said by DrTCP :

IIRC, the three tones at the beginning of the message are really no longer needed. With everything being digital, those tones no longer do anything, except make you deaf when you hear em.. (they are almost always 200x louder!!) However, we still use touch-tones, so I could be (and probably am) wrong....

As for the EL DNS hijacking.... I noticed that a while back when I fatfingered an URL.... no biggie, just went back and retyped it..... I used to use 4.2.2.1 (IIRC) for my DNS, but my router and Axim get bitchy when I start specifying DNS servers.... (However, I hardly use my Axim anymore.... type to go back to 4.2.2.1 and 2.2.2.2?)
--
Someone want to donate tool points to me??

"I reject your reality and subsitute my own!" - Adam Savage, Mythbusters]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16841864 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:26:41 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816737 emptywig : Nah. What people really get upset about is this growing trend towards businesses shifting to customers things that THEY (the businesses) should be doing as a matter of course. The only thing more annoying is the number of people who seem perfectly willing to accept paying more and more money for less and less service.

And I really resent paying for a service that then uses me as a captive audience to pelt me with ads.

We're SICK OF ADS. TOO MANY ADS! That's what its about, really, just too freakin' many ads EVERYWHERE.

wig]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816737 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:53:14 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816611 DrTCP :

said by LinuxJunkie :

What's the difference between an ad and that annoying pre-recorded message telling you "the number you have dialed is incorrect..."? Either way, you're going to know you dialed a wrong number and you're just going to hang up and re-dial it anyway.

A human can interpret the web page or a recorded message provided that they can read/understand the language. An automated tool which uses DNS can no longer make the distinction.

You have many more stuff that uses DNS than your simple web browser. Basically to simply display a couple of ads on web browser a whole lot of non-web protocols are effected by this change.

For example, an SMTP server that simply bounced an email to non-existing message will keep trying to deliver messages (sometimes up to 3 days) until it is returned undeliverable. If it was returned an error after DNS lookup the bounce message could get to the user immediately and corrective action could be taken by user before too late.

Besides the while voice "unreachable" message is really intended for humans (there is no protocol to adhere) they have even made provisions for automated dialing machinery. The dee-doo-dee tone preceeding the message is for that.

To cut the long story short. There is a technical standard. When you twist the technical standard like this unusual and abnormal things start to happen. An unexisting domain is not meant to be found by DNS.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816611 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:31:44 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816528 DrTCP :

said by LinuxJunkie :

Here's a novel idea: why not just IGNORE the ads and re-type the damn domain name in?

How is the automated spam filter that checks the DNS for invalid domains do that? Heck it does not even see that page as DNS does not use http protocol. How do you fix the DNS search order issue or VPN issues apparening after this change. More stuff breaks when you mess with DNS.

Internet is not just web and it is not limited to simply placing ads on error pages of the browser (which may be acceptable that should they have done it via an add-on plug-in to the web browser only)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816528 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:17:47 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816296 LinuxJunkie : What's the difference between an ad and that annoying pre-recorded message telling you "the number you have dialed is incorrect..."? Either way, you're going to know you dialed a wrong number and you're just going to hang up and re-dial it anyway. Just like if you type in a non-existent domain name: you'll either get the default browser error page or a page littered with ads as well as a message saying the domain couldn't be found. EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW YOU TYPED IT IN WRONG AND WILL SIMPLY RE-TYPE IT IN ANYWAY.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816296 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:38:53 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816042 RadioDoc : Why should your provider force you to take evasive action?
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Toolmaster of La Grange.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16816042 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:52:25 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815988 LinuxJunkie : Okay, so why would you listen to the ad for 15 seconds before hanging up?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815988 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:42:10 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815975 LinuxJunkie : Here's a novel idea: why not just IGNORE the ads and re-type the damn domain name in?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815975 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:40:51 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815572 poolek : Sorry - I didn't see the question until I saw it referenced in another post...

I wouldn't like hearing an ad if I dialed a wrong number. However, if I could stop the ads by making a 5 second change in my voip's configuration, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd make the change and solve the problem.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815572 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:40:38 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815475 poolek : You've got a good point. I'll drop Earthlink a note and tell them that if they are going to do something like this, it should be an 'opt in' type deal. Maybe even give a cheaper monthly rate for folks who choose to participate or whatever.

I just don't understand people getting angry and indignant over something so simple to fix. There are so many other things out there to get upset about.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815475 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:29:46 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815433 brandon :

said by RadioDoc :

said by poolek :

I understand exactly how DNS works. I also know that I can change the default DNS to point to a provider other than Earthlink and avoid the ads altogether if I want.

