup. Now that I'm on True Cable I just use their DNS servers for the primary and secondary and have never had any DNS issues. I've heard that most all ISP DNS will automatically forward any unresolved website to a backup DNS service such as GoogleDNS.

All this stuff about using a certain third-party DNS service like OpenDNS, GoogleDNS, etc. is way over-hyped IMHO....but I drink a lot of Chang beer so my brain cells are probably damaged.

[Guest]

Yea, yea, other TV posters will no doubt say all their internet problems went away when switching to OpenDSN, GoogleDNS, etc....and maybe that truly was their problem versus another problem....but they wanted to believe DNS was the answer.

I'm using cat cmda for my connection. They did have some serious problems with their DNS at some point. I tried the OpenDNS until noticed that they gave false addresses. At some point I setup my own BIND server to my VPS. It worked but it was slow as the host was in US.

When Google DNS finally came, that was best solution at least for me.

However I do agree that the best solution would be to use local ISP DNS and Google DNS as secondary.

[haybilly]

Thanks to all who have replied--sorry to be slow to respond--it does seem that the True Vision supplied Router has DNS settings blocked by Default--as in the only section in the settings with any reference to DNS the detail is blank-therefore without specialist knowledge can neither find out what the servers are nor alter them--just have to stick with what I got; does seem tetchy, slow and problematic, though.

Anyone who has similar router, Thomson TGW750-4TH, got any inside info?

[lomatopo]

Once you start seeing things like this in your router's (ADSL Modem) log and you're having problems connecting to websites you quickly learn to rely on 8.8.8.8 rather than True's (in my case) DNS server(s):

Dec 16 09:57:49 user warn dnsprobe[679]: dns query failed

Dec 16 09:57:49 user notice dnsprobe[679]: Primary DNS server Is Down... Switching To Secondary DNS server

Dec 16 09:58:20 user notice dnsprobe[679]: Switching Back To Primary DNS server

Dec 16 09:59:54 user warn dnsprobe[679]: dns query failed

Dec 16 10:02:31 user warn dnsprobe[679]: dns query failed

Oops. I see it is a DOCSIS modem.

Correct model number is TCW750-4TH.

Why do you suspect a DNS issue?

Maybe run namebench or DNSbench?

Edited February 22, 2012 by lomatopo

[Pib]

Thanks to all who have replied--sorry to be slow to respond--it does seem that the True Vision supplied Router has DNS settings blocked by Default--as in the only section in the settings with any reference to DNS the detail is blank-therefore without specialist knowledge can neither find out what the servers are nor alter them--just have to stick with what I got; does seem tetchy, slow and problematic, though.

Anyone who has similar router, Thomson TGW750-4TH, got any inside info?

I don't have the model you have but a Cisco EPC 2325 Wifi modem/router which was provided with my True Cable/DOCSIS 20Mb/2Mb plan. Below is a cut and paste of the True DNS server settings from my modem/router. Never had any problem with these DNS settings; "I think" they are the same DNS servers used on True ADSL plans.

[higgy88]

I have the same Thomson router that I got with the True cable 10Mb/1Mb plan. I can't give you any inside info, but I can verify that I haven't been able to find anywhere in the router settings where I can change the DNS servers, and I do have the manual for it.

I've had this True service for about 2+ months and I've been pretty happy with it. Before True, I had CAT ADSL service which was pretty bad. The Allied router they gave me had the DNS servers hard wired into the router settings, which could not be changed, and it was absolutely terrible. Luckily, I still had the old Zyxel router that I had kept when I cancelled service with Maxnet/3BB, which I was able to use with CAT after making a few changes. I tested just about every free DNS service available to me, and concluded that Google was the best. So I basically only used the Google DNS for the 2+ years that I had CAT, which was the only thing that made the CAT ADSL usable for me.

When I got the True service, I tested various DNS servers by changing the settings in my computer rather than the router (I'm a Linux user) and concluded that the True DNS were just as good as Google, as well as the other ones I looked at, so that is what I am using. I can also verify that they are the same as Pib.

I would like to add that from another thread and info provided by Pib, I'm also changing around using the True proxy settings and am seeing some interesting differences. Which is not to say that one is better than the other, only different. The setting for the True proxy that I sometimes use is proxy.asianet.co.th on port 8080.

