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Download speeds drastically increased by changing servers

M

MustangLife

Well-Known Member
So for the first time ever i tried changing dns servers for increased download speeds. My wifi is through EPB with wired download speeds up to 100 Mbps but of course on a phone its not gonna happen. My laptop using speedtest was able to achieve 40-50 Mbps so i know download speeds are up there but my android phone on 4.4.2 never really achieved more than 20 Mbps. So i did some reading and found some info public dns servers of course google dns and opendns pop up but there are others and a good amount. So instead of manually changing dns settings i decided to use an app. There are tons of them and you dont need root. I used wifi settings in the store. Its easy and has all the major public servers and its one click and its changed. I was surprised how much download and upload speeds can change. You have to test each one with speedtest to see the speeds. My isp uses Level3 which seems to be what most companies use. Some are better if your uploading alot. All my tests are done in the same spot with a strong wifi signal about 20 feet from the router. Some servers start off with slow speeds and slowly peg up high. Some are smooth and some are up and down while doing the speedtest. Ill give you some examples using puntCAT down was 12.94 Mbps and upload was 6.97 Mbps but opendns i got 21.06 down and 20 up. Smartviper and comodo secure seem to be some of the fastest for me but greenteamdns is very powerful down and up speeds are always 30plus Mbps and it hits it fast and stays when using speedtest so im probaly closest to it. Googledns isnt any better than using level3 average speeds. But if anyone wants to increase there download and upload speeds change your dns server. Its the only drastic change you can do. Alot more than buildprop or sysctl tweaks are gonna do. Depending on location is probaly the biggest difference in what server is for you. I copied in a list of public servers and there addresses. I havent tried LTE speeds yet as my home doesnt have a good lte signal. Enjoy your fast downloads.

Provider Primary DNS Server Secondary DNS Server
Level31 209.244.0.3 209.244.0.4
Google2 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
DNS.WATCH3 84.200.69.80 84.200.70.40
Comodo Secure DNS 8.26.56.26 8.20.247.20
OpenDNS Home4 208.67.222.222 208.67.220.220
DNS Advantage 156.154.70.1 156.154.71.1
Norton ConnectSafe5 199.85.126.10 199.85.127.10
GreenTeamDNS6 81.218.119.11 209.88.198.133
SafeDNS7 195.46.39.39 195.46.39.40
OpenNIC8 107.150.40.234 50.116.23.211
SmartViper 208.76.50.50 208.76.51.51
Dyn 216.146.35.35 216.146.36.36
FreeDNS9 37.235.1.174 37.235.1.177
censurfridns.dk10 89.233.43.71 91.239.100.100
Hurricane Electric11 74.82.42.42
puntCAT12 109.69.8.51

PS i was always skeptical about oh how much is changing servers actually gonna do or if it could cause problems,etc. I wished i had done this months ago.
 
Wait.

Are you saying that you used Speedtest to get to these servers?

Or you used a single Speedtest server while you changed dns?

Dns just turns an address into a number.

Regardless of what dns source you use, you get a number - and it's cached for at least that session.

You can run Speedtest all day without changing anything and watch the numbers vary.

Not sure what you think you proved here.
 
I did some Actual Server speed testing last week by using a VPN to change my IP to different cities around the world.

The www.speedtest.net results came in all over the map, figuratively, but just the same. Some results were at 24 mBps down and 0.5 mBps up.
Other tests gave me 4 or 5 mbps down and 6 mbps up...

all of this with my local AT&T ADSL line which supposedly will only give me 12 mbps max download.... and they throttle it to <900 kbps uploads.

To make it all even more confusing, TrueVPN has a built-in utility graph showing the Actual dn/up speeds locally. That graph did NOT agree with speedtest in 90% of the tests I ran.

The different DNS addresses you gave, are as EaryMon said, just a different library to lookup the final numerical address for the host site you want. Some respond faster than others, but once that tiny blip is out of the way, download speeds have nothing to do with DNS.
 
I've done the same thing with Speed Test, see what kinds of speeds I can expect from various parts of the world. Beijing, I get around around 10 megabit, Los Angeles, it's 150 kilobit just now.
 
