Q: Airport Extreme dropping connection

I had this same problem... I looked into IPv6 and MTU and Power, channels, bands, you name it. In the end once they were optimized, the issue was still there...

My AirPort Extreme (router) connects to my cable modem as well as offers modes of security to select.

WPA + WPA2 Personal is for home or Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) networks. In Personal mode, the encryption key is regularly changed and rotated so that the same encryption key is never used twice.

• AES-CCMP was specifically designed for wireless networks for user authentication.

You need to make sure your security  is set to WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] or WPA-PSK [TKIP].

Network is back!

I had the same problem for about 4 months.  I swapped out cables, upgraded my Airport to an Airport Extreme, my cable co. (Cox) replaced my Cisco DPC3010 with a new one, I tried all the things I'd read in this thread.  Nothing worked.

Finally I figured it was a software bug by Apple.  I replaced the Cisco DPC3010 Cable Modem with a Motorola SB6141 and the problem went away.  In my case, I think this is a bug in the firmware for the Airport router that made it play badly with the DPC3010.

Good luck!

Hello,

I have had this same issue for close to 9 months. I was about to buy myself a router from my ISP but my wife convinced me to give them a call first. I explained tot them that I was suing one of their modems but I was using then AE as my router.  I told them that I was losing my signal each and every day and the last time it happened it lasted 2 full days. I asked them if they had other customers wit a similar issue and what my options were.

They replied by telling me they had done a correction on my line (whatever that means) and that this would improve the stability of the signal. If my problem persisted, I should maybe think about going with an ADSL2+ modem. I think I already am!  Anyways, this was this past Tuesday, April 22, 2014. My signal has not dropped once since then. This is by far the longest it's ever gone without dropping out.

Give this option a try. You have nothing to lose and it seems to be working so far. I just hope I haven't jinxed myself:)

Good luck,

I was having the same problem.  My Airport Extreme ran rock solid for about six months, then I started having problems with the internet connection dropping very sporadically.  It was up 90% of the time.  When it went down the wifi network was fine, but I could not get out to the internet. I tried troubleshooting with Time Warner who reset my modem and had me do a reboot of the modem and the Airport Extreme.  The problem persisted.  The connection would stay up for hours then it would suddenly drop and come back. Looking at Airport Utility I could see the internet coming and going at times with the connection icon changing from green to yellow and back to green.  All the while the Airport Extreme light remained solid green.  I tried resetting the Airport Extreme settings- the problem persisted.

I called Apple support back thinking it must be a hardware issue with the Airport Extreme which is still under warranty.  He had me reset my cable modem one more time, which I just knew wouldn't work.  But, this time he had me disconnect the coax cable from the modem as well as the power. Apparently, the coax carries about 3W and the modem doesn't completely power down as long as it's connected. This was three days ago and I've had no problem since.

Try disconnecting the power from your cable modem AND disconnect the coax cable.  Give it a full minute.  Then reattach the cable and then the power.

p.s.- I have the  Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 Cable Modem.  I've have it for about 7 months and I love it.  It's faster than the one provided by Time Warner (less latency they tell me).  It worked GREAT with the Apple Airport Extreme up until this intermittent problem started.

Message was edited by: Brian Smith7

adding to the knowledge. 

Verizon Fios Quantuum service

I've had the same problem with my Airport Extreme Time Capsule off and on for a couple of years.  Runs fine for months, then drop the internet several times a day.  I have to reboot the Airport to get it to go. 

Of course, verizon thought it was my AE.  Since it was 8 years old, I went and bought the new generation of AE, the tower type, without the Time Capsule.

Configured it (including firmware update) and the internet signal dropped out again after about 30 minutes of use.  

I've also since reconfigured my old Time Capsule and put it on a neighbor's Cox Cable system, so I have something to compare it to.  So far it's been rock solid. 

I have noticed that when actively streaming Apple TV or Netflix content, the internet connection will usually hold all evening.  It's the idle periods when the system is most likely to tank. 

