Forum Discussion
NH20A router ignoring configured DNS forwarding — confirmed with AdGuard test
I've configured my NH20A router (logged in as admin) with specific IPv4 and IPv6 DNS addresses from AdGuard. After rebooting both the router and my laptop, I confirmed that the laptop receives the ro...
Has anyone applied specific DNS servers to the NH20A router, and how do you know if they're working?
It's been 2 weeks. Doesn't anyone use the NH20A, or maybe no one has wanted to replace the Telus DNS servers?
TELUS_SupportOfficial Support Team
For the NH20A, custom DNS settings in the admin interface are limited, and in many cases the router will still default to TELUS DNS on the backend. At this time, the device does not fully support enforcing alternate upstream DNS resolvers, even when manually entered so the behaviour you’re seeing is expected with this hardware. If you need full control over DNS (including AdGuard, Pi-hole, Cloudflare, etc.), the best workaround is to place your own router or firewall behind the TELUS hardware and manage DNS there. Many customers use bridge mode or a secondary router setup for this purpose.
Tried that second router but that introduces further problems because of how the NH20A is SO locked down. I have a Boost 6 mesh network for house WiFi and that MUST be directly connected to the NH20A and all the devices on there get 192.168.1.xxx IPs and DNS from the NH20A. Sure, I can run my own DHCP and DNS for the devices on the other side of my router, but they can't be in 192.168.1.xxx. It makes the reasonably manageable house network a real mess. It could ALL be so much simpler if the NH20A allowed you to specify you own DNS addresses (and actually paid attention to that setting). That would mean I am taking responsibility for the security of those DNS services, but I feel more confident in that than in Telus doing whatever the heck it wants and I can't touch anything. Geez!
Thanks. It's stunning that a modern router provides a place to enter your custom DNS servers and then ignores them! I haven't run in to that in the last 30 years of doing networking. It's now something I will inquire about with a new supplier when I decide to leave Telus behind.
Has anyone placed their own router in between the ONT and the NH20A? That could capture every DNS request and redirect to my preferred DNS. Then the NH20A can run the DHCP to keep all devices in 192.168.1.xxx and also be directly connected to the Boost 6 mesh. That solves 2 problems. Remaining problem is the cable between the ONT and the NH20A - that looks like a 10G Ethernet so I just need to make sure my new router can handle that speed inbound and outbound. Actually that might be a pretty simple router: DNS capture, NAT, 10G in and out, no other ports needed except one other for a management interface. Thoughts?
