Still Having DNS Issues - Looking for New Router

[jgcharlotte]

I continue to have DNS issues with my Spectrum supplied router (Sagemcom F@st 5260).   Tried alternate DNS lookup addresses, no luck.  Does not appear to be a heat problem.  Updated the firmware yesterday, same thing.  Sometimes emails go through, sometimes they do not.  Very strange.

I decided to replace the router with my own to see if that fixes the problem.  Does anyone have a router recommendation, possibly someone who has had similar issues and found a router that worked.  If not, just a recommendation on a solid router would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[larryllix]

20 minutes ago, jgcharlotte said:

I continue to have DNS issues with my Spectrum supplied router (Sagemcom F@st 5260).   Tried alternate DNS lookup addresses, no luck.  Does not appear to be a heat problem.  Updated the firmware yesterday, same thing.  Sometimes emails go through, sometimes they do not.  Very strange.

I decided to replace the router with my own to see if that fixes the problem.  Does anyone have a router recommendation, possibly someone who has had similar issues and found a router that worked.  If not, just a recommendation on a solid router would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I have a Netgear AC1900 that I had heat problems with, only in the summer though. Figuring it was bad I bought an ASUS AC1900 RT-AC68U router to replace it. It has heat problems, only in the summer though. I have converted the ASUS to ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware (they only fix bugs) and it didn't help. 

I mounted them both vertically and in free air, and they have both worked almost flawlessly now, for the last few years. Some device just give up connecting to easily though. The ASUS is a better router and they now have mesh routing built into them if you want to get more than one.

I turned down the transmit power on both routers, both frequencies, and that helped. Only problem, at about 3% of their power output, my neighbour could clobber my one router as his signal strength was higher than mine, in my own home.  After changing frequencies, with such low signal level, his router changed to the same frequency. I have raised my transmit levels and found channels that no neighbours are using. Hopefully now, when other routers reboot every week they will see my signal and avoid the same channels.

I use a free app on my cell phone, and my Killer Control Centre software app, that came with my laptop WiFi, to see every WiFi channel in use.

If you are trying to use 5GHz WiFi and have any airplanes near you, your WiFi may be disconnecting constantly. It is part of the 5GHz licence to share the frequency with radar systems.

Just before trashing your router I would investigate installing WRT-Merlin third party firmware into it. It may save you some money if it is available for your model.

[paulbates]

Did you contact spectrum for a replacement?

If not, i have Asus RTAC88. I've had it for several years and updates continue to come out for it. It has the trend micro security module which blocks known bad sites and had IDS (threat visibility) and 2 way IPS (threat control). I configured the router to send threat alerts via email to my pushover account, so they're integrated with my other home messages and alerts.

It has a complete but relatively simple interface and a lot of configuration can be done if you wish. Some other benefits: it has an 8 switch ports built in and I also have a 500gb SSD drive attached for my home files. You can also QOS prioritize devices like tvs.  I found it to be a good compromise, both in price and effort to maintain, between an entry level cheap router and a high end home dedicated firewall.  

I am using the Merlin WRT FW for it but I believe most of the features are available stock

Paul

[Geddy]

If you're using ISP supplied equipment are you using a modem/router combo? If so you'll need to replace with your own modem and router or hope they'll let you put their router portion in bridge mode so you can run your own router behind their modem.

I've used the Asus RT-AC68U https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC68U/ in the past. It was great, and lasted me about 6 years. I think heat finally took its toll and was starting to flake out so I replaced it this past spring. 

I currently use the TP-Link DECO 9M+ (mesh) and love it! I had several dead zones in the house with other routers and wanted to try Mesh. Costco had a deal on the Deco product and I've loved it. The only issue I would say is that there's not a true web UI, but the phone app seems ample enough to setup what I want/need. (https://www.costco.com/tp-link-deco-m9-plus-tri-band-wi-fi-system-with-built-in-smart-hub%2C-3-pack.product.100477095.html) 

 

You said you used other DNS lookups which ones did you try? Did you use the Google public DNS servers? 

