Level 1

10 points

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

In another thread, I posted that I was unable to access the Internet using my AirPort Express 'n' to Extend my AirPort Extreme 'n'. With the AirPort Express 'n' in the Extend mode, computers connected to it, either wirelessly or via the Ethernet port, were unable to access the Internet, even though the Network preferences of the computer showed that it had a valid IP address, and the Network preferences Diagnostics indicated that the connection appeared to be working correctly and showed all green status lights. This problem occurred only in the Extend mode of an AirPort Express 'n', and regardless of whether the AirPort Extreme 'n' being extended was in the 5.0 GHz 'n' only mode, the 2.4 GHz 'n' only mode, or the 'n' (b/g compatible) mode. Both AirPorts were running the latest firmware version 7.3.1, all IP and DNS information was verified to be correct, and OpenDNS addresses were tried with no effect on the problem.

In this previous thread, three other people reported the same problem with the same symptoms, and two people reported that they were NOT having the problem and that they WERE able to access the Internet with their AirPort Express 'n' in the Extend mode. Of the people reporting the same problem, ALL reported that their ISP was Comcast. Of the people reporting that their Extend mode WAS working, ALL reported that their ISP was NOT Comcast.

This seemed like too much of a coincidence to ignore, so I have started this thread to see whether or not other people are experiencing the same problem with their AirPort Express 'n' in the Extend mode and to see what ISP they are using.

Here are the results from the previous thread, and I will keep a running total of any new results reported.

People with Comcast ISP whose Extend mode is NOT working --- 4
GARYsParries
devasolomon
Boston Dog
dannym098

People with Comcast ISP whose Extend mode IS working --- 0

People without Comcast ISP whose Extend mode is NOT working --- 0

People without Comcast ISP whose Extend mode IS working --- 2
cardsdoc
MusicMan0725

For those of you that have not been keeping up with the news reports about the Comcast "traffic management" issue, Comcast has been accused by BitTorrent and the FCC of conducting unfair practices to manage their Internet traffic for the purpose of keeping traffic flowing smoothly. As a result, Comcast has agreed to discontinue these practices by the end of 2008.

MacBook Pro 17" Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Apr 5, 2008 6:43 AM

237 replies

Jun 13, 2008 7:15 AM in response to sounddroid

You can add my name to the list. My situation is exactly like sounddriod's.

GARYsParries Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2008 8:20 AM in response to Robert Jordin

Robert, welcome to the club. In the remote possibility that you did not continue reading down further, the workaround for the problem is to use an Express to extend (or be extended by) a Time Capsule, or use a second Extreme to extend (or be extended by) a first Extreme. So far, those are the only Extend combinations that provide complete Internet access for Comcast users in any wireless mode, and with any password protection enabled (or disabled).

Good luck with your setup.

Jun 13, 2008 1:36 PM in response to GARYsParries

I have an Extreme n and recently purchased an Express n to extend the range of the Extreme as well as use AirTunes.

I have Comcast as my ISP and this DOES NOT work for me either.
Everything appears as it should, IP addresses valid, DNS and router gateway are all valid, alas NO internet. As soon as I disconnect the Express, works great.

I was on the phone with Apple Care today and they pointed me to this thread.
As a caveat, I am able to get it to work using the older WDS mode.

Any updates on this?
Seems to me it should be a firmware update as mentioned here.

Jun 13, 2008 1:39 PM in response to radarseven

Wait, Apple Care sent you here?

So they know about it at the support level?

What did they offer as a solution besides reading this thread?

GARYsParries Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2008 2:03 PM in response to GARYsParries

Radar, no updates. If you absolutely need the iTunes feature of your Express, then you have two options for using the Extend mode with Comcast:

1. Buy a Time Capsule and use your Express to extend that. If you cannot return your Extreme, you can always hardwire it via Ethernet to your TC or to your Express and use it to Create a second, differently named, wireless network, which will then function with the first wireless network as a single local network. This is useful if you need both 'n' and 'g' wireless capabilities. You can set up the first network for 5 GHz n-only, and then you can set up the second network for n-b/g compatible. That way your 'n' devices will be able to operate at full 'n' speeds, and you will still have b/g compatibility.

2. Buy a second Extreme and use it to extend your first Extreme. Then hardwire your Express via Ethernet to the Extreme where you need iTunes, and use it to Create a second, differently named, wireless network, as in (1) above. The Express could also be used for b/g compatibility, as in (1) above.

Good luck with your setup.

