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13 Replies Last post: Apr 16, 2007 11:22 AM by Martian  
Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
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Feb 22, 2007 5:21 AM

another problem with airport extreme

i just bought the new airport extreme and what was supposed to be a simple setup process has taken longer than 10 hours!
please help!

i have 3 computers.
2 are macs, they will be using wireless. 1 is a PC, which will be wired to the airport extreme.

the airport extreme is connected to a VOIP router, which is then connected to the DSL router.
i have always used my old airport extreme without issues, but because i want to connect the PC as well, i must ditch the airport express in favour for one with LAN ports. hence, the troublesome airport extreme.

it doesn't work.
none of my computers can recognize the new network. (even though i've established one, with passwords and everything)
the router flashes amber - internet works, but not wireless.
the router periodically flashes green - ironically, nothing works then!!!!

please help!!!

EDIT: DIAGRAM

1. WHEN IT WORKED:

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> MAC 1, MAC 2 (WIRELESS)

2. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK:

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXTREME --> MAC 1, MAC 2 (WIRELESS), PC (WIRED)
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Click to view 4Runner's profile New Member
4Runner
90 posts since
Jun 30, 2006
1. Feb 22, 2007 10:53 AM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
I'll take a stab at getting the analysis started. First, try adn reduce the number of variables. Try this

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> Wired PC

If that works then this

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> Wired PC

Next

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> Wired PC and MAC 1 (WIRELESS)

Next

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> Wired PC, MAC 1, MAC 2 (WIRELESS)

I don't think you will get that far but it might help identify were the configuration issue is.
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Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
2. Feb 22, 2007 10:44 PM in response to: 4Runner
Re: another problem with airport extreme
i'm assuming you mean AIRPORT EXTREME.
the AIRPORT EXPRESS works without any problems. however, that doesn't allow my wired PC to join.
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Click to view 4Runner's profile New Member
4Runner
90 posts since
Jun 30, 2006
3. Feb 23, 2007 11:09 AM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
Yes, extreme. I just copied your first line. We need ot reduce the number of variables and see what works and when it breaks. Start with the simpilest config and go from there. Post your findings and we will go from there.
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Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
4. Feb 23, 2007 9:03 PM in response to: 4Runner
Re: another problem with airport extreme
Quote:<hr />
Yes, extreme. I just copied your first line. We need ot reduce the number of variables and see what works and when it breaks. Start with the simpilest config and go from there. Post your findings and we will go from there.

<hr />


thanks. just wanted to clarify. and i really appreciate the help!
i tried this:

INTERNET --> PROVIDER ROUTER --> VOIP ROUTER --> AIRPORT EXPRESS --> Wired PC

it worked. the EXTREME was acting as a BRIDGE. and the Wired PC was able to get on. although, i could not see the network on my wireless macs. when i plug my mac into the port using ethernet, it works without problems. the wireless part ain't working.
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Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
5. Feb 23, 2007 11:49 PM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
I tried another approach today, albeit a very strange one. I connected the Airport Express to the Airport Extreme and it worked! All wired and wireless was able to connect. But the wireless was not coming from the Airport Extreme, it was coming from the Express. The Express also said it had a problem with invalid IP but the internet still worked!

I'm confused.
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Click to view 4Runner's profile New Member
4Runner
90 posts since
Jun 30, 2006
6. Feb 24, 2007 4:43 PM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
If your wired is working and your wireless is not, that should make it easy. Now, I do not have an extreme so I'm not the berst resource to help, but let's give it a try.

Ditch the express as that is not needed. Access your extreme and post an image or type the wireless configuration settings. That will be a good start.

I'll check back tonight or tomorrow. Also, I hope someone with an extreme will chime in here.

