Networking with AirPort Extreme Base Station

I am connected to the Internet with an SBC dsl modem, which I have had for a couple of years with few problems. However, I have been having issues networking my Mac G5, 1.8 Mhz machine since I purchased it some time ago.
In the beginning (before the Mac or -- BM as I like to call it) I was using a D-Link DI-614+ router and running a desktop PC and a laptop PC wirelessly with success. Then I bought my Mac (which I dearly love) and introduced it into my wireless network. At first it seemed to work OK. Gradually and occassionally it would lock up while trying to access an Internet site. Often the problem was resolved by rebooting the DSL modem, the D-Link router and all the computers. This would give me up to several days with no problems, but then things would rapidly deteriorate and I would have connection problems again.
I thought that if I bought an Airport Extreme base station, that would solve the problems but again, at first things were fine, then rapidly went downhill. I have worked exensively with SBC dsl techs and we have determined that the problem is not with the SBC network or with their dsl modem.
As it stands now I only get a maximum of a couple of hours of time before the slowing down of the network begins. Some of the error messages I get seem to indicate that there is a problem with the distribution of IP addresses. TCP/IP is set to use DHCP, and I connect by setting PPPoE to my SBC connections settings. "Connect using PPPoE" is unchecked. Location is currently "Automatic" although I have used the connection assistant a number of times in an attempt to get the system up and running.
I have the same problems in interconnecting the Mac with the two PCs that are on my system. In fact this is even more erratic than connecting to the Internet.
I have spent many hours with my limited knowledge of these things trying to resolve these issues but have had no success. I have scoured .Mac and other Internet sources and cannot find any specific solution to this problem. I am at a real loss as to where to go next. I am hoping someone here can help or point me in a direction where I might find a solution.
Thanks,
Don
Power Mac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Thank you very much for your response. Yes, the Mac is set to use PPPoE and the SBC information is stored there.
Just to clean things up, I removed the PPPoE configuration on the Mac and left it unchecked.
Here is other information about how the system is set up.
Note: + means item is checked, - means item is unchecked
Apple Base Station V5.7
WAN Ethernet Port: Automatic (Default)
+Enable SNMP Access
+Enable Remote Configuration
-Enable Default Host at
+Enable Remote Printer Access
-Enable NAT Port Mapping Protocol
Internet:
Connect Using: PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)
+always stay connected
Network:
+Distribute IP addresses
Airport client computers:
+Share a single IP address (using DHCP and NAT)
((Use 10.0.1.1 addressing))
Power Mac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Similar Messages

Windoze Ad-hoc networks killing Airport Extreme Base Station

After having a horrible experience with an Orinoco base station sometime ago at his coffee shop, a client of mine asked me to install a new Wi-Fi access point to replace it. Since I'd never had a problem with my graphite Airport Base Station, I selected recommended that he try the Airport Extreme. Everything was been fine for over a year and half, with only the occasional interference problem, and even that easily fixed by a restart on the base station. Lately that has changed. We're in Baton Rouge, and since Hurricane Katrina, our population in our city has doubled (that's not an exaggeration), and the number of customers using the network in his coffee shop has increased as well - although it's still well below the maximum. The problem is that there are is large number of students from Loyola, UNO and Tulane who are now attending LSU, right across the street. And a significant fraction of those have ad-hoc networks set up on their Windoze notebooks, apparently unintentionally. When they come into the coffee shop their ad-hoc networks seems to cause the Airport Extreme to die, and not recover, until it is reset. This happens many times per day, sometimes more than once in an hour.
It had been configured to automatically select a channel, but I re-configured to use a specific channel (and have been experimenting with the particular channel). It seems to reduce the problem for a time, but then we'll have the problem back in force within a few days.
I have verified (using iStumbler) that there are no other "managed" networks near-by, and I have noticed that the problem ALWAYS happens when there is are ad-hoc networks, and after politely asking customers if I can check their settings, (it's scary how many people will let you poke around on their computer, if you seem like you know what you're doing) I've also seen compelling evidence that it is Windoze users, not Mac users, who tend to cause the problem. Incidentally at this particular coffee shop the Windoze:Mac ration is something like 60:40. What can I say, it attracts discerning customers. Since some of them have "lsuwireless" set up as an ad-hoc network (and as I said, LSU is across the street), my guess is that somehow these get set up, not on purpose, but accidentally, while trying to connect to the university's wireless network. Apparently the process is not so straight forward for Windoze users as for Mac users.
I have upgraded the Airport Base Station software to the latest available as of last week. Though I don't have that version number available at the moment.
So I have several questions:
1) Is this really the same radio interference problem that I've read about elsewhere on this discussion board?
2) Would an external antenna on the base station help? How about a powered one?
3) Aside from "Use Interference Robustness" and trying different channels, is there some configuration setting that I might be missing that could enhance the base station's reliability?
4) Does anyone have a suggestion for a permanent fix - preferably without switching to a different access point, although at this point, that's a viable alternative. After a year and a half of stable operation though, we're loathe to switch again unless it can't be avoided, because the Orinoco access point we used before had behaved exactly like this, but even worse, and without necessarily having ad-hoc networks being present to cause the problem.
5) Failing any other good solution, can anyone suggest a way to determine which computers are causing the problem without having to interrupt each customer to poke around on his computer?