Todd, maybe we should charge Apple a commission on every TC or Extreme sold via this thread. 🙂

Jun 13, 2008 2:22 PM in response to GARYsParries

Thank you Gary.

Jun 13, 2008 2:22 PM in response to GARYsParries

Thank you Gary.

Jun 13, 2008 2:32 PM in response to GARYsParries

@toddlydavis

Apple Care did point me to this thread, though he mentioned that he had seen it browsing the forums. I don't think all reps would be aware of it. I asked him point blank if it was a Comcast issue and he said no. But, he wouldn't say if a fix was in the works or not. He basically said if I wanted extend capabilities, I would have to setup a WDS, which interestingly enough is how I originally had it configured and it does work. So that's what I'll probably revert back to.

@GARYsParries

Thanks for the input. A couple of obersvations:

1. No possibility of returning the Extreme and I did think of hardwiring to the Express, but that would be quite a choir as they are on different floors of my house. I wonder though if using my powerline ethernet adapters would work? I may try that.

2. Buying a second Extreme or even a TC is a little bit overkill it seems, even though a TC might be on the horizon as a backup solution for my MacBook Pro. In the meantime, manually configuring a WDS with the Extreme and the Express seems like the best solution.

3. I really hope Apple issues a firmware update - definitely feels like a "bug" to me.

GARYsParries Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2008 3:02 PM in response to GARYsParries

Radar, WDS mode works great, as long as you don't need 'n' speeds ... but at least it works. 🙂

Jun 13, 2008 3:16 PM in response to GARYsParries

Yea, I finally had to revert to a WDS today. I could not get a strong enough signal with the express to satisfy me, and I am unwilling to run without encryption. I am still thinking of exchanging my extreme just so I can continue with Apple Care. I really wish I could at least get my extreme to 'join the network' instead of extending it. I think that would fix it well enough for me as I can give up wireless for my iPhone till they fix this easier that giving up 'n' speed like I currently have to do.

Jun 13, 2008 3:45 PM in response to GARYsParries

I loaded the software update today. So far, it seems that my express is working the way it is supposed to while using the Extend Wireless Network mode. The only other possibility is that the new software upgrade actually extended the range of my extreme base station on the other side of my house. Prior to the software update, I had all the same problems everyone here has had eg, getting the green light on the express but not being able to connect to the internet. I am using comcast by the way, with WPA2 password. Could be a fluke...

GARYsParries Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2008 4:35 PM in response to GARYsParries

That's very interesting, Tom. Before anyone gets too excited, could you please verify that your computer is actually connected to the Internet through your Express and not your Extreme?

An easy way to do that is to connect your computer to the Express via Ethernet, WITH YOUR COMPUTER'S INTERNAL AIRPORT TURNED OFF, and then see if you can access the Internet.

Another way is to start the Airport Utility application while you are accessing the Internet, select your Airport Express, click on the Manual Setup button, click on the Advanced icon, click on the Log and Statistics button, click on the Wireless Clients tab, and then make sure your computer (in addition to your Airport Extreme) is listed in the Client list of the Express. Then do the same for your Airport Extreme while accessing the Internet, making sure that your computer is NOT listed in the Client list of the Extreme (and that your Airport Express is so listed).

Looking forward to hearing the results of your test.

Jun 13, 2008 5:10 PM in response to GARYsParries

Well-looks like it was a fluke. I followed your suggestions about hooking directly to an ethernet cable and had no internet access. Very disappointing

GARYsParries Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2008 5:22 PM in response to Thomas Levin, Md

The only reason I knew to try that test is because, back when I was trying to get my Express working, the same thing happened to me. 🙂

AuniMac

Level 1

0 points

Jun 13, 2008 8:48 PM in response to GARYsParries

Hi Gary.

I would like to add that I have experienced all of the same routing to the internet problems described in this thread when adding an AXBS to an existing AEBS n network.

But, I am able to connect to the internet with AEBS and AXBS joined to extend the network if I turn security to none and i am using Comcast.

A bunch of us have already been through all of this when TC came out in March. It has the same problems when used in a bridged/extended wireless n network when it has security WPA2 enabled.

Here is an earlier thread we started in March. Pretty much the same thing but, with TC. You might want to read it but, it is the same unresolved problems other than somebody turned security to none and we figured out that TC would then work in an extended n network and route to the internet.

I took TC back because of this and i guess I'm going to take AEBS back now as well.

Has anybody got 2 AEBS to work together in an extended n network?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1425466&start=0&tstart=0

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