Of course, in the mornings when I get up I have to reboot the AE. 

Quite frustrating. 

Meh, forget what I wrote on May 5th. The problem has since come back. The hard reset of the cable modem (including disconnecting the coas cable) did not help.  I have since replaced the Airport Extreme with a new one, replaced the ethernet cable between the modem and the router and been on line with Motorola, Apple and Time Warner support numerous times.  Nothing has helped

I'm trying to decide whether I should replace the Airport Extreme or the Motorola (Arris) cable modem.  The Airport Extreme is the second one.  Apple sent a new one under the warranty.

Im having the same issue.

I have 4 AC Airport Extremes - Verizon FIOS

The internet consistently drops out. All the lights on the routers stay green but the internet doesn't work.

Any suggestions/idea? Who should I call first - Apple or Verizon?

I did troubleshooting on a similar problem as you AAPLc for a couple of months.  Back and forth between Apple, Motorola (my modem manufacturer) and Time Warner Cable.  Replaced two Airport Extremes, reset the modem dozens of times, replaced the coax connection to the modem, replaced the ethernet cable.  Changed settings on the Airport Extreme(s).  FINALLY, I replaced the cable modem with a Zoom modem (model 5341

That was about two weeks ago. No problems since then.

I'd recommend starting with Apple, but this is a really hard problem to troubleshoot if it's the internet dropping out, the ethernet network staying up, the wifi network staying up and all the lights on the modem and the Airport staying green.  The only way I knew there was a problem was the Airport Utility would show yellow as the status for the internet and I could not connect to the internet.  The modem stayed on Time Warner's network, the Airport Extreme stayed on the network. It was just as if the Airport Extreme was not talking to the modem.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. Ya, I was thinking about starting with replacing the Verizon FIOS modem first since all of the Airport Extremes are brand new. The thing I hate about Verizon is that you have to use their stupid modem.

So heres another issue to add into the mix.

Every evening I play some audio through my iPhone 5S to my Airport Express which pipes it through my home audio system speakers. It is not cutting out every so often and at least once completely disconnects from the airport express.

Is this an internet issue or a wifi network issue?

I don't even know where to begin with all of this. Im so frustrated after having bought 4 Airport Extremes and 1 Airport Express.

AAPLc, that sounds like a WiFi issue.  If the music is on your phone (not being streamed from iTunes Match) then the internet isn't a factor in that situation.  If you look you will probably see the Wifi signal on your phone dropping.  You might have a wifi interference problem.

Thats just it - the wifi signal stays strong always. I always have full signal strength.

Is there a way I can check to see if there is interference?

Sorry, you've just exhausted my level of expertise.  If your wifi signal is staying strong, I would think it's not wifi interference. I'd suggest troubleshooting with Apple.

I had the same type of problem; new Airport Express to replace my existing Netgear R6300 router.  Set up was fine, excellent wifi signal, all worked for about 24 hours; then, no internet connection.  I would unplug the AE, reset the modem, replug the AE, internet back up.  Again, after a few hours, strong wifi signal but no internet connection.  I called Apple Support; the tech suggested a couple of changes, rebooted, same problem.  Another call, another suggestion, along with recommendation to take the router to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store.  After resetting it again on Sunday afternoon, the internet connection dropped.  I went back to original factory settings, and began the process once again. However, this time I put the router in Bridge Mode.  Brighthouse provides a Ubee modem/router combination unit.  I turned off the Wifi portion of the Ubee router/modem, and once I setup the AE in Bridge Mode, my internet connection was up and running.  I have not dropped the internet connection for 2 days; the signal is strong, I am getting download speeds of over 60 mbs.  This appears to have fixed the problem, as I no longer have the double NAT message.

One correction; I have an Airport Extreme (not Express).  It is the newest version, but is not a Time Capsule.  Sorry for the confusion in using the incorrect name.