Thanks to all who have replied--sorry to be slow to respond--it does seem that the True Vision supplied Router has DNS settings blocked by Default--as in the only section in the settings with any reference to DNS the detail is blank-therefore without specialist knowledge can neither find out what the servers are nor alter them--just have to stick with what I got; does seem tetchy, slow and problematic, though.

Anyone who has similar router, Thomson TGW750-4TH, got any inside info?

[lomatopo]

Never had any problem with these DNS settings; "I think" they are the same DNS servers used on True ADSL plans.

We have three (3) True Online ADSL lines here and it looks like the native DNS servers are slightly different: 203.144.207.49 and 203.144.207.29

These may be working fine now but in the past they have not, so we switched to 8.8.8.8, and I have never seen a DNS issue in any router log since. namebench seems to indicate that 8.8.8.8 is noticeably faster on our installations.

Do any of those cable modems allow you to view activity/error logs? I wouldn't have figured out our True DNS issue without a log.

[Pib]

My cable modem/router, a Cisco EPC2325, has a log...have never seen errors in the log about DNS. All the events I have sent related to no ranging response, maintenance ranging, synchronization, etc. Nothing along the lines "no connection", etc. And I probably shouldn't call them Errors as they may not really be errors and the log refers to it's entries as Events. From looking at the log just now it appears to hold around 30 entries before a new entry pushes the oldest entry out, and the 30 entries shown are all dated 21 Feb/16:32 to 21 Feb/17:23...with no events logged after that timeframe...obviously something was going on that time....I can't remember if I was on the internet or not at that time period....normally I would have been out walking the dogs.

As mentioned, usually no shortage of events relating various types of "ranging" (i.e., and a few other events listed in the log all the time), but the connection works just fine with upstream, downstream, and SNR values within desired parameters...always has for 8 months now. Only had one 8 hour period (10am-6pm) about 6 months ago when both the cable TV and cable internal signals were inop and a few weeks ago (from 2-6pm) when the cable internet signal was inop....and it seems funny that both times the system started working again at 6pm...I expect they were doing some line maintenance somewhere with a programmed return to operation time of 6pm.

I'm not sure but the cable modem seems to frequently optimize itself to the network...and updates/firmware updates are periodically forced fed to the modem as I frequently see modem configuration file updates/dates. Seems similar to how program updates are force fed to TrueVisions settop boxes periodically. With ADSL modem, firmware updates are not force fed...a person actually needs to be brave enough to download and install a firmware update--hoping the whole time the firmware update will work with his "ISP-issued modem."

I see errors/events in the cable modem log that I never saw in ADSL modems...just completely different technologies/systems.

[haybilly]

Well, again, I must say a Big 'Thank-You' to all you guys who have answered my question--I still cannot find anywhere in the Router settings with actual DNS statistics--the nearest is the 3 letters DNS and 'blank space'--but you have all been really helpful and interesting--I have been recommended a couple of small programs that search for and locate and change, presumably the computer DNS settings as opposed to the Router settings--but I am no 'Com-geek so I could be wrong--and I am trying these out--Namebench is one and DNS Jumper is another--not sure yet if I can detect any improvements--incidentally according to various Speedtests my 9 MB True pack is actually giving me between 5.89 MB and 6.1 MB Downloadspeeds with 0.89 Upload--seems a bit poor, or not??

[lomatopo]

What makes you think this is a DNS issue?

You can usually troubleshoot DNS problems easily.

First hit: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/10-ways-troubleshoot-dns-resolution-issues.html

[Pib]

Well, again, I must say a Big 'Thank-You' to all you guys who have answered my question--I still cannot find anywhere in the Router settings with actual DNS statistics--the nearest is the 3 letters DNS and 'blank space'--but you have all been really helpful and interesting--I have been recommended a couple of small programs that search for and locate and change, presumably the computer DNS settings as opposed to the Router settings--but I am no 'Com-geek so I could be wrong--and I am trying these out--Namebench is one and DNS Jumper is another--not sure yet if I can detect any improvements--incidentally according to various Speedtests my 9 MB True pack is actually giving me between 5.89 MB and 6.1 MB Downloadspeeds with 0.89 Upload--seems a bit poor, or not??

