Thursday, November 08, 2012

No-IP Free

A few months ago I began using the No-IP Free service in order to be able to access my home network using a hostname or  fixed IP address. This worked well until a couple of weeks ago when I started getting the error "no host". I logged in to No-IP and could find no reference to my account. So I recreated it with the same details and it is working fine again.

I vaguely recall seeing something to the effect that to keep the free account active you are supposed to log in once a month. The trouble is I find it hard enough remembering what day of the week it is never mind something like that. Previously I had used the DynDNS free service but that didn't like the frequency with which my broadband changes IP address. My broadband provider says that I can only have a fixed IP address if I have a business account. It would be cheaper to stump up $20 a year for the No-IP Enhanced account. But being a dyed-in-the-wool cheapskate I'd like to avoid doing that. Any recommendations for free IP services that stay working as long as you want?

5 comments:

  1. Hi Julian,

    I'd recommend the (German) registrar RegFish - http://regfish.de
    You can register your domain g4ilo.com with them and have full control on the entire DNS setup.

    This includes a free DynDNS service, which is running as long as your domain is registered with them.

    I've been using their services for several years now and didn't regret choosing them a single day.

    A .com domain is 15 EUR per year.

    73 de Dirk DB6EDR

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  2. Dont you use a software to register the ip?

    Eric sa5bke

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  3. My router handles the updates: whenever the Internet IP is changed,, it fires a simple HTTP request to RegFish's servers.
    These update the DynDNS entries accordingly.

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  4. It might be easier to address the login problem. Most mail clients have calendar features. You can create a recurring notice for say the 1st of the month to check your NO-IP account. If you don't use a client, there are any number of stand along calendar programs which will do the same.

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  5. http://freedns.afraid.org/

    Been around for years. No-nonsense and works great.

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