 

The router you mentioned appears to be a business plan router. Are you on Business plan with Spectrum? I wonder if the business service tends to block the emails more than a residential service would. I would think that Business would be more open, but perhaps there's something in the service that they're blocking some sending.

 

Modem suggestion: Arris SB8200 (https://www.arris.com/surfboard/products/cable-modems/sb8200/)

Router will depend on what you need beyond the ISY side of things. If you need sped look at the higher end gaming routers, if you need coverage look at mesh options, if you just need simple ASUS and TP-Link are good options compared to what most would push in Netgear, D-Link, and Linksys. 

 

[jgcharlotte]

This is great feedback, thanks all for taking the time to respond!

My router is a leased router from Spectrum, the account (200/10) is not a business account.  It is separate from the modem, not a combo.  They said it would be no problem at all to replace it if I decide to do that.  Or I can get my own.  One reason that I think it may be the router itself is that they replaced one for me a few years ago when I was having trouble getting on certain sites.  When they replaced it, he said it was DNS issues.  Anecdotal troubleshooting by association I know,  but I'm about out of ideas.  

I have tried the Google DNS addresses 8's and 9's.  Same result.

I have it hanging in free air now.  Seems a bit better, may be coincidence, still getting errors

I figure if I just go out and buy my own and have the same problem, I can just return it and re-install the original.  Or just keep it since it's probably a better router anyway.  Sounds like Asus is the way to go.

Thanks again!

 

[paulbates]

One more benefit of your own router is being ISP agnostic. The more iot I have, the more router configs, etc. I don't want the 2 mixed up. Replace your modem and that's all I need

Paul

[jgcharlotte]

13 hours ago, paulbates said:

One more benefit of your own router is being ISP agnostic

Agree and I'm sure that's where I'm headed.  I would do it a lot sooner if I know it will fix my DNS issues!  

[Geddy]

I've always liked to buy my own modem and routers just for the fact that I save the rental. Unless you're getting a new device from your ISP every few months or year then you've paid more in rent than you would have paid if you just bought your own devices. The ISP always tries to say "if it goes bad it's your cost to replace". Well, when I buy stuff it lasts several years. Over that time I would have paid 2 or 3 times the cost of the devices I bought in rent and. They have enough control over the data I consume over their network that I don't want them to be able to directly control the hardware I have. 

Over the last few years the Comcast service has had their Comcast/Xfinity open wifi for other customers piggy back on their hardware. If I'm paying you for the service I don't want you to give away any of my broadband to others. Lower my rate if you're going to also run a wifi on my connection, but no...they don't think that way. So, I say buy your own stuff and replace as needed and desired as technology changes.

Good luck if you go with your own equipment. It could still be some sort of port/protocol filtering by the ISP that isn't allowing some notifications. It just depends on if you're sending multiple notifications or identical notifications on a set schedule. 

 

 

[paulbates]

1 hour ago, Geddy said:

Over the last few years the Comcast service has had their Comcast/Xfinity open wifi for other customers piggy back on their hardware. If I'm paying you for the service I don't want you to give away any of my broadband to others. Lower my rate if you're going to also run a wifi on my connection, but no...they don't think that way. So, I say buy your own stuff and replace as needed and desired as technology changes.

+1 Yes - this. I have my own CM too. I love it when I call to get updates on an outage and their agents try to stuff in marketing in the end...

   "Do you know about our Xfinity wifi modem <whatever>"
   "Yes"
   "Don't you want one? Lot's of people in your area are getting one"
   "No. Lots of people in my area filed bankruptcy and defaulted on their mortgages 10 years ago. I did neither of those"

You can guess where it went from there ?

Paul

[larryllix]

1 hour ago, paulbates said:

+1 Yes - this. I have my own CM too. I love it when I call to get updates on an outage and their agents try to stuff in marketing in the end...

   "Do you know about our Xfinity wifi modem <whatever>"
   "Yes"
   "Don't you want one? Lot's of people in your area are getting one"
   "No. Lots of people in my area filed bankruptcy and defaulted on their mortgages 10 years ago. I did neither of those"

You can guess where it went from there ?

Paul

The best sales line, used everywhere is, "everybody else is getting one" or "It's our most popular xxx".

