Talk Talk's DNS server, is it flaky?

bitslice · 3 Dec 2011 at 13:15

New install, router arrives, works for 30 minutes and dies :rolleyes:

Raise merry with 3rd World support just to get a new box sent out "The box has no lights on, why are you telling me to plug the yellow network cable in you moron".
I hate to think what non IT people have to go through with them.

Anyway,
New box, works for 30 minutes, then web pages don't appear, same story the following day. Same issues with iPad.

Ping ok
Tracert out to Manchester ok

So router link to net ok, this sounds like a DNS issue to me
(yeh I know I forgot to do nslookup, it's been a while...

)

So I force Talk Talk DNS server into laptop's settings.

Same issues.

I force Google's DNS server (8.8.8.8) and it appears to have solved the problem.

Now NTL always had solid DNS servers so I'm surprised to find a crap one at an ISP.
Has anyone else encountered this issue with Talk Talk?

/

ashrobbo · 3 Dec 2011 at 13:23

Have you tried OpenDNS. Friend of mine had a similar issue, using opendns he hasnt had an issue since.

bitslice · 3 Dec 2011 at 13:56

Yep, I was going to look at opendns as a final fix, but really I'm just wondering why Talk Talk's DNS should be noticeably crap in the first place?
Surely providing a solid DNS is the one thing they should manage to do properly 24/7

NathanE · 3 Dec 2011 at 15:23

Don't worry about it, just use OpenDNS or Google Public DNS. Both are light years better than *any* ISP's DNS service.

stoofa · 3 Dec 2011 at 15:34

I've used Google's public DNS servers for the last 3 ISP's I've used (Including Talk Talk at the moment).
Just seem to respond that bit quicker.

pyropetepete · 3 Dec 2011 at 18:46

Ditto on the Google DNS over Talktalks, so much faster, never goes down

Rabtech · 3 Dec 2011 at 19:36

Talktalk has regular DNS issues, use OpenDNS or googles in your router for a workaround. O2 and BE were also famous for DNS issues, however not seen any clients with DNS issues with them for ages however.

bitslice · 4 Dec 2011 at 00:39

Rabtech said:
Talktalk has regular DNS issues

I had a look around and apparently so, for at least a year too :eek:

This really is P.Poor for an ISP, if one install has problems then I'd imagine that other customers are seeing the same issues and not realising it's easily fixable.

Although I see Google indexed this thread within seconds so perhaps this info will help others

3dcandy · 4 Dec 2011 at 01:22

somebody surprised at TalkTalk's inability to provide a basic service? really?
This is the company with more broadband complaints than any other, with the lowest rated customer service, but the lowest prices?

I do not, and I will not until there is a seismic change in culture at TalkTalk recommend them to anyone.