Improve Performance of your Mobile Internet Connection

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=244497

Paul, over at MoDaCo, has made an interesting when it comes to the performance of your mobile internet connection. It appears that a simple change to you DNS server entries can cause a significant speed increase on your mobile device. DNS Servers are used to convert that URL into a string of numbers that the computer can use to help locate the site you're after (that's the simple explanation. ) For whatever reason, the carriers servers are poorly configured or overloaded and therefore are pretty slow to respond.

You can change the DNS settings by pressing Start / Connections / GPRS. Then highlight your carriers connection and then press Menu / Edit. Scroll down and enter a new value for both the Primary and Secondary servers settings. Be sure to write down the old settings so you can switch it back if need be.

Paul lists a couple free DNS servers that you can use. However, they are located in Germany and Belgium. You should try and find a server that is close to you or your carrier to help minimize the response time. OpenNIC has a number of servers located around the world that you can select from. Be sure to pick from the Tier 2 list. As well, OpenDNS has servers available for you to use.

Just a small aside to all this; The same can be said for your desktop. Changing the DNS servers to something faster and more reliable can make a significant improvement in the time it takes to locate a site. Check out the "what we do" section on OpenDNS for more info.

I've changed my settings to the OpenDNS servers and it appears to be significantly faster when locating a site. Try it out and let us know what you find.
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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

[Mark Kenepp]

I was always of the conclusion that my problems with accessing the Internet with my SDA here in San Francisco was due to the spotty coverage. Even when I was getting a good signal, I just assumed that the GPRS/EDGE coverage was poor.

Maybe it is the T-Mobile DNS servers?

Anyway, I changed my DNS to ones listed at OpenNIC and so far so good. I will need a day or two to see if it has any real effect but it certainly does not seem to have a negative effect.

[ARW]

I'm using Cingular and used the i-mate cab configuration for my settings and there are no addresses for either Primary, secondary DNS or IP Address. The only info filled in is Access point: wap.cingular and Username:[email protected] and a password.

Any ideas if this needs to be left in place and I just need to throw in some DNS addresses?

[Mike Temporale]

[bshpmark]

I tried the DNS Servers at OpenDNS on my SDA and did not really notice any difference. I went to OpenNIC and used the following two:

ns10.opennic.glue (.indy; Dallas, TX, US ) - 66.227.42.140
ns11.opennic.glue (.indy; Dallas, TX, US ) - 66.227.42.149

I did notice an improvement using these two servers.

Mark

[Mark Kenepp]

Well, I guess it is the spotty T-Mobile service after all

It only took my second attempt, using the new DNS servers, to connect and even with a full signal showing on my SDA, I was unable to access any page on the Internet.

[expediter]

For me the OpenDNS servers are working great. Previously every time I changed a page I was waiting while it said "Locating" before opening the page. Now it's almost instantaneous. Much snappier
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[ARW]

Putting in my own DNS servers seems to have made a noticeable difference. I have no hard evidence, just by gut.

[Kris Kumar]

I didn't any benefit on my 2125 on Cingular. I tried both the OpenDNS and couple of servers from OpenNIC.

It still stays stuck at "Locating..." for a long time. For me it is a recent problem. Not sure if it started when I updated to the MSFP based firmware.

I don't remember the Locating during my early 2125 days.