Help with Netgear WN1100 wireless Adapter

[#1]

@ ReedRichards
Thank you very much for very clear explanation of how DNS thing works.  I think I understand !
Yes, you are correct. Any links seem to be slower in responding.  So, I need to change the the DNS server addresses from 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.2.1.  Do you think if I change to the OpenDNS, 208.67.220.220, (as suggested by purleigh) which appear to be faster in responding rather than using Plusnet ones you have suggested.  In that case, what do I use an alternate DNS address as?
Will appreciate your comments.
Chandu.

[#2]

I use 212.159.13.50 (Plusnet) as primary
and 8.8.8.8 (Google) as secondary

[#3]

@ purleigh,
Thank you for providing the bar-chart of response times for various DNS servers.  It is very informative and an eye-openner.  You suggest using the OpenDNS (208.67.220.220), which is faster than the Google (8.8.4.4).  May please ask what are the alternate Addresses for bothof them?  As both of them are much, much faster than what I am currently set at and they are slow on link responses.
I will appreciate your feedback on the above.  Thanks in advance.
Chandu.

[#4]

As I implied above -
Set Primary DNS to OpenDNS = 208.67.220.220 or 208.67.222.222
and secondary/alternate DNS to Google = 8.8.4.4 or 8.8.8.8
I tend to avoid the Plusnet DNS for three reasons -
1)  Despite being theoretically closest and should be fastest, Plusnet DNS has ALWAYS been slower than OpenDNS, and usually slower than Google DNS.
2)  In the past the Plusnet DNS has not exactly been reliable, whereas OpenDNS and Google are VERY reliable.
3)  For various reasons, the Plusnet DNS has problems resolving commonly used URLs (particularly English school websites), where OpendDNS and Google work more of the time.

[#5]

Quote from: Oldjim

I use 212.159.13.50 (Plusnet) as primary and 8.8.8.8 (Google) as secondary

Thanks, Oldjim.  This is all interesting, but mind boggling.  I am learning fast. 
Chandu.

[#6]

Thanks, purleigh, for a quick response.  Your comments are really re-assuring.  I assume that both the DNS are secure.
@ Oldjim, Thanks. The Plusnet DNS server (212.159.13.50) - is it better than what purleigh has mentioned above about 212.159.6.9 ?
Chandu.

[#7]

All four Plusnet official DNSes - 212.159.13.49,  212.159.13.50,  212.159.6.9,  212.159.6.10  are all about the same

[#8]

[quote=chandu]I assume that both the DNS are secure.
In my opinion YES they are.
OpenDNS is used by many establishments such as schools because of the superior address filtering, parental controls and anti-phishing capability you can choose to activate on your line - FOR FREE.
However there are a few conspiracy theorists on this forum who take the view that OpenDNS are up to no good - but have never shown any evidence.
Have a look - http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/
Google DNS is probably like any other Google feature, in that it probably logs every lookup you do and uses that anonymous data to feed you related content at some point.

[#9]

Quote from: purleigh

All four Plusnet official DNSes - 212.159.13.49,  212.159.13.50,  212.159.6.9,  212.159.6.10  are all about the same

Noted and Thanks.
Chandu.

[#10]

Quote from: purleigh

In my opinion YES they are. Have a look - http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/

Thanks for the info.  Much appreciated.
Chandu.

[#11]

If you REALLY want good DNS performance and you happen to have any old PC laying around, you could build your own DNS server.
When doing the speed test earlier, my home DNS server was responding in typically 1.3ms and worst case about 18ms,  using an old 533Mhz Pentium-3

[#12]

Quote from: purleigh

If you REALLY want good DNS performance and you happen to have any old PC laying around, you could build your own DNS server.

Sorry, don't have an old spare PC.  The desktop which has had the issue is quite old with P3, but still used as a family workhorse.
By the way, what did you use to do the speed checks you had posted earlier.  Is it a special software? 
Chandu.

[#13]

Hi Chandu,
The speed test results are from http://www.speedtest.net/

[#14]

Quote from: _Adam_Walker_

The speed test results are from http://www.speedtest.net/

Hello Adam.  It is nice to hear from you again. 
I believe, we were discussing the DNS Server Response speeds rather than the line speeds.  Please do correct me if I have got it wrong.
Regards,
Chandu.

[#15]

Hi Chandu,
I though you were referring to the speedtest.net results in Purleigh's signature. If you're referring to the graph on Reply #29 I'm not sure, purleigh can probably tell us though.