Tricked by Comcast
I think this has been happening to other openDNS users, guess I should have checked here before falling for this trick by Comcast/xFinity.
Everything has been working great on our home LAN for years, openDNS has been our only dns and we also used the app on reach system.
Last month xFinity sent us a letter saying that they had great news, for free they would send out a newer technology device that not only increased our Internet speed but also gave us wifi and LAN from the same device.
Once it arrived I had to use my smart phone to login and change the devices addresses with Comcast.
Then we were told we had to return our existing device, which worked great and had more indicators/lights.
So...Now we're stuck with this garbage device they sent that not only has horrible wifi but also has no user controls for changing the DNS!
We can't use openDNS, and just using it per system does not fit our home needs.
Don't fall for this. The device they are sending out is garbage.
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Your Linksys manual should show you how. But being that the gateway seems to be non-configurable (is it?), this may be difficult. If the problem is only that you cannot change the DNS addresses on the new gateway, that is pretty standard for any ISP now, particularly those who provide VOIP and IPTV/cable over the same network. (Never mind that they could make it so you can configure DNS just for the LAN, and not for TV/phone.)
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Very much appreciate the help.
The new device, gateway, hardware model is: SMCD3GNV
From what I've been able to tell it is blocking all of my efforts.
We only use Comcast/xFinity for Internet, not for TV, Email or anything else.
Getting the Linksys to access the Internet from that new gateway has so far been fruitless.
Thanks again... -
From reviewing people's experiences with the Arris gateway modems, if you put a router behind it, the Arris ignores the router's third-party DNS request and uses the ISP's own DNS instead. If you put the router in front of the Arris, then you don't get Internet since the Arris modem is provisioned and required to process the ISP signal to allow Internet access. That's why I was wondering how msftwise was able to use the Arris device plus the Linksys router to get OpenDNS working.
I've used OpenDNS successfully with other cable modems by configuring my router (behind the modem), since most cable modems seem to pass the DNS request through without a problem. Internet research seems to indicate the Arris modem has a firmware bug where it doesn't do this.
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This is all rather confusing, talking about putting it behind the modem.
What I did was connect the Arris Touchstone to the Comcast cable then run the CAT6 network from my Linksys over to it.
My WIFI and wired LAN connections get their Intranet from the Linksys, which gets it's only input from the Arris.
It's working, OpenDNS is working and my WIFI is a gazillion times better than it was with that SMC from Comcast.
Everywhere on-line people are complaining about that SMC, even the Comcast guy I turned it back in to told me they know it's junk.
Hope that helped... -
Hi. Sorry people a frustrated by XFINITY. When you use a Gateway Device, You are limited in so many ways. DNS being one of them. If you do have a gateway modem and want it to work with OPENDNS, Why open a port? XFINITY should be able to set it up for Bridging on their end. Hook up your router and good to go. FYI WAN is #1 port you should plug the router into. Do not connect to #2,#3or #4 ports. Use the router ports.
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Thanks everyone for the ideas, but I do not fully understand how to bridge my Arris Tg852. I have set each laptop up with Opendns and it works great,but if my sons friends come toour home would like all computers or handhelds to block content. A comment was made about purchasing a Linksys router, this is something I would like t0 do but what router should I buy and how to setup thanks.
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You should be able to configure OpenDNS also on your Arris TG852.
http://forums.opendns.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=14477Regarding your questions (which do not apply if you can configure OpenDNS on the TG852):
"to bridge my Arris Tg852"
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r27316348-
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r27304337-TWC-Putting-Arris-TG852-Access-Device-in-Bridge-Mode-KCMO"what router should I buy and how to setup"
http://www.ehow.com/how_6771166_connect-comcast-arris-modem-router.html
http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Home-Networking-Router-WiFi/Arris-TG852G-Bridge-Mode/td-p/1415133
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2078044
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