Just to confirm, in your case we are talking a 9Mb "ADSL" plan, right? Highly, highly, highly unlikely a DNS problem is going to cause a lower speedtest result. If that 6.1Mb download speed is the a test to a local/in-country server, like maybe to Bangkok, you could have a physical line problem...that is, low Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), modem "Sync" speed should be at least 9Mb to the DSLAM, and your attentuation valves shouldn't be too high. You should be pulling 9Mb on in-country speed tests. Once again, these metrics can be found in your modem menu structure under System Info, Diagnositics, or something along those lines.

[lomatopo]

I think haybilly has DOCSIS based on his router model? I was initially confused, and then probably led others to be confused with some of my comments.

But then the 9/1 plan is DSL and the 10/1 plan DOCSIS so who knows?

[higgy88]

I'm sure Haybilly has the DOCSIS cable internet as I have the same Thomson TCW750-4TH router supplied by True.

I think he may have an additional internet add-on to his True visions cable TV service, not just the internet service we have, which is why it is 9 Mb.

We still don't know why he thinks he has a DNS problem.

Personally, I've completely given up on speedtests, as I think they have become pretty much meaningless here. For me, the proof is in the pudding, which is how fast I can actually download and upload files, how well I can watch streaming video without buffering, and how well I can carry on a video call.

With my 10Mb/1Mb plan, I would be more than happy if I was able to get 6Mb/0.89Mb to international servers. I don't think it's poor at all. And, as stated, changing the DNS servers won't improve that at all.

[Pib]

As far as I know the True DOCSIS/cable internet service only comes in donwload speeds of 7Mb, 10Mb, 20Mb, 50Mb, and 100Mb...they also use to have a 30Mb speed. True does have a 9Mb ADSL plan.

True ADSL & DOCSIS Plans Link

[haybilly]

Once again--you have all been very helpful and enlightening.

The only reason that I thought that I had a 9MB Down/ 1MB Up connection is because when I went into the True office, on our return from an extended trip out of the country, and hearing that they were offering some good package deals [ I was previously using 3BB, the old Premium package, which they have now superseded with a very expensive version] and was going to sign up for the 7MB package and a separate True TV deal Knowledge for my daughter--however the salesperson informed me that they were running a promo for both together but that the Internet deal was not 7MB but 9MB--I guess she could have been giving me a bit of True B/S but that is what I heard--not sure what I have actually ended up with.

Anyway--you have all told me some useful stuff and I am going to check out Namebench, DNS Benchmark and DNS Jumper--all mentioned in the link kindly provided by 'Lomatopo' and I will see what is going on--or maybe, that is--since I am nowhere near as knowledgeable as you folks--so, thanks again.

EDIT--oops, the 3 programs I have just reffed to were not, in fact, mentioned in the link from Lomatopo--which is a very useful, interesting webpage--but from 'Techsupportalert' which was mentioned by another friend--sorry for false info.

Edited February 25, 2012 by haybilly

[astral]

Are you looking the right place?

I set my DNS in the Windows networking page

using the address of the router as one option

but OpenDNS as the other.

[lroche101]

I prefer google DNS over open DNS

[haybilly]

Are you looking the right place?

I set my DNS in the Windows networking page

using the address of the router as one option

but OpenDNS as the other.

Aha--now I can alter my DNS--I have been trying to alter the settings actually in the Router--which do seem to blocked, at least from me anyway--but, following Astral's post I have checked in Windows Network Connections and, hey presto--I can change the DNS settings to whatever I might want--how simple--thanks very much Astral--maybe I don't need to alter the Router settings after all?

Edited February 28, 2012 by haybilly

[Pib]

You many not be able to get a DNS change in the TrueOnline DOCSIS/Cable modem settings to stick...I couldn't in mine (I have the TrueOnline cable 20Mb/2Mb plan with a Cisco modem) the few times I tried it when I wanted to add GoogleDNS as the secondary DNS server in the Cisco cable modem/router setting. Had no problem making the entry but the modem & connection would sometimes act funny and I ended up re-entering the True default DNS servers. Seems the cable modem just wanted to use the True DNS servers and no one elses.