I have an Intel based iMac and a MacBook Pro. Both
are (well until tonight) connected to the internet
wirelessly through the Airport Extreme Base station.
I've had no trouble up until now. Tonight for some
odd reason the MacBook Pro Airport card fails to
detect the Airport Extreme Base Station. It detects
OTHER wireless networks around the building, just
not the one it's supposed to connect to. Opening up
Airport Utility doesn't even show the Airport
Extreme Base Station being present. I know the Base
Station is not at fault - it works fine with the
iMac. Tried setting the Sharing mode on but that
didn't help either (not that I changed any of the
settings to begin with).
Can anyone help? I'm really at a loss here.
Any one? Any suggestions?

Magic Packets with AirPort Extreme base station

Ok, so I would like to be able to wake my iMac with magic packets over the internet. It is connected to the internet via an AirPort Extreme base station, and I know that it won't work over wireless networks, but the iMac is connected and gets internet via ethernet from the AirPort. Is there any way I can set up port forwarding or something like that to wake my iMac remotely?

...should I have AirPort on my iMac turned off or on...
Since you are connected via Ethernet you would turn AirPort off.
Does the connection automatically default to Ethernet, even if AirPort is set "on," because presumably Ethernet is faster.
No. It gives priority based on how they are ordered in the list of network connections.

Configure protocol with airport extreme base station

Need powerbook g3 wireless internet compatible password. roamabout 802.11b cabletron card does not have wpa password option. There does not appear to be a compatible encryption type to use airport extreme base station with this card.

...should I have AirPort on my iMac turned off or on...
Since you are connected via Ethernet you would turn AirPort off.
Does the connection automatically default to Ethernet, even if AirPort is set "on," because presumably Ethernet is faster.
No. It gives priority based on how they are ordered in the list of network connections.

Several PC and Mac connectivity issues with Airport Extreme Base Station

Hello,
This is not all necessarily airport base station related, but there is some crossover, so I'm posting all of these issues...
Here is the laundry list of things that I can't make work in a home network that contains a PC w/ XP Home, MacBook 1.83 w/ 10.4.7, and Airport Extreme Base Station w/ Modem.
1. Can't see the PC from the Mac.
a. "Connect to server -> Browse" does not find the PC
b. "ipconfig" on PC provides valid looking IP address
c. ping from mac to PC IP address times out
d. Firewall on XP is disabled via control panel
b. Windows file and printer sharing is enabled
2. Can't see mac from PC
a. Windows file sharing enabled on mac
b. Firewall on mac disabled
c. I used \\MacIPAddr\shortusername
d. ping times out
3. Using dial-up to access internet, how do i tell airport to dial using PC?
a. this feature is working fine from mac
b. If already connected (via instruction from mac), can surf the internet fine from PC
c. Is this even possible from the PC?
4. Can't see printer connected to base station from PC
a. See it fine from mac
b. How do i "find" the printer on the PC?
c. Is Bonjour required for this? (I don't have it on the PC yet)
5. Can't see a "shared" printer on the PC from the mac
a. printer is connected directly to PC
b. Mac's add printer wizardry looks like it may "see" the printer, but then it asks for username and password for PC. This is XP home, with no usernames or passwords. Single user. Nothing seems to work in the credentials pop-up dialog.
Any suggestions on any of these issues is very welcome.
Thanks