So there's no point in me trying this guys?
Can anyone tell me how to change my router channel without a PC?
Im sure I've changed channel before but can't remember how or if I used a laptop
 
You must accesss the router thru one of the LAN ports, you can't do it via the WiFi signal. You would loose access immediately once you tried to do something to the setup. That is why access is restricted to only the LAN ports.

Use a browser and try 192.168.0.1 and step up in increments of 0.1 steps until the router responds back with Username and Password.

You will do much better though to look at the make/model of the WiFi router and do a search for the manufacturer's manual. That is how I get into all of my routers. Once you have the correct info, you can make any changes you want. If you have lost the password, just hold down the Reset Button for 30 seconds and it will revert back to ADMIN and "password" usually.... depends on make/model

You cannot access it from the WAN port (internet), that is restricted to Manufacturers or the ISPs who have the special codes to make the cable modem talk back to them.
 
Some routers can be administrated via the WiFi.

This is my "TP-Link" router's admin page in my phone's browser. Just have to enter the password and I'm in. If changing the WiFi password, channel, or anything to do with WiFi settings, and hit "Confirm, save changes?", it reboots and have to reconnect to it.
router.jpg


This WiFi router we bought from the local computer store, and it's plugged in via an Ethernet cable to the "FiberHome" optical fibre modem provided by my ISP, China Unicom. Sometimes there's an all-in-one thing, like just one box provided by the ISP, things like BT HomeHub, you probably have to administer them via Ethernet not WiFi, which means a desktop or laptop, or a tablet with an Ethernet port.
 
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Just been looking at my TP-Link router admin, it can disable administration via WiFi. Because may not want "guests" or "customers" trying to suss the password, possibly getting in and messing things up.

It used to be default for many WiFi routers, was open WiFi, no password. and the login name was often "admin", password "admin", and many people didn't change them. Back in my "wardriving" days. haha. Sure "Linksys" and "Netgear" became very popular WiFi ISPs as a result.
 
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Well our last router and isp (talktalk) I definitely changed channel via wifi. I'm just not sure whether I used a lappy or Android.
Cheers peeps. I'll look into it in the morning as it appears the channel it's (Virgin) on is pretty busy :thumbsupdroid:
 
mikedt said:
Just been looking at my TP-Link router admin, it can disable administration via WiFi. Because may not want "guests" or "customers" trying to suss the password, possibly getting in and messing things up.

It used to be default for many WiFi routers, was open WiFi, no password. and the login name was often "admin", password "admin", and many people didn't change them. Back in my "wardriving" days. haha. Sure "Linksys" and "Netgear" became very popular WiFi ISPs as a result.
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Now that I read this, I am remembering that I disabled the WiFi methods..... I just don't trust the outside world period.
been too long, I just knew that if the LAN was not used, it didn't work "now".
 
funkylogik said:
So there's no point in me trying this guys?
Click to expand...

You can get improved browsing speeds by switching DNS servers - the time it takes your browser to figure out out that "androidforums.com" actually means "173.192.24.228" can be shortened by a quicker DNS resolution, but only the first time that you access the site. The next time you revisit, your browser will probably consult your local DNS cache instead of querying the name server. Quicker DNS resolution can also make loading external components of a site (say, linked images) load a bit quicker as well.

Download speeds will not be affected at all; once your computer finds out how to get to the remote web site, DNS isn't really part of the equation. The file transfer will still be directly (well, a few hops along the way) between your PC and the web server. You won't need to query the DNS server again until you try to hit a new site.

Google has some good information on why you might want to consider using their DNS servers: Performance Benefits and Security Benefits.
 
codesplice said:
You can get improved browsing speeds by switching DNS servers - the time it takes your browser to figure out out that "androidforums.com" actually means "173.192.24.228" can be shortened by a quicker DNS resolution, but only the first time that you access the site. The next time you revisit, your browser will probably consult your local DNS cache instead of querying the name server. Quicker DNS resolution can also make loading external components of a site (say, linked images) load a bit quicker as well.

