Vodafone WiFi Hub DNS Issue

[yilkork]

Hi,

I started to use Vodafone Home Broadband service on mid of Jan-2020. Since the first installation, I couldn't connect to the internet when the DNS set to "Automatically" (It says DSL is connected but no internet connection). When I change it to Manual DNS and set to Google DNS, I can connect.

I opened a ticket for this issue, a Customer Relations agent talked with me but this issue couldn't be solved because they are not technical experts. and he suggest to search in online forums

Could anyone help me to fix this issue?

P.S. : I'm a Telecommunication Engineer, I can talk in technical language if anyone try to explain something to me

Best Regards

[mafjmafj]

Interesting because I am deep in a belief that my router intercepts DNS requests.

This snapshot shows that DNS servers do not work generally. It is just a small subset that does respond and they have insanely high response times (250-600ms).

One way I get a device to work reliably is to get it to VPN - with explanation that DNS interception would be prevented.
Another way is to enable encrypted DNS... currently only of my devices only Windows11 laptop can do this.
Android mobile requires DNS name to setup as an encrypted DNS host (sounds really dodgy)... which means it generally works but sometimes does not.

[Ripshod]

Vodafone's router works in the same way as many other routers. They work that way for inexperienced users, to provide an easy to configure home network - automatic settings all the way. There's no deception involved. Without acting as a dns relay anything set to automatic dns servers would get nowhere. Everything would have to be done by IPs rather than domain names. 

Why not just spend a few minutes setting your own favourite DNS servers on all your connected devices. They will not get intercepted.

Encrypted DNS is just the normal DNS served over TLS. Why not be secure? All the conspiracy makes my just.....

ROFL

I use the fastest dns servers tested by dnsbench from an online list of 224 UK servers and leave the router on auto so it gets the updates. 

[Jayach]

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@Ripshod wrote:

Why not just spend a few minutes setting your own favourite DNS servers on all your connected devices. They will not get intercepted.

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They will if the ISP is using a transparent DNS proxy. Sky used to do this, don't think they still do.

Only way around it is a VPN.

[Ripshod]

Yes they used to, until a couple of rather large ISPs got fined for it. As the end user you have the right to  use the Internet any way you wish so long as it's legal. ISPs can't legally intercept anything - they can sniff for things like bittorrent or other p2p and take action but our legal use is protected.

Vodafone have found a legal way to force us to use their dns if we want to receive firmware updates on their router's, but that's a whole other story.

And yes there are still dns servers that use transparent proxy, but they are relatively poor performers on the benchmarks and never likely to arrive anywhere near the top in dnsbench or namebench due to their overheads. My choice dns servers for those interested are 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) and 195.12.48.171 (M247). 

Not bad for a dead thread

[mafjmafj]

Right, so I think I shot myself in the foot.

These DNS problems have been going for a while.

Last month I got to 2nd line of support and complained enough that they had moved me on a firmware that actually did what I was alleging here (snooping DNS requests).
The DNS experience went from bad to disastrous.

Yesterday, support got me to reimage the router again. Probably to the standard image (version number did not budge).
The DHCP DNS issues did not go away, however custom DNS setting did make devices work fine.

Currently, I disabled DHCP server on my router and got my QNAP device to serve as DHCP server instead. QNAP allows setting DNS config on DHCP server, so all my devices now pick-up Cloudflare DNS. And all they seem to work continuously.

I have noticed that I have QoS enabled on my Vodafone/Huwawei router.
It could be that QoS is just a tad too much for the router HW spec and could have made DNS service on the router unresponsive. I might test this one day.

[Jayach]

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@mafjmafj wrote:

I have noticed that I have QoS enabled on my Vodafone/Huwawei router.
It could be that QoS is just a tad too much for the router HW spec and could have made DNS service on the router unresponsive. I might test this one day.

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Vodafone have not used Huawei for over two years. the current router is the Technicolor THG3000 (if you are in the U.K.)

There are no QOS settings, and in my opinion is vastly superior to the Huawei. (although totally hobbled by the firmware)

@Ripshod wrote:

Not bad for a dead thread

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Indeed. 😉

[mafjmafj]

> Vodafone have not used Huawei for over two years. the current router is the Technicolor THG3000 (if you are in the U.K.)

Yes, I have been with Vodafone for quite few years. I was thinking if I switch I will get a new router, which just might have more oomph to it to support devices with VPN and streaming without struggling.
However, my line is dodgy and when I switched in the past each new provider took some time before figuring out how to deliver the signal.

Ideally, I'd like Vodafone tosend me a new router without switching.

Anyway, it all works in the meantime. And by the end of this year I should be able to get gigafast.

[Jayach]

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@mafjmafj wrote:

Yes, I have been with Vodafone for quite few years. I was thinking if I switch I will get a new router, which just might have more oomph to it to support devices with VPN and streaming without struggling.

Ideally, I'd like Vodafone tosend me a new router without switching.

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ISP routers are generally just about good enough for the job, but no more.

Have you re-contracted or are you running without a contract. You should be able to request a new router if you re-contract.

Vodafone's 2 year contracts are a pain, but they they do allow you to upgrade if FTTP becomes available, without having to wait the FTTC contract out. (although if FTTP is that close to getting to you, I would wait and see what other ISP options you have)

I wonder what they would send you if your old Huawei died and wouldn't switch on?

[mafjmafj]

Interestingly,
when I was running DNS service on HHG2500, the Web UI was barely responsive, e.g. took best part of minute to login and switch between settings/status screens etc.
Now since I disabled it. The Web UI could be almost described as snappy, and CPU usage dropped from almost high 80% to 15%.

[Ripshod]

To add - vodafone's dns servers are probably the slowest I've ever experienced.

My experience with the update after resetting the dns was just another of those mysterious coincidences vodafone customers have to live with. If only life was a sure thing.