That statement shows how much you don't know. I'm sure whoever you are freeloading off of now is mighty glad to have you.

Thanks for avoiding the question though. You proved my point.

...are you kidding? They're public DNS servers for a reason...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815433 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:24:29 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815342 DrTCP :

said by poolek :

While I agree I'd rather see Earthlink not do this, I don't understand complaining about something when there's such an easy resolution to the problem. If the redirect offends you, change your DNS. Problem solved.

I agree. The Earthlink cable DNS servers on Time Warner cable has more latency than some other DNS servers you could use. Typically this is not true.

Free loading or not you are actually paying for Earthlink. The thing that I do not understand about you is that you are accepting this and not requesting the service you deserve.

If you do not react to this pretty soon all ISPs will be doing something similar. Your normal DNS server choices will be less and less.

Edit: spelling]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815342 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:11:26 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815283 poolek : I use Level3's DNS, which actually resolves faster than the default earthlink/mindspring one. Earthlink DSL may be different, but for Earthlink Cable over Time Warner lines in my area, the default DNS isn't that quick.

And it's no more 'freeloading' than viewing this site, which also happens to come over a portion of various provder's infrastructure to get to me. That's the nature of the internet.

While I agree I'd rather see Earthlink not do this, I don't understand complaining about something when there's such an easy resolution to the problem. If the redirect offends you, change your DNS. Problem solved.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815283 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:02:10 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815135 RadioDoc :

said by poolek :

I understand exactly how DNS works. I also know that I can change the default DNS to point to a provider other than Earthlink and avoid the ads altogether if I want.

That statement shows how much you don't know. I'm sure whoever you are freeloading off of now is mighty glad to have you.

Thanks for avoiding the question though. You proved my point.
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Toolmaster of La Grange.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815135 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:44:25 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815114 DrTCP :

said by poolek :

I understand exactly how DNS works. I also know that I can change the default DNS to point to a provider other than Earthlink and avoid the ads altogether if I want.

Why should you be forced to use another ISP DNS server or rather why another ISP should provide bandwidth and server resources for customers of Earthlink?

Also another ISP DNS will introduce probably have more latency for name resolutions.

You are paying Earthlink to a normally functioning DNS service as well and it is normal to demand the service you deserve.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815114 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:41:31 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815083 DrTCP : Being an Earthlink customer at home, I took the time to let the company know my position on DNS redirects and if this sort of things continue I might not be a customer for long.

If more Earthlink customers provide comments they might back off this ill advised experiment or if not they will lose some more loyal customers.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815083 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:38:33 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815031 poolek : I understand exactly how DNS works. I also know that I can change the default DNS to point to a provider other than Earthlink and avoid the ads altogether if I want.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16815031 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:31:36 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814927 whfsdude :

said by poolek :

What's the big deal? It takes all of 5 seconds to change your router to use a different DNS if the search page offends you. It took me longer to type this message than make the change.

Funny thing you say that. A lot of PPoE routers do not let you specify/change DNS on PPPoE settings because IPCP feeds you the DNS servers.

My current DSL router, an Asante is one of those. Luckily I'm going back to college in a couple of days and I will be back on my RV082 and another ISP. However, my dad has already complained about the search page because he also does thing will he will type something in the address bar and it will taken him to Google.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814927 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:18:40 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814909 RadioDoc : You clearly have no clue how DNS operates or what it's purpose is.

Since you seem to be a VoIP fan, here's an analogy:

You dial a number. You fat-finger one of the digits or dial one too many. Your VoIP provider, instead of giving you the normal 'no such number' intercept message plays a 15 second ad.

How would that work for you?
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Toolmaster of La Grange.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814909 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:15:06 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814883 poolek : What's the big deal? It takes all of 5 seconds to change your router to use a different DNS if the search page offends you. It took me longer to type this message than make the change.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814883 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:10:20 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814521 RadioDoc : Dear Ken Womack:

Please report to your supervisor(s) that you have just cost the company over $1,000 a year in Internet access and webhosting fees. Now that I have pried my domain from your company's incompetent hands, it will be moving to greener pastures after 11 years of steadily declining service.

Thank you.

ps: Are you people nuts?
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Toolmaster of La Grange.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814521 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:11:27 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814112 firewire9999 : Just seems like earthlink is going down the tubes.

Dumped there service last week because of issues I was having with them for the past month. There service was good for a long time. Had DSL setup with them for close to four years with no major issues.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16814112 Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:03:04 EDT