Is the PC running any kind of internet security or firewall software?
1. Can't see the PC from the Mac.
2. Can't see mac from PC
Sharing files between an XP PC and a Mac running OS 10.4.x
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3020.html
3. Using dial-up to access internet, how do i tell
airport to dial using PC?
Jon Sevy has a Java Utility for this purpose.
You will need Java in order to run the utility
http://www.java.com
4 . Can't see printer connected to base station from
PC
Printing from a Windows XP PC to a printer attached to an Airport Extreme Base Station or Airport Express
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1004.html
Printing from a Windows XP PC to a printer attached to an Airport Extreme Base Station or Airport Express using Bonjour
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1008.html
Problems with finding Printer Driver on Windows XP when using printer connected to Airport Extreme or Express
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1012.html
5. Can't see a "shared" printer on the PC from the
mac
Printing to a printer on a XP PC from a Mac running 10.4.x
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3015.html
Printing to a printer on a Mac running 10.4.x from a Windows PC using Bonjour for Windows
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3014.html
iFelix

Printing wirelessly to MacBook Pro with Airport Extreme Base Station

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station that I used to use wirelessly until I got Verizon Fios. The Fios technicians said the base station couldn't be used and so it's been sitting unused for a few months. However, I really, really miss printing wirelessly, and was wondering if it was possible to use the Airport Extreme Base Station ONLY to print wirelessly, and not connect it any way to my internet (I don't want to mess with any of the fios stuff at all).
If it's not possible, is there any other way to print wirelessly without purchasing another product or special printer. I have a HP c4480 printer.
Thanks!

If your printer has a USB cable the easy way to go about this in my opinion is to plug that USB cable into your Extreme base station. I have the Extreme ABS that looks like a flying saucer. I plug the usb cable into the port that has the symbol that doe NOT look like this <--> rather it looks like a Saguaro cactus.
My computer then sends print documents to the Extreme via WiFi and then Extreme sends them to the printer via the USB cable.
If your Airport status is not showing in the Mac's menubar go to system Prefs/Network/Airport and check a little box so it will show up in the menu bar.
Now if your Extreme is plugged in the wall and powered up your Mac should be able to find it. Click on that menubar item for Airport and scroll down and select your Airport Extreme. I don't know for sure what its name will be. It should still be the same as it used to be when you used it last.
Now try printing a simple document. In the print dialog window you should be able to select what printer you want to use. If your new Extreme printer is listed select it. You may need to click on Print & Fax and figure out how to select it from there, and choose it to be the new default printer.
I think this info will do the job. Whenever you want to print you have to go to the Airport icon in the menubar and change your airport connection from your Verizon stuff to your Extreme. Then of course you have to change back when you are done. That is why it would be great to toss the Verizon WiFi radio out the window and just plug your Verizon modem into your Extreme WiFi radio transceiver (router). But I understand you cannot deal with that at this time.
If this does not do the job, if I have missed something, I will bet you 5 bucks that you can still figure it out if you just look at any error messages and/or look at the Print&Fax prefs and the Print dialog windows etc. and see what I may have missed. Maybe you have to go to SystemPrefs/Sharing and allow your printer to be shared. I don't think so. The way I figure any of this stuff out is to just look at stuff and think and try things and see what happens.
Your Verizon setup should be something like this.... a cable comes into your house and goes to a 'modem'. From there and ethernet cable (CAT-5 cable) goes from that modem to your Verizon router (WiFi radio transceiver).
As for getting rid of the Verizon router, when you are ready to give it a go, simply unplug the ethernet cable (it has a plug on the end that looks like the kind of plug that telephones use to plug into the wall, except it is a bit wider, but still has that same kind of snap-lock tab) that comes from the Verizon modem (the modem has the heavy round cable and probably many blinking lights) and plug it into the Extreme. Mine has an icon on the Extreme that is many dots in a circular pattern.
At this point you may have to unplug the Verizon modem form the wall AC power and the Extreme also. Then plug them back in, wait a minute, go to your Airport icon on your Mac menubar, Select Extreme and start surfing the web.
It really is that simple with a Mac. Maybe Verizon has found a way to make things difficult but my guess is no. Any password should be taken care of in your Airport Setup Utility program. It should be the same password(s) as you used before when you used your Extreme.