[paulbates]

1 hour ago, larryllix said:

The best sales line, used everywhere is, "everybody else is getting one" or "It's our most popular xxx".

My new favorite - when calls get past noborobo

Ring
Me:      "Hello?"
Them: "Hello, before I start, I want to make sure. Can you hear me ok?"
Me:      "I can hear you"
Them: "Our process requires a yes or no response"
Me:      "Thanks for calling! I've been trying to reach you about your vehicles extended warranty" (sometimes I just lead with this one)

 

[larryllix]

1 hour ago, paulbates said:

My new favorite - when calls get past noborobo

Ring
Me:      "Hello?"
Them: "Hello, before I start, I want to make sure. Can you hear me ok?"
Me:      "I can hear you"
Them: "Our process requires a yes or no response"
Me:      "Thanks for calling! I've been trying to reach you about your vehicles extended warranty" (sometimes I just lead with this one)

 

Trouble with most of these calls is the issue they raise is not what they are calling about. They are looking for a "live" phone number with real people behind it.  Then they sell the numbers to other spammers. This is happening a lot on mobile numbers now as they can SMS spam you.

I upgraded my Ooma service to a$10 account and I can selective block the pests. We were very impressed when we tested it as you get your choice of actions and their "This number is out of service. Please check...." message is very authentic.

[jgcharlotte]

27 minutes ago, larryllix said:

I can selective block the pests.

But don't they just change numbers?  I don't even answer any more unless I know the caller.  If it's a client or legit potential client they will leave a message.

[Geddy]

41 minutes ago, larryllix said:

I upgraded my Ooma service to a$10 account and I can selective block the pests. We were very impressed when we tested it as you get your choice of actions and their "This number is out of service. Please check...." message is very authentic.

 

I've used Viatalk for years (over 11) and they have a "do not disturb" function that you can turn on and have calls authenticate before they ring through (type in 3 or 4 numbers). You can then "white list" people so they aren't bothered by it. So we leave DND on and let family, friends, and some key companies on the white list so we get their calls (plus, they know our cell numbers and call/text there). Not bad for ~ $8/mo. 

 

[larryllix]

7 hours ago, jgcharlotte said:

But don't they just change numbers?  I don't even answer any more unless I know the caller.  If it's a client or legit potential client they will leave a message.

They can but most of these scammer rooms only own a few numbers.

Besides they get an "Out of service" message with advice to remove it from their list". If they do, it is over for YOUR number.

On my Android cell phone it came with an app called "HiYa" that looks the calling number up in a database and gives a warning, location or advice for every call. If you find it is spam or a scam you just hit the appropriate key and they record it in their database. It works quite well, as I have had quite a few rings along with advice "Known Spammer" etc.. It was auto-installed on my last upgrade.

[paulbates]

10 hours ago, larryllix said:

On my Android cell phone it came with an app called "HiYa" that looks the calling number up in a database and gives a warning, location or advice for every call. 

Interesting. My firm provides us the full version  hiya for this purpose. It never caught a thing, but granted I don't get frequent unknowns on my phone. What I found out about for ios, that bugs me, is that the foreground app has to to be kept running in order for it to receive updates. I just switched to android and will try it again

Paul

[Athlon]

On 11/15/2019 at 2:34 PM, larryllix said:

Trouble with most of these calls is the issue they raise is not what they are calling about. They are looking for a "live" phone number with real people behind it.  Then they sell the numbers to other spammers. This is happening a lot on mobile numbers now as they can SMS spam you.

I upgraded my Ooma service to a$10 account and I can selective block the pests. We were very impressed when we tested it as you get your choice of actions and their "This number is out of service. Please check...." message is very authentic.

Love our Ooma. We have the original one and it's still going strong.

[larryllix]

Love our Ooma. We have the original one and it's still going strong.

I had random router problems that disconnected my Ooma at weird times. Finally I installed my Ooma ahead of my router, as per recommendations, and against my better judgement. The Ooma box is much more reliable now but SMS messages show up with its home page and other weird things now. They do not interfere with any operations on my LAN equipment.

That Ooma box contains a whole router inside, along with other very smart Internet filtering tools, much to my surprise

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