GABarber

Q: Airport Extreme and Cox Internet IPv6 Problem

This is a notification to others as well as a question:

 

I have Cox Cable High Speed Internet at several locations using an Airport Extreme 3GB connected as a router to the Cox cable modem.

 

For more than a week we would regularly find in the morning that the outside connection to the internet DNS servers were lost.  We called Cox several times, and they performed the usual reset of router and modem and things seem to work for a while.  But the next day gone again.

 

They came out and replaced the hookups, I I had to buy a new cable modem and replaced a digital switch.  Each time things seemed to work for a while.

 

I thought about replacing the Airport Extreme (as I read others had done in a similar situation to no avail).

 

After much frustration, I started to search for Airport Extreme and DNS and found similar tales.

 

After several unproductive calls with Cox Internet first tier support, I finally reached a tier who acknowledged that Cox was rolling out IPv6 and was having a problem with Airport Extreme Routers.  They said Apple was working on it and gave me a number to call at apple router support.  Unfortunalely the number they gave was no longer valid.


I persisted and eventually got to Apple support and indeed they knew of the problem and said Cox was working on it.. But there was a temporary fix - and that was to turn off iPv6 on the airport extreme (more precisely (internet > Internet Options > Configure Ipv6 : Link-Local Only).

 

For now this seemed to stop the overnight drop that seems to happen between 12:00 AM and 2:00 AM.  From experience I dont think its really an IPV6 compaibility issue, but how the router responds to some sort of reset signal/test signal that the service does in the early morning.

 

So the question is - does anybody know for sure whats going on or who is really working on this.  From my perspective both camps think its the other's problem.  BTW - Ive read about others with Non Apple routers chasing something similar.

Posted on Mar 2, 2016 9:07 PM

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Q: Airport Extreme and Cox Internet IPv6 Problem

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  • by hipsterpdx,

    hipsterpdx hipsterpdx Jun 17, 2016 11:53 AM in response to askin6305B
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 17, 2016 11:53 AM in response to askin6305B

    Thank for the update. I am in San Diego.....been running "local link only" configuration with no issues since January (speed or otherwise)...have Cox Premier Internet, Arris SB 6190 Router, latest version Airport Extreme Router (hardware and software)....to extend coverage I have 3 additional Airport Extreme's that are hard wired, configured to "Create New Network" in Bridge Mode.  Also, have same configuration in different city with Comcast (did not have to modify to local link - no issues with Comcast.

     

    So, just took the plunge, re-configured for IPv6 per your instructions - will keep the board updated if I have any issues......cautiously optimistic!! Thank for the update and post - very helpful.

  • by Gino_Cerullo,

    Gino_Cerullo Gino_Cerullo Jun 17, 2016 12:16 PM in response to hipsterpdx
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 17, 2016 12:16 PM in response to hipsterpdx

    hipsterpdx, I just noticed in your description of your setup you say,

     

    "to extend coverage I have 3 additional AE's that are hard wired, configured to "Create New Network" in Bridge Mode."

     

    With that configuration you are not extending your network, you are creating three additional separate networks with each AirPort router. To "extend" the network you should have those set as I show in the screenshot below.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-06-17 at 3.08.42 PM.png

  • by hipsterpdx,

    hipsterpdx hipsterpdx Jun 17, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 17, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo

    Gino...sorry for the confusion and thanks for the reply......I should have said....to provide additional coverage throughout my house, in additional to my Main Airport Extreme Router, I have 3 additional Airport Extremes that are hard wired to ethernet (all on same network) that are ALL configured in Bridge Mode with Network Mode set to "Create  a wireless network"  AND with ALL four AE's configured with SAME Wireless Network Name, SAME Wireless Security and SAME Wireless Password - effectively creating a roaming network. If I did not have ethernet wired access to each AE, I would have set up to "extend wireless network...hope that makes sense...

  • by Tom380,

    Tom380 Tom380 Jun 17, 2016 2:56 PM in response to askin6305B
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 17, 2016 2:56 PM in response to askin6305B
    My connection has been stable in Orange County, CA for several weeks since the Airport firmware update. Thank you for your work on this issue.
  • by CromeYellow,

    CromeYellow CromeYellow Jun 17, 2016 3:15 PM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 17, 2016 3:15 PM in response to CromeYellow

    As an aside, in Palm Desert, CA this week at my other place, running a Motorola SB6121 cm with Time Capsule (latest model) 7.7.7 (no other network devices), on TIME WARNER:  with Time Warner there have been no disruptions, no issues not this week or in the past year whenever I have been here, just runs fine by itself no tweaking needed.  This is a slow internet plan, advertised 20/2, and have been getting better than that at all times.

     

    Tested today:

    test-ipv6.com on my MacBook Pro here at 9/10  (Timeout on the "Test if your ISP's DNS server uses IPv6")

    ipv6-test.com at 17/20

    (interestingly the fallback test comes in fine on Chrome browser, but the DNS6 + IP4 and DNS6 + IP6 tests both are Unreachable.)

    Same results on all devices, all browsers. 


    Again this is with Time Warner Roadrunner.


    TheTime Capsule is set for Configure Ipv6 automatically / Native, and Block Incoming ipv6 connections / Allow incoming ipsec authentication are both CHECKed.

  • by YatBob,

    YatBob YatBob Jun 20, 2016 5:32 AM in response to askin6305B
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Jun 20, 2016 5:32 AM in response to askin6305B

    Whatever enhancements that were done has solved all the issues I was having, no having to reboot modem/router, no loss of speed and consistently passing all IPV6 tests


    Thanks for your help and work in getting this matter resolved

  • by CromeYellow,

    CromeYellow CromeYellow Jun 20, 2016 9:44 AM in response to sunjon
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 20, 2016 9:44 AM in response to sunjon

    To:  askin6305B

     

    I have had no problems past two weeks while running with the auto ipv6 settings with Cox.

