DNS issues

[typhoon72]

Hi,

Recently in the last few days BT's DNS servers have been blocking http://xiaoyi.com

This site is used to control YI Home smart cameras.

I can confirm that switching to Google's DNS servers (8.8.8.8) resolve the site ok - see results below.

Can you; a) unblock this domain please?, b) allow me to selectivley unblock this domain, c) allow me to change the DNS servers in the BT SmartHub to avoid this issue?

Thanks.

Diagnostics...

Using BT DNS servers:

dig www.xiaoyi.com

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> www.xiaoyi.com
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: SERVFAIL, id: 58195
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 512
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.xiaoyi.com. IN A

;; Query time: 2103 msec
;; SERVER: 192.168.1.254#53(192.168.1.254)
;; WHEN: Sun Dec 16 10:18:46 GMT 2018
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 43

Using Google's DNS servers

dig www.xiaoyi.com

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> www.xiaoyi.com
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 62138
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 2, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 512
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.xiaoyi.com. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.xiaoyi.com. 599 IN CNAME www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com.
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 219.147.157.100

;; Query time: 843 msec
;; SERVER: 8.8.8.8#53(8.8.8.8)
;; WHEN: Sun Dec 16 10:53:50 GMT 2018
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 99

[Keith_Beddoe]

Welcome to this user forum.

You cannot change the DNS servers on the home hubs, as they are locked down. You would either need to use a different router, use a separate DHCP server, or just use Google DNS on the device itself.

[typhoon72]

I thought that might be the case 

Unfortunately changing the DNS on all devices isnt a workable solution - the smart home cameras in particular rely on DCHP to hand out the DNS address. It seems a big issue that BT prevent me changing the servers on the SmartHub, especially when they block things in their own DNS service.

It would be good if they could be more upfront about blocking sites and give a mechanism to unblock them if they want to force people into using their own DNS servers.

[Keith_Beddoe]

I am using OpenDNS, and that site does not resolve any more, so there must be a general DNS issue with that site.

[licquorice]

Doesn't resolve with Google DNS either

[typhoon72]

Hmm, weird.

I've switched over the second Google DNS (8.8.4.4) and it still looks to resolve ok?

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> www.xiaoyi.com
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 29649
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 9, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 512
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.xiaoyi.com. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.xiaoyi.com. 599 IN CNAME www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com.
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.115
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.119
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.116
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.121
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.114
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.118
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.117
www.xiaoyi.com.w.kunlungr.com. 179 IN A 114.80.185.120

;; Query time: 914 msec
;; SERVER: 8.8.4.4#53(8.8.4.4)
;; WHEN: Sun Dec 16 11:46:19 GMT 2018
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 211

[typhoon72]

Just had a nice hour long phone call being passed between different BT departments. 

Outcome of which is that the only solution is for an engineer to remote onto my computer and try to fix it - they suggested this is a chargeable service though (not heard of BT doing this previously?!).

Bit stuck really... other than giving BT more money, either to 'take a look' to try and fix it, or to buy another router (so we're unlocked from their DNS servers), there doesn't seem to be much other option.

Sadly loyalty doesn't pay - Any suggestions for other providers worth looking at?

[Keith_Beddoe]

Most other providers have some issues, and if the website is blocked by BT, for some reason, then its likely to be blocked by them.

A third party router that you can change the DNS, would cost about £40, and could also be used on othe ISPs, should you ever decide to change.

[typhoon72]

Yeah, I appreciate that switching out the router in this instance would likely provide the solution.

However, BT charged me for a router that is somewhat restricted - which is fine until they meddle with/have issues with their DNS servers and don't provide a suitable solution to work around the issue.

The idea that they want me to either pay for support or I have to pay for another router doesn't seem very customer-focussed, given that the issue is something they have control over at their end, and won't delegate the ability to fix it to the customer 😞

I guess I'm just a tad disgruntled in this instance with increasing bills and decreasing quality of support and service.

[Andy_N]

Hi, welcome to the forums.

It does appear to be a DNS issue but the IP address of the website is :-

115.28.115.248

https://whatsmyip.com/whois-history/xiaoyi.com