Comcast (Denver) - Airport says there's no connection

Question

I have a Time Capsule (fresh out of box) an Airport Express and an old Airport Base station. The express and base station have worked great for many years in my previous home network. I moved to Denver yesterday and now cannot get anything working. When I plug the comcast cable modem ethernet cable into my laptop(s), I get online right away. When I plug this same ethernet cable into any of my apple devices (all three), it says there is no connectivity. I have power cycled several times today. I've been on chat and phone support with Comcast that says it should all be automatic detection and that I need to contact Apple support because they don't support routers. If my laptop can get online, then Comcast will not advise on any other scenario. I have never had this problem with my Apple wireless devices. Do I just need to go to Frye's and buy a Linksys? Why is my apple gear not detecting an internet connection? I can't take this amber light anymore. I work from home and am dead in the water. Help!

Answer 1

About 1.5 years ago, I had problems with Comcast, airport modems and Time Machine. Airport modems and TM would work fine on DSL, but would not work satisfactorily on Comcast. While on Comcast, TM/Airport would report "can't find server" and would not allow access to common websites that I use frequently (USDA, EPA, doodle.com, skype.com, etc.). I fired Comcast and went with Qwest. Two weeks ago, I moved in with my girlfriend and she has Comcast. After 1.5 years of happy and reliable DSL access, I am not pleased to be once again having the same trouble as before. And, all of the suggestions to plug in, unplug, replug, and all that completely violate the plug and play utility of Apple products. Frankly, it's too much wasted time to have to do that every time I disconnect the laptop to leave and return to the home office.
I get better access to the net through a stick drive modem than through Comcast with Time Machine. It is clear that there is some sort of incompatibility between Time Machine, Airport modems and Comcast. In an effort to try and keep the girlfriend's comcast account instead of outright killing it, I've ordered a high speed upgrade (22-30 mbps) that includes a different cable modem for install on 23 Dec. But, I am not convinced that this will resolve the issues, especially if it is an incompatibility at the Comcast server level. After install, I'll try to access the sites that a Comcast modem-TM-airport config never lets me access, and if access is granted, yay, problem solved. But if access is not granted, then the technician will be leaving with the high speed modem and the old modem and I'll go back to DSL.
From a review of this thread and others like it, it this problem appears to be costing customers, Comcast and Apple lots of time, money and goodwill. I trust Apple, but think that Comcast is PC-centric and frankly does not care to invest in identification of the problem. If Apple won't make the warning, I would: If you own and wish to operate an Apple computer using Airport or Time Machine, certain unresolved issues with interface with Comcast cable modems may warrant consideration of alternative internet service providers.
Kind regards,
Doug