But a person can bypass these potential modem DNS hickup by using Windows networking to select whatever DNS servers he wants to use. Below are a couple of web sites that tell a person how to do it...basically a person adjusts a TCP setting. I had no problem in getting mine setup via Windows with a True DNS server as the primary and the GoogleDNS as the secondary. But with that being said for around the last eight months I just use the True DNS servers and just let Windows select these servers automatically versus manually overriding one or both and using another DNS server like GoogleDNS. I haven't had any DNS problems...even when I was on TOT or JINET ADSL plans.

Link 1 Link 2

[Pib]

Thanks to all who have replied--sorry to be slow to respond--it does seem that the True Vision supplied Router has DNS settings blocked by Default--as in the only section in the settings with any reference to DNS the detail is blank-therefore without specialist knowledge can neither find out what the servers are nor alter them--just have to stick with what I got; does seem tetchy, slow and problematic, though.

Anyone who has similar router, Thomson TGW750-4TH, got any inside info?

I don't have the model you have but a Cisco EPC 2325 Wifi modem/router which was provided with my True Cable/DOCSIS 20Mb/2Mb plan. Below is a cut and paste of the True DNS server settings from my modem/router. Never had any problem with these DNS settings; "I think" they are the same DNS servers used on True ADSL plans.

As mentioned in my earlier post I "had" a Cisco EPC 2325 cable modem with my True cable 20Mb/2Mb plan. I say "had" now because I no longer have it; I know have the Thomson TCW750-4 Wireless cable modem/router....it has 54G wireless capability and 4 ethernet output ports just like the Cisco. And the Thomson does "not" have any place in its setup menu to see what DNS servers are being used by your ISP nor a place to enter a different DNS server like GoogleDNS, OpenDNS, etc.; instead, you would need to enter any 3d party DNS servers into the Windows TCP setup as discussed.

What happened is on 23 Feb/Thursday when doing a quick speedtest which I do almost daily I noticed my upload speed was only 1.3 to 1.6Mb when it should have been around 2.3Mb. My download speed was still fine at 20.4Mb and my downstream power level, upstream power level, and SNR were all still fine/normal. I've had this True cable internet service now for 8 months and my download and upload speeds have been rock solid. So, I figured I would wait a day or so to see if the problem cleared up by itself. It didn't so I called TrueOnline Customer Service 24Feb/Friday afternoon, explained the problem, mentioned I had reset the modem several times and my power levels/SNR were all fine. They said a technician would come to my house within 24 hours....and believe it or not two technicians showed up Saturday mid day.

They confirmed the problem by hooking up their laptop to the modem, they decided they wanted to replace the modem but all they had in their truck was a used Cisco EPC 2325 modem they used for testing and the above mentioned new Thomson modem. They hooked the Cisco test modem up and the upload speed problem was gone...so my modem must be going bad. They said they didn't have a new Cisco EPC 2325 to provide an identical replacement but they would swap it out with the Thompon TCW 750, which is a 54G wireless modem with 4 ethernet output ports just like the Cisco, however one technician said he thought the Cisco model had better/more stable wireless capability and if I wanted to wait a max of 3 business days they would get one to me, but in the interim they would temporarily swapout my Cisco modem with their Cisco test modem. Nothing special about their Cisco test modem...it was just like my Cisco modem...it was just one of the modems they use when working customers' problems. I said sure.

OK...upload speed now fixed. Come Monday one of the original techs shows up with the new Cisco EPC2325...hook it up...but wait, the upload problem returns...upload speed is only 1.3 to 1.6 Mb. He spends the next hour on the phone with some other True tech support staff in trying to figure out what is wrong but can't....but they are now beginning to suspect a firmware problem caused by recent upgrades to the system. The tech said he will be getting back to me soon. The next day, Tuesday, another tech shows up and justs wants to confirm the maximum speed of the trunk line which would be the 100Mb/10Mb plan a person can buy if desired. He hooked up the test modem he brought along (another Cisco model) and pulled a 100.4Mb download and 10.4Mb upload...yeap, trunk line and line leading to my house is definitely fine...and if I ever want to upgrade to their 100Mb/10Mb plan--which I can't image doing as I have no need for speed like that plus I'm too cheap--I know the line leading to my house will provide that 100Mb speed.