Bridging network with AP Extreme base station and AP Express

OK, here's the deal. I have an Airport Extreme Base Station on a WPA2 Personal network. Works great except that I want to boost the signal to the rest of the house. So, I bought an Airport Express. Airport Utility picks up both devices; but when I select the new Express to configure it, I get a msg asking to confirm that I want to switch networks. Well, I don't. I want to expand the network I have. Last night I did click "yes" and it was a disaster as I lost the Extreme altogether and the Express couldn't pick up a signal because - obviously - it wasn't connected to the ethernet cable as the base station, and also because (I think) the base station is configured to hide my SSID. I ended up working backwards and got the Extreme back to normal and put the Express back in its box until someone can tell me how to do this. I know Apple says it's easy; but it's a challenge for me. HELP!

A few things:
1. Please don't configure your base station to "hide its SSID". Doing this is absolutely useless as a security method. It will on the other hand complicate setup of your network, as well as the diagnosis of problems when they arise.
2. You must allow the Airport Utility to switch networks during the process. What is happening is that the Airport Utility must temporarily switch your Mac's wireless network connection from your existing base station to the wireless network created by your unconfigured Airport Express in order to communicate with and configure that Airport Express. After the Airport Express configuration is complete - if your Mac doesn't automatically switch your Mac's wireless network connection back again then just do so manually from the MacOS Airport menu.
3. To get a better understanding of what you are doing, start reading at page 42 of Apple's manual "Designing Airport Networks" found at:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/DesigningAirPort_Networks_Using_AirPortUtility.pdf

Communication errors with airport extreme base station

Please help.
I am able to surf the internet wirelessly on my two macs via my Airport Extreme Base Station. However I am unable to print wirelessly via my new HP printer connected to the USB port on the base station.
More worryingly I am unable to use Airport Admin Utility, Airport Set-Up Assistant or Airport Firmware Updater. Whenever I try to use one of these applications they experience errors communicating with the base station. I wonder if this is related to the printer problem?
I have performed soft and hard resets on the base station in addition to removing the power cord - none have been sucessful.
Can anyone please help me.

I may have a solution. I recently upgraded from an ibook to a macbook pro, and had the apple store "migrate" my files, etc., from one to the other. Got it home, everything's fine, airport conects, no problem. Go to print, can't print, decide to run Airport Setup Assistant to reconfigure (why not ?) and, lo. when it gets to "Network Configuation," I get : "An Error Occured while trying to communicate with this base station." Try all the usual tricks, including hard restart (internet connection is fine throughout), but the set-up assistant couldn't get past that point. Talked to apple support, we ran through all the options. He did suggest wiping the network preferences for airport off the harddrive and starting over, but since I had a good internet connection, I decided to wait.
So here's the thing: I got on Airport Administrative Utitity, clicked "Configure," and then "Network." I know next to zip about advanced options, but I decided to click "Distribute IP Adress" And under "Airport Client Computers" selected "share a single address." I left everything else alone. It reset to to the new options, and then, out of curiosity, I opened up set-up assistant, and TA-DA, I got past the screen I was stuck on, and when the next asked me if I wanted to keep all the same settings, I said yes. I kept selecting "Keep/yes", and then saved or okayed the changes. I then got a message that it would restart base station, I was also configured to print (my printer hp laser 1320 was plugged into the base station for all this), and, yes, it does now print.
I don't know if this is the hard way of doing something that I could have done more easily, and/or if even though I had an internet connection, the base station or the set up was still looking for the ibook. I'm sorry for such a long reply, but wanted to include all the steps I took and the exact situation. Does anyone know if I've endangered my security by checkig the "Distribute IP option ?" This is a home computer. Good Luck and hope this helps someone

