I found a site this weekend that offers free domain names. I got 08watch.com. You don't even need a credit card to register, and once you're done you have complete control over the domain. Just go to domainlagoon.com, and enter in contact info that sounds plausible, do a few offers (which also require name, contact info same as above_, and request your domain. I was really impressed, you don't need to do referrals or sign up for free trials or anything.

domainlagoon.com

Also, for those interested, dot.tk has free names as well (but ones which add ads to your site when viewed via the domain).

Thats pretty interesting. And it seems scam-free and the like? Full control and support and all?

We had a .tk redirect for a while, before I made the huge investment of 5 dollars to get our domain. While this site you talk about might not be any good for this site, it might be good for others.

Yeah, if you use a throwaway email address you can avoid the spam. It seems legitimate, though God knows how they make a profit. Yeah, it uses a seemingly legitimate company. And you can control the nameservers and the like. The trick for me was finding a good free hosting service.

I'd went through this process... consider it a testimonial...

http://www.cn-wargames.net/

Had the domain available to me after completing the required steps. It was about 30-45 mins worth of effort, with confirmations pretty well back within 2 hours tops. Then submitted request for the domain and it took no more than 4 hours to have it activiated (and registered in my name).

Have to state that the control panel doesn't give a lot of options. You can set up URL or e-mail forwarding services from that domain. It doesn't allow you to edit name-server entries. This won't matter for anyone choosing to handle their own DNS resolution (via in-house servers). Not sure how easy it would be to transfer the name away from them.

Also, feel that if the domain is transferred away from them as registrar, then the ability to work toward a free renewal after the initial year is up won't be allowed.

Are you sure about the nameservers? Mine let me set them to ns1.awardspace.com, stuff like that. Did you:

1) go to dietzel1.com and login with the info sent to you by email from dietzel1.com?

2) click View/edit to the right of "Number of Domains in Your Account"?

3) click the little "M" icon to the right of your domain's name?

4) hit "Change Nameservers"?

5) if the Nameservers are set to "Default", hit the drop-down menu, and change them to custom. It could take a day to resolve everything, though. Mine took 24 hours.



Hope that helps. Given those options, I don't see a need to change providers.

Delta, if your looking for a re-direct, i suggest co.nr.

Just type in co.nr in the address bar and it will redirect you to their site.

The only problem is you have to post a link back to thier site.

No, we have our on URL, politicsandprose.net, theres no need for a redirect, plus, I don't like co.nr. Too unprofessional and all.

oh lol i didn't even notice the url, i always use my fav. i added it to it so i dont ever have to log in over and over and over.

Forgive my being senile and not expressing the issue involved with "name-server entries". I am talking about the "A" and "MX" record entries that should be available to fully manage a domain. Yes, you can change your primary and secondary DNS resolving name-servers, but you won't be able to manage them off of other DNS servers without a supporting control panel.

In other words, sure, I could change the name-servers to Yahoo!, but that won't allow me to add "A" or "MX" records. Hence I'd have to set up BIND to handle that on my own equipment. Unless I'm missing something important.

Do appreciate your most helpful efforts, Morpheus. :rancer:

Know what I really hate? Companies and individuals that take hold of domain names they don't even need, then try to sell them to those who need them.

If something is free and doesn't require any work, it shouldn't be sold for money.

Yeah, that's pretty dispicable. When used to work for an ISP, we had customers wanting to get a hold of a domain that was controlled by what equates to a ticket scalper and they'd charge $10,000 or more for a registration that cost the $70. If they get it for free and do that, can see where it would be more annoying.

The worst part was somebody was convinced to register a domain name for their business and had it stolen out from under them. The company representative had no idea the techie that registered it for them had complete control when he was listed as the Admin contact. Had to listen to them crying to me over the phone while I told them the only thing they could do was send a letter on their company letterhead, a business card and documentation (to NetSol) that showed as much information as to that person being employed to make that transaction.