The next day/Wednesday the other tech shows up outside my house just to hook into a trunk line tap to test some other Cisco models. I didn't really talk to him but a few minutes as I was busy painting my perimeter fence, plus I figured he didn't need me bothering him. Ok, come Thursday morning the original two techs show up again and want to swap out the test Cisco modem they had left me with the Thompon TCW 750-4 since they said tech support had confirmed some firmware issues with some Cisco modems...and other folks had been calling in with upload speed problems and it all seemed to start around the last week of Feb when some systems upgrades were probably done. Maybe it was a firmware update pushed to the modems, a upgrade on the trunk line that was now conflicting with firmware version XYZ, etc..just something to do with firmware.

Anyway, I let them give me the new Thomson TCW750-4 and it's been working fine, has just a good a wireless signal as the Cisco based on a few days of testing, and even its menu structure is very similar...some ways better than the Cisco in my opinion...someways not as good in my opinion....it's kinda like comparing a Coke and a Pepsi. But one thing the Thomson don't have is location that identifies the DNS servers being used or where you can enter in other DNS servers.

In closing, I found TrueOnline Technical Support very responsive to my problem (a unique/firmware problem that had them stumped for a while) and by temporarily swapping out my Cisco modem with another modem until they gave me a brand new modem about a week later I only experienced an upload speed reduction for about two days....and a upload speed reduction from 2Mb to 1.3Mb really didn't have any impact on me except maybe taking my email uploads a few extra milliseconds to transmit....but although little impact this time, I definitely wanted to get everything I was paying for which is 20Mb down/2Mb up. I do check my upload/download speed almost daily by running a local speedtest just to ensure I'm getting the advertised 20Mb/2Mb. And I guess if I had said, just give me the Thomson modem when they offered it on their first visit I wouldn't have this long story of the TrueOnline testing, technical support, etc.

Yeap, True Customer Service/Technical Support did just fine by me in fixing this problem...no, they did an excellent job in fixing my problem. Your results may vary. So, if you have True cable/DOCSIS internet plan, you've just noticed your local "upload" speed has slowed down, and you have a Cisco modem/router, your problem may be modem firmware related.

[nocturn]

As far as I know the True DOCSIS/cable internet service only comes in donwload speeds of 7Mb, 10Mb, 20Mb, 50Mb, and 100Mb...they also use to have a 30Mb speed. True does have a 9Mb ADSL plan.

True ADSL & DOCSIS Plans Link

they still have the 30 upgraded to it from 20 today

[Pib]

As far as I know the True DOCSIS/cable internet service only comes in donwload speeds of 7Mb, 10Mb, 20Mb, 50Mb, and 100Mb...they also use to have a 30Mb speed. True does have a 9Mb ADSL plan.

True ADSL & DOCSIS Plans Link

they still have the 30 upgraded to it from 20 today

Yea, just last night I noticed on one TrueOnline web page (semi-English version) they still advertise it, but it appears on the Thai version of the web site they don't advertise the 30Mb plan. See images below. Probably just a case of the various web pages not being kept up to date/in sync or maybe they don't really advertise the 30Mb version as much anymore in hopes of getting people to jump from the 20Mb to 50Mb plan. Good they still have the 30Mb...more plans the better...gives the customer more choices. I think you're the first ThaiVisa member mentioning they are on the 30Mb plan. If you get the chance how about posting some speedtest.net results "when using one of the True proxy servers" since use of the proxy makes speedtest.net give real world results....without using the proxy setting for speedtests I know you will get 30Mb download speeds and faster-than-light ping times to all speedtest servers on Earth (a.k.a., bogus results).

True Proxies:

"proxy.trueinternet.co.th" port 8080

"proxy.asianet.co.th" port 8080

Now, I only turn on a True proxy whenever doing international speed tests or if I'm having problems accessing a certain site. But when I first signed up for my cable 20Mb/2Mb plan last June I noticed the proxy was noticeably faster than not using the proxy but that speed gain seemed to go away in late 2011.

TrueOnline Plans

Thai Page

Semi-Engilsh Page

[Pib]

To noctum...thanks I see your 30mb plan speedtest results in your Post on a similar subject.