Connect Airport Extreme to DSL Modem or direct to DSL?

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Level 4

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Connect Airport Extreme to DSL Modem or direct to DSL?

I am ready to hook up the Airport Extreme to my Mac. I currently have a DSL Modem/Switch connected directly to the main DSL cable and 4 computers connected to this modem. I purchased an Extreme and a 5-port switch to replace my current setup. My question revolves around how the Extreme gets connected to the main DSL line. The installation instructions for the Extreme says the main DSL goes to my DSL modem, then the modem connects to the Extreme. The sales guy at the Mac store said the main DSL line should connect to the Extreme, then the DSL switch I bought connects to the Extreme so the other computers can connect via DSL wires (yes, I need to keep all local computers hard-wired). The Extreme is for other wireless computers and iPhone/iPod Touch. So which is it? Does the main incoming DSL line connect to the Extreme or to the modem first?

Thanks,
Dan

iMac 17", Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 11, 2009 4:12 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,024 points

May 11, 2009 5:17 PM in response to Daniel Filice

Daniel, welcome to the discussions!

When you say you have a modem/switch, do you have a separate modem and separate switch (2 pieces), or is this device a combination modem and router in one unit?

What is the make and model number of this device? If it is a combination modem and router, you will need to keep this device in your network to provide the modem function.

Please post back on your findings before we go further with this.

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Answer 2

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 11, 2009 5:33 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

Thanks for the reply. I'm at work at the moment, and all I can tell you is that it is a Linksys. I believe it is a combo unit as it has the main DSL line connected to it, and it also has 4 ports, into which I have 4 computers connected to it. I'll need to report back later as far a model number, etc.

Actually...now that I think about it, I have a separate modem (brand I need to check when I get home) and the Linksys is a 4-port switch.

Dan

Message was edited by: Daniel Filice

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Answer 3

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 11, 2009 6:48 PM in response to Daniel Filice

Bob,

I'm home, and to confirm, I have a SpeedStream DSL Modem (provided by the phone company) and a Linksys 4-port DSL Router (model BEFSR41, which is very old).

Thanks again.
Dan

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,024 points

May 11, 2009 7:58 PM in response to Daniel Filice

OK, thanks.

A normal home network configuration will go modem > router > computers, just as your network is setup now. The AirPort Extreme is also a router. There are sometimes reasons to have two routers in a home network, but things are much simpler if that can be avoided.

My opinion here....It really would not make good sense to further complicate your network to go modem > router Extreme > router Linksys > computers.

It would be much simpler if you consider pulling the old Linksys and putting the Extreme in its place. The Extreme has 3 LAN ports which could handle 3 computers. If you need more computer hookups, an inexpensive ethernet switch (not a router) $15-20 or so, could be plugged into one of the LAN ports to give you even more ethernet ports.

If you are intent on using the Linksys, it would logically come after the Extreme. So, you would plug the linksys into one of the LAN ports on the Extreme and then connect the 4 computers to the Linksys. The Linksys would need to be reconfigured to be in "bridge" mode to work correctly. I haven't configured a Linksys in years, but I assume that this is still done by accessing a configuration page on the web.

One other thought...if the Linksys is 4-5 years old as you indicate, it would not handle the faster ethernet speeds that are available today. That would be another argument for using a simple "switch" with the Extreme to give you all the connections that you need for your computers.

Hope this helps. You may get some different opinions on this, so take a little time to decide how you want to proceed.

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Answer 5

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 12, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you Bill,

I do plan on pulling the old Linksys and going this route as you suggest: "It would be much simpler if you consider pulling the old Linksys and putting the Extreme in its place. The Extreme has 3 LAN ports which could handle 3 computers. If you need more computer hookups, an inexpensive ethernet switch (not a router) $15-20 or so, could be plugged into one of the LAN ports to give you even more ethernet ports."

I also purchased a new Netgear switch because I need 4 computers hard-wired. So, if I understand the above suggestion correctly, my main incoming DSL line would connect to my existing DSL Modem, then the Modem would connect to the Extreme, then the Extreme would connect to the Netgear swtich, and finally my computers would connect to the Netgear?

