How not to use an AirPort Extreme with a DSL modem
I’ll definitely be chalking this up to user error, but wanted to pass it along in case other folks could benefit. For the past few months, I’d been having a sporadic problem with my AirPort Extreme that was always annoying. Without any warning nor pattern, I would lose my Internet connection: the status light would blink amber for a minute or two and then everything would resolve itself. This was happening in the middle of Skype calls, during blog posts, reading RSS feeds; the activities completely varied. I checked the logs of the AirPort Extreme and found no useful info other than an informative “Disconnected” message for every incident. After two months of troubleshooting, Googling and head-scratching, I figured out the problem.
The issue appears to be based on the way I had set up my home network. It had been set up several years ago using the Westell Versalink 327W DSL modem that Verizon provided and a Linksys 802.11 b/g router I picked up. When I bought the AirPort Extreme, I simply swapped out the Linksys and used the AirPort Utility to create a PPPoE connection. This configuration essentially had the router initiate and manage the DSL connection. It worked without incident under Tiger, but ever since Leopard, I had been experiencing the network drops. I couldn’t quite determine if it was the router, the DSL modem, Verizon’s service or some combination.After stepping away from the problem a few days ago, I came back to it with a new outlook and basically asked myself: “Why is the router managing the DSL connection; shouldn’t the DSL modem be doing that?” That gave me the idea to bring a simpler approach to the connection, so I used the AirPort Utility to remove the PPPoE connection I had used for months and configured the modem to call out to Verizon for service. Sure enough, I haven’t had a single drop since I made that change, which seems like an obvious one in hindsight.I don’t know if this issue is specific to my router, modem and service combination and in all honesty, my original configuration should have worked (and mostly was), but simple is often better. If you’ve had mysterious Internet drops and you’re having a hard time identifying the source, this info could come in handy. I’m still not sure why the AirPort Extreme couldn’t handle the PPPoE connection on a stable basis, but at this point, I’m just happy I have my connection working 100% of the time.
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Hmmm….very interesting, Kevin….
I never had disconnection problems with my old DSL modem which was connected to my old ASANTE router and AirPort base station.
Then recently DSL modem crapped out on me and I bought a new Diamond Supramax combo DSL modem/wifi/ethernet router. Since then have I get disconnect messages pop up on display several times a day!
The only other thing that has changed besides the above is that OSX 10.4 Tiger got updated recently….
So, now don’t know if my problem is due to hardware or OS update???
BTW, my connection is PPPoE too…so, maybe that’s a factor???
Any ideas???
Thanks,
Mark
let me say that in my opinion, the devices that does the dsl should also do the pppoe if used. anything else seems just insane…
that way one can run clean ethernet and/or wlan behind it.
Mark, where is the PPPoE connection being made: on the modem or on your router? Put another way: which device has your DSL account credentials? If it’s the router, try setting up the modem with the DSL account info and just use the router to connect to the modem via Ethernet. That’s what I did.
turn_self_off, I understand and agree. I wasn’t thinking when I put my AirPort Extreme in place. To be honest, the info that came with it pointed me down the path of setting up a PPPoE connection on the router. Still, I should have known better.
My son had a similar problem which I attempted to fix. Airport base was set to connect via PPPoE. Old DSL modems I think were simply modems. After looking over his BellSouth information, I realized you could access his newer modem using its IP address. It looked, from the browser, as though it was a single port router with a DHCP server, if that makes any sense. You can plug these things directly into your computer and it will assign an address. Anyway, setting up the Airport base to connect via ethernet is the correct way to fix part of the problem. You also must also enter the account login information into the modem. Second part is to access the modem from your browser and set the connection to stay alive. Otherwise after a short interval, the modem will disconnect. This seems to happen if there is no information being transfered, such as when you are reading a long article on a web page. I recently bought a new modem for my service and had the same problem which was solved in quick fashion after spending an hour learning on my son’s system.
You didn’t know that the 327 is a modem and a router with wireless?
Jack, you’re absolutely right although this wasn’t contributing to my particular problem. Regardless of which device was initiating the DSL connection, they were both set to “Always On”, but not everyone will realize to set their connection up that way.
Travis, yes I’ve been well aware of the modem and wireless capabilities of the device. However, when I originally used just the modem as a wireless router, I had nothing but problems in 2005 so I added my own router. I also run several WiFi networks in the house and need multiple routers. I use 802.11b/g for data and 802.11a for streaming HDTV content through the house.
Kevin,
Thanks for the suggestions….
Although a bit unclear as my DSL modem and WiFi/Ethernet Router are all together in the ‘same box’, it’s an all-in-one type device…
Diamond Multimedia SupraMax
ADSL2+ Modem with 802.11G Wireless & 4-Port Ethernet Router Gateway
Does that make a difference????
Using this with my MacBook running OSX 10.4.11.
Thanks,
Mark
I have a similar problem.
I have the Westell modem/router, and an airport extreme.
There are 3 other macs in the house. Periodically, we will lose our connection. Though the AEBS green light is solid, none of the computers can see the base station anymore. Sometimes the situation resolves itself (comes back on in ten minutes or two hours) and sometimes you go through all sorts of voodoo turning things off, then on, then launching the Airport Utility to look for the base station, etc.
I am trying to find someone who can tell me the exact settings I should be using. I do not know how to find the Westell web page to see the settings on this modem….anyone ?
Thanks
Tom
Erm… Even though your network is now fine, your AEBS is still not fixed. That’s because your AEBS still cannot do what you’ve paid it to do…
Now, speaking of that, you’re gonna hav helluva time trying set up NAT…
There should not be an issue with using the PPPoE client in your Basestation and using it as a router.
BUT… mine has been working perfectly for sometime, and now it is dropping PPPoE connections frequently under load. I’ve even switched out for another AEBS (I have a 100MB, and 1GB version) and I am having the same problem.
It’s very strange indeed.
I’d prefer to use the AEBS as I like the love the config util, and it’s ability to easily configure multiple basestations… but I am going to switch over and use the Billion 7300 for PPPoE and routing later and see if it’s the AEBS to blame.