     

    I went ahead and upgraded my modem to the Netgear CM600.  I don't notice any difference (which is okay, but I did it anyway).  I am on the Premier plan 150/10 and am getting better than that via ethernet to my main iMac.  WiFi speeds vary but are not bad I think given the size of the compound.

     

    Anyway, this is my new MAC address:

    http://i67.tinypic.com/21bklc5.jpg

     

    Let me know after you have copied it down I will delete the image.  Thanks!

  • by askin6305B,

    askin6305B askin6305B Jun 20, 2016 2:12 PM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 20, 2016 2:12 PM in response to CromeYellow

    CromeYellow wrote:

     

    To:  askin6305B

     

    Let me know after you have copied it down I will delete the image.  Thanks!

    You can delete it

  • by hipsterpdx,

    hipsterpdx hipsterpdx Jun 21, 2016 9:07 AM in response to askin6305B
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 21, 2016 9:07 AM in response to askin6305B

    Quick update from San Diego.....so far so good....changed from "local link only" to ipv6 - Cox Premier Internet, Arris SB 6190 Router, latest version Airport Extreme Router (hardware and software)...been stable since 6/17......

  • by CromeYellow,

    CromeYellow CromeYellow Jun 21, 2016 11:05 AM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 21, 2016 11:05 AM in response to CromeYellow

    Yesterday around 7pm PST all internet died I had orange lights on Airport Utility for the modem, Time Capsule and two of the Airports.  But by the time I got to the modem/router all was well resumed on its own so things were dead for only maybe five minutes.

     

    I am getting a little sluggishness loading websites, such as yahoo mail, spamcop, etc. (Got stuck got the Kill or Wait prompt on Chrome browser) but speedtest.net normal and http://www.test-ipv6.com/ shows 10/10.  I still can't get better than 16/20 on http://ipv6-test.com/ on the iMacs (Fallback failure) for most browsers most of the time.  I was wondering if maybe this new CM600 doesn't work as well as the CM400, although that doesn't make sense.  I almost want to revert back to the slower modem, since both are overkill anyway for my Premier 150/10 plan.  I don't recall this intermittent sluggish loading of websites with the CM400.

  • by brianfromlakeside,

    brianfromlakeside brianfromlakeside Jun 21, 2016 11:30 AM in response to hipsterpdx
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Jun 21, 2016 11:30 AM in response to hipsterpdx
    Cox replaced 4yr old modem with Netgear C6300bd. All signals and modem work fine, last thing tech said.."we're having problems with airport extremes". Have lost use of hard wired A1409 time cap and A1521 extreme, 4yr old airport A1354 works fine. Have changed everything I can think of with no relief. Utility sees extremes but connection is always "wrong password"...I've spent too many hours, giving up! Thanks
  • by CromeYellow,

    CromeYellow CromeYellow Jun 22, 2016 9:15 AM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 22, 2016 9:15 AM in response to CromeYellow

    I had the internet disconnectivity problem this morning about 8am PST.  Only a hard reset of the modem and Time Capsule rectified the problem.

     

    The iMacs were unable to load any websites - both the hardwired ethernet one, and the WiFi ones.  All lights were green for all devices on Airport Utility, and Network / Assist Me / Diagnostics would get a "Your internet connection appears to be working correctly."  When trying to load websites they would get this sort of error message on the browsers:

     

    DNS_timeout2.jpg

     

    NOTE:  that I do not use a proxy server and firewall is turned off on all my Macs.

     

    At the same time the iOS devices like iPhone 6 plus, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 appeared to be working fine.  Speedtest app on these devices showed working connection, although slower than usual.  I do believe I have a clue though this time.

     

    When I ran http://www.test-ipv6.com/ on the iPhone 6plus, got this:

     

    IMG_1140.jpg

    and then when I ran http://ipv6-test.com/ on the same iPhone I got this:

     

    IMG_1141.jpg

     

    IMG_1142.jpg

     

    So even though I was getting internet on the iOS devices, there was some issue at hand.  Somehow the iOS devices were able to overcome the lack of ipv6 and still give me internet, while the iMacs were not able to overcome.  Seems to be that web browsers were unable to overcome this fallback issue.  I tried both Chrome and Firefox on the iMacs, same result unable to load sites.

     

    As noted, a complete restart of the CM600 modem and Time Capsule resolved the issue.  Will keep you posted.

     

    (I can't see why this faster CM600 would have this issue while the CM400 lasted all last week with no issues, but if this happens again I might revert to the CM400 modem.)

  • by Rey G,

    Rey G Rey G Jun 23, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Rey G
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 23, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Rey G

    Well, was hoping this problem was a thing of the past but this morning got 0/10 and 4/20 on the IPv6 tests. Restarting my AirPort fixed it for now.

  • by askin6305B,

    askin6305B askin6305B Jun 23, 2016 7:20 AM in response to Rey G
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 23, 2016 7:20 AM in response to Rey G

    Rey G wrote:

     

    Well, was hoping this problem was a thing of the past but this morning got 0/10 and 4/20 on the IPv6 tests. Restarting my AirPort fixed it for now.

     

    Was your connection still working when this happened, and you just happened to try the v6 test?  Or was your service down and then you tried the v6 test?

  • by Rey G,

    Rey G Rey G Jun 23, 2016 7:24 AM in response to askin6305B
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 23, 2016 7:24 AM in response to askin6305B

    I've been checking it most mornings and when I get home from work in the evening. Connection was still working, maybe a bit slow but up and running.

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