Download speeds will not be affected at all; once your computer finds out how to get to the remote web site, DNS isn't really part of the equation. The file transfer will still be directly (well, a few hops along the way) between your PC and the web server. You won't need to query the DNS server again until you try to hit a new site.

Google has some good information on why you might want to consider using their DNS servers: Performance Benefits and Security Benefits.
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Exactly.

It's as if regardless of what dns source you use, you get a number - and it's cached for at least that session.

I kill me. :D
 
codesplice said:
But my post used more words, so it's obviously superior.
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You happen to be absolutely, completely, and totally correct about that. :)

Lol - reminds me the story of the two guys and the ota over root.

2012, and I'll never forget it. First guy asks how to get root back after taking an ota. I replied - never take an ota while rooted with this phone.

Second guy comes along and writes some whole long screed about some baloney app that will save the day.

I replied - of course, that's nonsense, never take an ota while rooted with this phone. It'll break.

First guy comes back, thanks the second for his thoughtful and clear post, promises to try it, and makes a point of calling me a jerk for just tossing out baseless, uninformed opinions.

Second guy starts thread at another forum, cross posts the same ridiculous screed and takes a stab at me. Eight people jump down his throat for two counts of idiocy. I wasn't one of them.

Month later, first guy comes back wanting to know how to get root continuation app working, but first, he can't boot his phone. I asked him if he wanted my help.

He curtly declined, predicting that after the phone booted, I wasn't going to help him with the app in question that he knew for a fact worked because he also saw second guy's post at the other forum, that proved it was going to work.

I agreed completely that I couldn't help him.

About two weeks later, the second one returned and announced new findings - although he still hadn't figured out what went wrong with the baloney app, he would in the future, and meanwhile warned that no one should take an ota while rooted with that phone. And proclaimed that it was a shame that no one warned them.

The first guy agreed enthusiastically.

While I enjoy writing long posts, I decided then and there to keep some to as few words as possible.

In my case, it's just best if I do. :D
 
I am thinking that shorter posts will probably do as much good as detailed, minute by minute steps explaining how to get it done. It is those posts that irk me when the OP never comes back and says a thing about if it helped or not.
 
AZgl1500 said:
I am thinking that shorter posts will probably do as much good as detailed, minute by minute steps explaining how to get it done. It is those posts that irk me when the OP never comes back and says a thing about if it helped or not.
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If it were me, about to post, and I read this complaint, I'd up and leave.

People respond, or not, in their own good time - not yours.

Let it go - or face the frustration of edited or deleted posts.

Sorry, that's the way it has to be.
 
AZgl1500 said:
I am thinking that shorter posts will probably do as much good as detailed, minute by minute steps explaining how to get it done. It is those posts that irk me when the OP never comes back and says a thing about if it helped or not.
Click to expand...


Sometimes see a lengthy, nicely detailed, step-by-step response to a problem. And then notice that the OP was from about four or five years ago, the problem is no longer relevant and the OP hasn't been back since. That sort of necro is probably best locked, and then can be left to RIP.
 
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I used the app wifi settings to change dns server because the settings stick. I use speed test to test download speeds. I keep speedtest server on the same local setting and run 5 tests back to back and there always within 2Mbps of each other when running tests with the same dns settings and the same distance from the router. I than change the dns and run 5 more tests. Ive documented enough where i can tell you within 2Mbps what the speeds will be between what public server. Like some of the lesser known servers i can only a achieve max 12Mbps and some the up speeds are like just 2-4Mbps but Comodo and greenteam i get 30+ down and up no matter and never lower than that but if i switch back to stock level3 i think thats Verizons server the speeds are all over the place. Its amazing watching 30mb download from the play store finish in 2 seconds from the time you press the install button. Maybe im lucky and im close in location to a public server. I know atlanta has a big public server and im not to far from there.
 
FYI i have never been able to get over 20 Mbps downloads off of googles public servers. Ther are consistant however. They never slow down but to me 15-20 Mbps speeds are mediocre when other servers are able to give me 10-20 more Mbps. Google servers are dependable but not the fastest
 
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