Joe
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Click to view bruine's profile Member
bruine
555 posts since
Nov 9, 2006
7. Feb 25, 2007 11:30 AM in response to: 4Runner
Re: another problem with airport extreme
I guess it can be 2 kinds of problem. First, it can just be your router or modem that need to be reset to forget your preceding wireless router. So Plug everything as it should, then power off everything and power them again. If your VOIP router has a battery backup, you may need to find the reset button (usually very tiny on the back) since just unplug it briefly won't do.
Second, it can be that 2 of your devices are configured to deliver DHCP address as a router. Only one should, the other one must be configured as a bridge instead. You will have to refer to your instructions however since I don't know any of your various devices.
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Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
8. Mar 1, 2007 3:27 AM in response to: bruine
Re: another problem with airport extreme
OK! i'm on!
it took forever to get this working, endless resets, internet down times, the lot.
but i fixed it.
i thought i'd share this here who might have the same problems i did.
basically, i had to change the extreme to act as a "bridge" instead of distributing IP's (like a normal router).
what i didn't know was that i had to configure the extreme connecting my powerbook to the WAN port of the extreme.
all the while i had the WAN plugged into the VOIP router, then my powerbook to the LAN port.
doing this will never create a wireless network!
so what i ended up doing was simple.
turned everything off.
then turned on my powerbook and the extreme only, with my powerbook connected directly to the WAN port.
then set it up using the utility.
then power back on everything else. unpluggin my powerbook from WAN and pluggin into LAN.
wireless network shows up!
connect.

sigh. what could've been a simple fix took me ages to find out.
it's confusing because when i was using my powerbook with the LAN port, i was still able to configure the extreme, not knowing that what i was supposed to do was connect it with the WAN port!
apple should all allow configurations (at least initial configurations) to be made whilst using the WAN port only.

but i'm happy now.
but the light still flashes amber. i'm told it's because i'm using it as a bridge.
it's annoying though.
reminds me of the "dark" times....
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Click to view bruine's profile Member
bruine
555 posts since
Nov 9, 2006
9. Mar 1, 2007 8:30 PM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
Where did you read that you need to connect to the WAN port to configure the airport base station? I don't own one, but I find it very unusual (and unintuitive) that you have to do so. Just curiosity however.
Anyway, what is important is that everything is now working fine
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Click to view itou's profile Member
itou
746 posts since
Sep 30, 2002
10. Mar 6, 2007 2:28 AM in response to: bruine
Re: another problem with airport extreme
Quote:<hr />
Where did you read that you need to connect to the WAN port to configure the airport base station? I don't own one, but I find it very unusual (and unintuitive) that you have to do so. Just curiosity however.
Anyway, what is important is that everything is now working fine

<hr />


i didn`t read it anywhere, that`s the thing.
i was so desperate, i tried plugging the cables in every port.
only the WAN was successful at creating a wireless network.
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Click to view DR_K's profile New Member
DR_K
34 posts since
Sep 22, 2006
11. Mar 11, 2007 5:56 PM in response to: itou
Re: another problem with airport extreme
I tried to set mine up for a couple of hours and then called Dr. Mac - he took 3 hours to get it going. Its works - its fast, the printer works, sometimes the external hard drive shows up, but the yellow light still blinks??
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Click to view relaxed4102's profile New Member
relaxed4102
2 posts since
Apr 1, 2007
12. Apr 13, 2007 3:55 PM in response to: DR_K
Re: another problem with airport extreme
Hi,

Who is Dr. Mac?

I am new to macs. I recently bought an iMac 24" and my wife bought me the Airport Extreme for my birthday.

I have the new iMac and a Dell Laptop. Prior to buying the iMac, I had a Dell Desktop which died on me. The Dell desktop had a Dell wireless router which worked well with Comcast Cable plugged into the router.

When I tried to set up the Airport Extreme Base Station, everything came to its knees so I had to unconnect the Airport Extreme Base Station. Now I have the wireless router plugged into the back of the imac with Comcast cable plugged into the wireless router and it seems to be working well.

I would like to use the Airport Extreme Base but I am not sure if I should disconnect the Dell wireless router or not.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

relaxed4102
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Click to view Martian's profile Enthusiast
Martian
1,282 posts since
Sep 27, 2001
13. Apr 16, 2007 11:22 AM in response to: relaxed4102
Re: another problem with airport extreme
I believe that you can have only one DHCP server on a simple network. By default setting, all routers have the DHCP server turned on.

You can always use a second router as just an Ethernet switch by turning off its DHCP server, but I doubt that you need this second unit altogether.
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