Using an External USB soundcard with Airport Extreme Base Station

Hello, I own a macbook, an airport extreme base station and a Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 USB 2.0 external sound card that works like a charm with my macbook. I have a printer and a hard drive connected to the USB from the Airport base station through a hub, and I was wondering if there is any way I could make my macbook recognize the external sound card when connected to the base station's USB port. I would like to be able to play music wirelessly through the base station but the application/driver from Native Instruments does not recognize the sound card plugged to the router.
Thank you

if there is any way I could make my macbook recognize the external sound card when connected to the base station's USB port
First welcome the the Apple Discussions Forum!
To your question - it's highly unlikely, sorry!

Printer that works with Airport Extreme Base Station

Hi. We are very new to Macs (2 weeks). Have a Mac Book and AEBS. Both work fine. Our HP printers, however, only work if connected directly to the Mac Book. I'm informed that we need to get a printer that works with the AEBS if we wish to have wireless printing. If anyone can recommend a printer that works with AEBS, we'd be grateful. Thanks.

Hello Jungle-cat. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Check out the following iFelix site to see which printers are known to work (not not) with the new 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn).

Can't create a working Wireless Network using Airport Extreme Base Station

I don't know what I'm doing wrong...
I've got the cable from the modem going to the base station. I follow ALL on screen instructions. I select "Using DHCP" because when I plug the ethernet cable into my MBP it automatically does everything for me, and has that as its setting as well.
I get to the stage where it asks whether or not I'd like it to share an IP or go into bridge mode, I'm not sure what either of these two mean...I've tried both and both result in no wireless internet.
On several occasions I get to the end, and after I do the "final" update is comes back with one problem - internet connection, saying the router doesn't have a valid IP.
I'm totally lost on what to do here...
If you need more information just ask...please...

The below procedure is described in your AirPort setup manual, but it can be a little confusing. Here is my step-by-step procedure for an AEB setup for the system you describe:
A. Setup the 'Main' Base Station:
1. Do a factory reset of your AEB (main), then turnoff the DSL Modem and the AEB (main).
2. Check ethernet cable connections:
- DSL Modem > AEB (main) WAN port;
- AEB (main) > Mac computer running OS X 10.5.x.
3. Power-on DSL Modem and wait for it to initialise.
4. Power-on the AEB (main) and start your Mac computer.
5. Open AirPort Utility and select the AEB (main) in the LH pane. Click 'Continue' and give the AEB (main) a name and an admin password (twice). Click 'Continue'.
6. Select 'I don't have a wireless network and I want to create one', click Continue.
7. Give your network a name, select WPA/WPA2 Personal and insert the wireless network password (twice) - use 13 alpha/numeric characters for password. Tick 'Remember this password in my keychain'. Click 'Continue'.
8. Select 'I connect to the Internet with a DSL or cable modem using DHCP. Click 'Continue'.
9. Click 'Update' and wait for the AEB (main) to restart.
10. Disconnect the ethernet cable between your Mac and the AEB (main).
B. Setup Client computer
1. Open System Preferences/Network/AirPort.
2. Against 'Network Name:' select your network (the name you gave it at A7).
3. Click 'Advanced' and select TCP/IP. Against 'Configure IPv4:' select 'Using DHCP', then click 'OK'.
4. Click 'Apply' and exit System Preferences.

Airport Extreme Base Station and xBox wireless

We have 2 macs with Airport Extreme Base Station connecting to Cable modem for internet connection.
Recently bought an xBox with a USB wireless adaptor. When xBox is connected to the wireless network, internet connection of other computers dropped out and no longer can use internet until xBox is disconnected from the wireless network. It is the same problem even other computers are connected to Base Station with Ethernet cable.
Any settings in Airport Utility might fix this problem ?

