Hello, friends.
So I've had my Pi-Hole setup for awhile now and it's great. I'd like to get Wireguard working with it, too, so I could browse the internet without loads of ads and trackers on the go.
However, small issue. All DNS traffic is forcibly routed to my ISP. If you need some details, I made this post on the Pi-Hole userspace.
I'm in America and my ISP is Spectrum. I was wondering if there's a way I could convince technical support to allow me to use a recursive DNS for privacy/security (more-so the second of the two) purposes, or if it is even possible to convince them to do this. I don't know if there's a specific number I should contact, email I should email to, or if I just have to endure the nightmare of getting passed around by customer service one Saturday. Any recommendations would be great.
An interesting note for anyone who's ISP is Spectrum, their DNS service, at least for me, uses OpenDNS with dnsmasq-2.57. That version of dnsmasq is over 10 years old. You see if this is the case for you with
dig CHAOS TXT version.bind @192.33.4.12 +short
dig CHAOS TXT version.bind @198.97.190.53 +short
Or something similar if those IP addresses are different for you. You can see that running those commands were a part of the steps I was asked to take in that Pi-Hole userspace post.
EDIT 1:
For those interested, here's some Github gist I found that shows how to use unbound + stubby for have a recursive DNS + DNS-over-HTTPS. There's also this from the DNS Privacy Project.
EDIT 2:
I seems that initial answer from the Pi-Hole forums was correct. There's probably something that was set in the firmware for the Netgear router that prevents me from setting up my own DNS servers. However, I notice on the router there's a "router mode" option that's on, which I can probably turn off, plug in my Pi to the Netgear device and have the Pi act as my router, thus letting me be able to use it as my DNS server as well. That or just suck it up and buy only a modem, not a router + modem combo.
I have spectrum and they don’t forcibly route anything for me.
You must have either their modem maybe? Or you have the DNS helper setting where if you mistype a url it redirects you.
Either way there is a way to disable it because it doesn’t happen for me and hasn’t in the many years I’ve had them across the country.
Hmmm then it's something with the modem I have then. I can't set the DNS address. It's some cheap Netgear modem. If I go to
Advanced -> Setup -> Internet Setupand clickUse These DNS Serversand put in the address for the Pi-Hole, it prevents me from doing so.I think you mean router, since you would most likely not set DNS on a modem (unless it’s a combo) — but yes I would look into getting something better that you have more control over.
Edit: gotta love new Lemmy clients that spam comment replies 🤦♂️
It's a combo. Most are these days, I believe, but I know Spectrum is weird and will give you a router AND modem if you just buy it through them. What device would you recommend? I don't want to buy one just to find out I can't set the Pi-Hole as the DNS server on a new one.
I would recommend putting that modem in Bridge mode and getting something like a TP-Link Omada device. I’ve had them for a while and have been really happy.
Seems like I could potentially get around my issue by taking the device out of this "router mode" setting I found and connecting my Pi to it via Ethernet cable and have the Pi be the router for my network.
EDIT: Actually, scratch that. I don't think a Pi would be powerful enough to act as a router. Well, off to by a modem (not a combo) it is!
How has been your experience with spectrum? Thinking about switching ISPs.
They are better than Comcast but that’s a low bar.
Overall I get Gig speeds for $80/m which isn’t terrible and no data cap. My previous house AT&T fiber was the same cost but better. I don’t have a choice where I live now so it’s Spectrum or DSL