Using OpenDNS

muzicman82 · EVDO User Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68

(I posted this on the OpenDNS Forums, but I figure some of you have more experience with this CTR350.)

I'm using Sprint Mobile Broadband. I have a CradlePoint CTR350 EVDO router configured with OpenDNS servers. The status page definitely says I am using the OpenDNS servers.

Now, I go to the Welcome page (http://welcome.opendns.com) and it says I am not using OpenDNS. If I try either tests, they fail. If I setup a shortcut and try it, it fails.

If I go to a Command Prompt and type "nslookup google.com", I get:
Server: resolver1.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.222.222

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: google.com
Addresses: 64.233.187.99
72.14.207.99
209.85.171.99

I'v also set the Windows Vista servers on my LAN connection to manually assign OpenDNS servers and I get the same results.

So, what do I need to do to make this fully work? Does Sprint have the ability to prevent me from using OpenDNS?

muzicman82 · EVDO User Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68

Well, after a lot of digging, I found this.

It seems that you can't use alternative DNS servers with Sprint Mobile Broadband.

This is news, since I definitely used to be able to... and even had the test page working. I just kind of set it and forgot about it. Since Internet never stopped working, I never bothered to check the settings.

I wonder if setting OpenDNS servers is actually causing the requests to take longer if they're redirecting all Port 53 traffic...

If anyone has some news on this, I'd love to hear it.

First a bandwidth cap, and now no OpenDNS. This is getting steep.

So, you might want to remove OpenDNS from the EVDO tuning thread for Sprint![/url]

krack[|] · EVDO User Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 26

This has been an on going pain in the ass with Sprint. Sprint intercepts any DNS traffic directed to port 53. However, there might be a fix in the next patch series to work around this problem with OpenDNS. And from what I can tell it might be exclusive to Cradlepoint.

muzicman82 · EVDO User Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68

Where did you hear this? Will it be for all CradlePoint routers?

Is there a way to do this without a router hack or is there something I can do myself?

krack[|] · EVDO User Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 26

I know one of the developers at OpenDNS, and I am guessing/hope it will be on the routers at some point in time.

As for other solutions, you'll need to keep an eye on OpenDNS, because they're well aware of the situation, and probably want to have a fix for everyone. The only reason I was thinking it might be for Cradlepoint only at this time, is because they're the only ones I've seen put an OpenDNS utility directly into the router.

muzicman82 · EVDO User Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68

I see. Why would OpenDNS care that Sprint is redirecting DNS? Are other ISPs doing this? Or are there OpenDNS employees using Sprint?

krack[|] · EVDO User Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 26

Ever hear of "Site Finder" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site_Finder. Basicly, the services OpenDNS provides is opt-in and useful, but ISP's are always looking for more revenue. Showing you ads based on DNS queries that don't resolve is a good way to that from the ISP perspective. However, it cuts into OpenDNS's model, and any sort of work-around is a benefit. Sprint just so happens to intercept DNS querys, and Cradlepoint probably has a lot of users that have Sprint modems that want to use a DNS based service. My guess, it benefits both parties.

eddieb · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 23 Location: NYC

How did you "add network" in the OpenDNS dashboard? I'm not able to add it when connecting my Verizon Express card to my CT500.
I put my IP address but I get the "already added address" error and it won't add it.
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2004 Yukon Denali Pentium M System, Verizon EVDO.