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Answer 6

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,024 points

May 12, 2009 2:16 PM in response to Daniel Filice

Yes, you are correct. Think of the switch as part of the Extreme to allow you more connection capability. You can plug the switch into any one of the 3 LAN ports on the Extreme. If you prefer, you could also plug 2 of the computers into LAN ports on the Extreme and the switch into the other one and computers into the switch.

But, maybe it's just me. I prefer everything plugged into the same device if possible, so take a look at switches and buy one with a few more ports than you think you may need now.

Modem > Extreme > Switch > Computers.

Should be a nice network.

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,024 points

May 12, 2009 2:21 PM in response to Daniel Filice

Yes, you are correct. Think of the switch as part of the Extreme to allow you more connection capability. You can plug the switch into any one of the 3 LAN ports on the Extreme. Buy one with a few more ports than you think you need right now. In other words if you have 4 computers, buy a 6 or 8 port switch.

Modem > Extreme > Switch > Computers.

Should be a nice network.

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Answer 8

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 12, 2009 6:44 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob. I connected it all, but now I have connectivity problems. I'll call Apple tomorrow to see what advice they can give me. When I let my the Airport Extreme automatically find an IP address (I use DCHP), I get a notice that says "Incorrect IP address...call your provider if problem isn't resolved." When I manually type in my IP address, Subnet Mask number and Router address numbers from when my Linksys router worked, I everything seems to configure but it says "Extreme not connected to the Internet." Very frustrating. My friend, who also uses AT&T for phone/DSL, uses an Linksys wireless transmitter, which works, so there some incompatibility with AT&T and the Extreme. Sheesh, this is exactly where I was 5 years ago when I originally tried to connect with the old Airport.

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Answer 9

Bob Timmons

Level 10

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May 13, 2009 6:07 AM in response to Daniel Filice

Daniel,

What type of modem are you using for your AT&T DSL? Is it the Motorola 2210?

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Answer 10

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 13, 2009 10:43 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

I use an old SpeedStream modem that AT&T provided. It's a simple "dumb" modem, as they call it. I spent hours on the phone this morning with both Apple and AT&T. While on the phone with Apple, they said the IP address that the modem assigned (DHCP) was not allowing the Airport to connect to the Internet, and they suggested that AT&T clear the modem to allow the Airport to access another IP address. So I called AT&T, and they said that their modem can't be cleared as it simply assigns an IP address automatically, and they said that it's an Apple problem and they suggested I purchase what they called a 2-Wire brand modem that's a combo wired and wireless modem (they sell them or I can buy one at Best Buy). This is all very frustrating. It shouldn't be so difficult. I had high hopes for the Airport since it showed up in my Airport Utility and all looked good, except it "was not connected to the Internet".

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Answer 11

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

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May 13, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Daniel Filice

Bob,

I'm at work so I can't verify the exact model of SpeedStream modem, but I think it's 5360.

Thanks,
Dan

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Answer 12

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 13, 2009 3:26 PM in response to Daniel Filice

Just to update: Today at lunch I purchased a 2Wire Modem that AT&T suggested. What a scam! No wonder they suggest it. It has their logo on it and they make money from it's sale. The phone company's IP addresses ONLY work with their equipment so you are forced to buy their products to connect. I'll try connecting tonight, and if the 2Wire modem work, I'll try connecting the Airport to it to see if it works. I have my doubts. Supposedly I don't need the Airport because the 2Wire Modem is both a wireless and wired modem and it should work, but I'm just curious if the Airport will see the internet via the new modem.

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Answer 13

Daniel Filice Author

Level 4

1,194 points

May 14, 2009 12:44 PM in response to Daniel Filice

The final update: The 2Wire modem (branded by AT&T) connected and after setup it worked perfectly. All Ethernet computers worked as well as my wireless devices. I still could not get the Airport to work properly, so I returned it. After all of this, my one piece of advice to anyone planning on connecting an Apple Airport would be to call your service provider and ask whether their service is compatible with Apple.

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