We didn't have any problem before using the xBox wireless.
There are 2 Macs (iMac 20" & Macbook Pro 15") and they're connected to the Base Station via wireless.
The cable modem is Motorola Surfboard SB5100i and there is no login required from ISP for internet connection. Yes, the modem is connected to the WAN port of the Base Station.
With the Clients computer network settings, we are using DHCP. We have also tried with static IP and didn't make any differences.
I thought it could be the compatibility issue between the xBox wireless adaptor and the Base Station and on the other hand, the wireless protocols (802.11N/g/b) are industry standard and it doesn't matter who made them, they should work together.
The only idea that I have now is to try with other brand of wireless router and it might be a quick solution for this problem.
thanks,
David

Airport extreme base station no longer recognizes password

Away from house for a week. Came back and none of our iPhones, iPads can connect to wifi network. Airport Extreme base station will no recognize my network password to check settings. Airport Epress will not join network either.

Hi danny_A1A!
I have a couple of articles here that should be able to help you troubleshoot this issue. The first is a quick assist article pertaining to Wi-Fi issues and can be found here:
Wi-Fi Quick Assist
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1145
We also have another article on troubleshooting Wi-Fi connectivity, and it can be found here:
Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628
Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.
-Braden

Comcast HSI, AirPort Extreme Base Station issues

Recently, I've been having some connection issues with my Comcast High-Speed Internet and my AirPort Extreme Base Station. I'll be connected fine one minute, and the next my AirPort monitor drops to 2 bars of signal and nothing will connect. Resetting the base station and the modem works about 50% of the time, while just sitting here "dealing with it" works the other half of the time.
I rent my cable modem from Comcast, and I believe it is the Terayon TJ715. I went to the Apple Store San Francisco and had my base station replaced, thinking it was the culprit, but alas, the problem is continuing, only less frequently.
I've replaced all my ethernet cables, tried it with my AirPort Express (which works more often, yet has the same problem occasionally), yet my connection uptime and signal still drops to 2 bars and essentially disconnects.
Even stranger, the computer I have connected to the LAN port seems to work fine even when the computers connecting wirelessly are having issues.
I'm going down to a Comcast Support Center on Friday to (hopefully) replace my modem with a newer model (someone told me that older Comcast modems "kill" AirPort Base Stations), but other than that, any ideas? Anyone have this type of issue with Comcast in the past?
The 3 machines im running are:
Dual-Core 2.3Ghz Power Mac G5 via AirPort
867MHz PowerBook G4 (Titanium) via AirPort
800MHz iMac G4 (Flat-Panel) via Ethernet
Thanks,
Alexis
Dual-Core 2.3GHz Power Mac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Don,
Thank you for the link. However, it did not seem to solve my issue.
It's not that I haven't been able to connect to the internet at all using wireless. I will be connected fine (all 3 computers connecting to the internet simultaniously) when suddenly, any machine connected via AirPort (specifically my Dual-Core Power Mac G5) will receive two bars of signal and will no longer connect to the internet. The only remedy I've found is to reset both the cable modem and AirPort Extreme Base Station, and this only works about 50% of the time.
I am going to have Comcast replace the modem (and in the meantime, get new Ethernet cables) tomorrow, so hopefully I won't be having this issue anymore, but I'm more curious what may be causing the issue. Have you heard anything about older Comcast modems causing latency issues with AirPort Extreme Base Stations?
Thanks again,
Alexis

How do I set up a wireless network with an AirPort Extreme base station and two airport extreme but between apple devices either by ethernet

How do I set up a wireless network with an AirPort Extreme base station and two airport extreme but between apple devices either by ethernet

This Apple support document provides good general information on configuring different types of neworks using multiple AirPort routers.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145
In particular, you would want to focus on the information regarding a "Roaming Network"

Networking with AirPort Extreme Base Station

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