FIOS Quantum Router has no DNS address after connection repaired VZ

mlg · 18 Jun 2023

Windows Version: 22H2

My entire internet suddenly went down. I've had a Verizon "gigabit" connection working well for about 3 years using a Verizon Quantum router wired to an Orbi router and satellites as an access point. Suddenly, the entire internet died in the middle of the afternoon. It was not building wide but specific to my connection. The ONT showed only one or two lights and the router was showing one red light. After a few hours on the phone with tech support I got them to send tech repair the next day. He replaced the ONT and the router came to life. After a few system reboots by Verizon I have an extremely fast connection (875 to 930 on tests down and up).

For the past three years I've had the FIOS router wired to a Netgear Orbi Router as an access point. I then use 2 Orbi satellites to send the signal to the full apartment which has extremely thick walls. I've always used Gibson's DNS tester to set fast DNS rather than using the one Verizon provides. But now things have changed and I don't understand....

Since the repair there is no DNS address I can find. I ran Gibson and it said that my system has one "router based nameserver configured" and it gave the ip address of the router. Gibson recommended changing this because one ought to have at least two DNS addresses available. This has always been the case in the past. However, Gibson also says the present configuration where the router is the only nameserver, is faster than any publicly available servers.

How did the tech reconfigure this? Is my FIOS router now in a different mode? And am I better off or should I return to my previous method of entering specific DNS nameservers into the FIOS router? My desktop is wired Lan - to the FIOS router. The Orbi Router and an Ooma Telo are both wired to the FIOS router. Most other devices, my laptop, Roku box and cell phone usually get their signal from the Orbi or its satellite. What are my choices and what is the best method? I'm confused.
Thanks

zebal · 19 Jun 2023

I don't think DNS provided by router is necessarily faster than public DNS unless DNS server is close to you ex. hosted in your country or state and closer than public DNS.

I always set DNS myself in windows as follows:
primary 1.1.1.1
secondary 8.8.8.8

Samuria · 19 Jun 2023

The router DNS is a real DNS it simply forwards request to another DNS so more hops DNS servers hold millions of records

mlg · 19 Jun 2023

zebal said:

I don't think DNS provided by router is necessarily faster than public DNS unless DNS server is close to you ex. hosted in your country or state and closer than public DNS.

I always set DNS myself in windows as follows:
primary 1.1.1.1
secondary 8.8.8.8

Thanks. I don't understand something: If your router, provided by your ISP has different DNS, how is this resolved between Windows and the router?

zebal · 20 Jun 2023

mlg said:

Thanks. I don't understand something: If your router, provided by your ISP has different DNS, how is this resolved between Windows and the router?

When you use ISP DNS supplied by router then Windows will obtain router DNS address via communication with router and will use the DNS for subsequent queries.
All that Windows has to know is the IP address of your router, which it obtains via DHCP, DHCP in addition of providing the IP for windows will also let windows know default DNS, one provided by ISP and configured in router.

Otherwise when you specify public DNS in Windows then Windows will ignore DNS that the router is sending to windows.