Comcast "traffic management" blocks Extend mode of AirPort Express 'n' ???

Gary-- I cannot access the web or get a wireless signal if I try to rely on the base station only (Extreme). That's why I just bought the Express, as the Apple salesperson said I should be able to do this (extend the network). My MBP is too far from the base for 5 Ghz operation. 2.4 b/g/n works fine, but doesn't give the throughput.

The MBP is running 10.5.2. I haven't upgraded because I knew that .4 is right around the corner.

But that can't be the problem.

How could Comcast possible 'know' what I am trying to connect? & why would they care?

Garys:

I don't have Comcast. There is NO cable in my area. I use a local ISP which beams me a wireless connection. They are in direct competition with Cox and Comcast in the region, and are not affiliated with them.

Again, if I turn on WPA I can't access the internet via the Express extending the first gen Extreme (5N). If I turn WPA off, I can access the internet via the Express (5N). It seems to have nothing to do with what goes on between the Extreme (5N) and the ISP. Why would it?

Lary

Gary -- Yes, I was able to extend the network in b/g/n mode, but of course the whole point of getting the Express was to extend the 5 gig mode, since it doesn't reach to my house from the office at that frequency.

For the record, I still can't see my Apple TV when in the 5 gig mode. For now, I guess I'll just have to switch back to the 2.4 ghz mode if I want to stream something to that.

For what it's worth, I have Comcast's 10Mb service. & I try to pay my bill on time. 😉

One thing you may want to try that will work as a form of security, even without having any form of wireless encryption key, is setting up access control (mac address filtering) for wireless clients on your network. This would effectively keep anyone using a computer who's mac address isn't on the access control list that you set up from joining your network. There are ways around this but i assume if someone knows how to spoof a mac address they were going to get onto your network anyway.

Good point, though it's a hassle when you have guests over who want to log on. In my situation, our nearest neighbor is about 200 meters away & I don't think she would be able to receive the 5 gig signal (or know what to do with it!).

But still, this password thing is ultimately not acceptable.

I'm skeptical that this is a Comcast thing, if only because I don't know how they would 'know' you're extending your network, or why they would care. But it is puzzling why there's a preponderance of Comcast users with this problem. On the other hand, Comcast is one of the biggest internet providers, so that could explain some of it.

I think I may have the same problem???

I've got a AEBS-g that I've set as WDS main.
I've got a AX-n that I've set up as WDS remote.
Everything works great, I'm able to get up on the internet wirelessly and use airtune on the AX-n.

But I can't connect my 360 to the AX-n via the ethernet port... won't get IP address.


AND UNFORTUNATELY, MY ISP IS COMCAST... AAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Hey Gary,
Thanks for the response.
I haven't tried a different cable. I'll have to try that tonight when I get home to see if that works.

Ideally, I'd like to connect wireless because its one less cable to clutter things up, but I haven't had luck. I've got a wireless network adapter (official Xbox 360 version)that I've tried connecting. When I connect it and run the tests on the Xbox dashboard, it says that I have an ethernet cable plugged in and no wireless adapter. (No, ethernet isn't plugged in. Yes, the adapter is) Very frustrating.

So, I tried the ethernet cable and it can't get an IP address...



Any ideas about the wireless adapter?
I'll try a different cable or two tonight and update...

Thanks Gary.

PS_
Can't connect the xbox 360 to the AEBS because its in a completely different room of my apt...
gp

Gary walked me through a WDS set up that works for the followin but I never confirmed back to the group:

Airport Extreme to 2 Airport Express extending the WDS Network from the Extreme to different parts of the house. Verified each Express is working independtly of the the Extreme and other Express. Everything connects wirelessly (Macbook Pro, Macbooks, PC, Tivo and Wii). Tried setting up to extend in N mode and as now known by everyone using Comcast it doesn't work, nothing will connect to the internet through the expresses. Also tried doing it with no security and still wouldn't work so went back to WDS again and it all works, but not at N.

Thanks Gary.

I posted this basic topic on its own and was given a link to this thread in a reply. While I do not have Comcast I think my situation warrants posting in this thread. I have Verizon Fios fiber optic service so we have no ISP overlap at all. My symptoms are a little different than others have posted, but the solutions to fix them are exactly the same unacceptable use of WDS or drop encryption.

So here is my deal:

Time Capsule (TC) creating a wireless network {N (b,g compatible)} with Allow this Network to be Extended checked. I am using WPA2 encryption with a long password.

Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) extending the network

Airport Express (AE) as a wireless client of the network (as a client of the AEBS)

My Mac Pro is connected via Ethernet to the AEBS

There are three websites I cannot get to
bnsf.com
lexproducts.com
ntta.org

My iPhone cannot get to these website either when using the AEBS as its wireless gateway; however, if i move the iPhone close enough to the TC so that it uses that as its wireless access point then I can get to all three of these websites no problem. A computer plugged into the TC via Ethernet also has no trouble getting to these websites.

If I change encryption to WPA/WPA2 still no go.
If I change encryption to WEP still no go.
If I turn off encryption all is well through the whole system like you would expect it to work.
If I convert the system over to a WDS with the TC as main the AEBS as a relay and the AE as a remote I can use WPA/WPA2 encryption and still get to these websites.
I tried many many variation of using a DMZ default host, and much work on the DNS server info. None of it made a bit of difference. Only changing the wireless settings had any effect.

Putting the AE within range of the TC allows full access in either Client or Extender mode.

I have been unable to get the AEBS into Client mode. I am familiar with using the option key to bring it up in the drop down, but if I select it and update the AEBS I can never see the AEBS again. It boots up but is inaccessible. I end up being forced to do a factory reset and configure it again. *Does anyone have an AEBS with n that they have been able to get to act as a client? Does that fix the issue for ethernet clients of the AEBS? Is it even worth me hassling with?*

I have tried various firmware downgrades and re-upgrading with no success.

Interestingly, the issue is strangely similar to a problem I was having with a VOIP phone. The VOIP Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) when plugged into the AE or the AEBS could dial out, make other phones ring but no speech was transmitted. If I moved the AE close enough to the TC that it became a wireless client of the TC then the ATA worked great. I never thought to turn off encryption during those hours and hours of testing. Clearly this was before I found this thread. Unfortunately the ATA adaptor has been sent back and I cannot do this test now.

I had been using this setup for 3 weeks before even realizing that there was a problem. Until this week I thought it was just one website that was down. I have probably hit 2000 websites in the past 3 weeks with issues only with those three. I can access other devices on the network, back up to the TC use email, iChat, download stuff. This is just weird. *Apple tier 2 tech support says that I should get a new AEBS. They have given me a case number to use to exchange it. They will not offer me any more help till I exchange the unit as they have decided that the AEBS I have is defective. Clearly getting a new AEBS will not help me, but I am wondering if I should do it anyway so I can continue to pursue this with Apple Care. How else will I get this case in front of the engineers. Any thoughts?*