Airport Express and DSL first time setup

Does your DSL ISP require that you enter PPPoE credentials (username & password) in order to access their Internet service. Is your Mac currently configured to provide PPPoE credentials? If yes on both of these, we will need to reconfigure the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) to do this instead as only the device directly connected to the modem should be doing this. Is the ISP-provided modem, just a model or a combination modem/router?

Only the device (in this case, the AX) directly connected to the modem will require to be configured for PPPoE. All other devices, connected to the AX will need to be reconfigured for "Using DHCP."

I'm fighting with mine - what EXACTLY were the configurations you used? I've spent about 3 hours, and still can't get the AX to work with the new DSL modem....

Help appreciated-I'm running OSX10.5.7. I've found a bunch of posts, most of which got it to work by using a "Bridge" function of some sort.

Welcome to the discussions!

New device connections always seem to cause issues, so hang in there.

What type of modem do you have? Is it a simple modem with a single ethernet output or is it a combination modem/router with multiple ethernet outputs?

Have you "setup" the modem by logging on to a configuration page and entering your user name and password?

It may take a several steps to get going, but we can probably solve your issue.

We'll take a shot at it. This is for a vacation home setup, so I'm trying to get going without having to upgrade the AX. OK, the modem is ISP provided, with a single output. I haven't done ANYTHING with the modem, but am using a first-generation Airport Express with the thing right now. I get a green light, but (just like all the other posts) the actual internet connection ONLY works if I plug the ethernet direct to my Macbook. Otherwise, I get the same "looking for PPPoE" message circulating...and never get through.

I've tried various configurations, including the obvious (ie setting up the AX with PPPoE, entering username and password, etc). No luck. My intention is to replace the AX with my first generation Airport base station (currently used for a fiber connection at home) once I get in the Airport Extreme to replace it. So I'm hoping that this is just an issue with the AX, not the first generation Airport systems....

I'm not physically there right now, so will send the precise configurations later today. I had the AX working with an IP-based authentication at home before, but the PPPoE Username/Password combo used by the present ISP seems to be causing me a headache....

OK, thanks for the additional info.

If you setup PPPoE on the AX, the modem will need to be re-configured as a bridge.

Some modems (Motorola 2210, for example) will automatically switch to bridge mode when they see PPPoE credentials from a router, but for this to work, the router (AX) must be powered up before the modem is powered up. The downside to this type of setup is if there is a subsequent power outage, etc. when the two devices come back up the sequence is disturbed and no connection is the usual result.

That is why I prefer to setup the modem as a bridge on PPPoE installations.

OK - thx. Now all I have to do is figure out how to set up the modem in "bridge" mode....:-)

Will try it tonight.

It's probably going to involve hooking your modem up directly to your computer and entering the IP address for the modem in your browser. Something like 192.198.1.254 or similar. Check your modem documentation or try a web search for your modem to get the info.

Should be pretty straightforward to find a bridge mode option in settings or configurations, etc. You will save your changes for the modem, etc.

OK, I've got a BEC Technologies 5200S. Unfortunately, according to the ISP, the modem is already bridged.

So I appear to be back to square one, but at least I'm sitting here this time! My current settings are WEP 128 bit security, set to PPPoE with username/password authentication. The airport express gives me a green light, but when I try anything through the computer I just get the message "Checking for PPPoE host..."

I'm going to mess around here, and see if I have any luck...

Sounds like you might still have a PPPoE connection setup on your computer. Open System Preferences and click on Network. Look at the list of connections to see if you can spot a PPPoE listing.

If so, delete that listing so that the modem will see the PPPoE settings on the AirPort Express.

BTW, in AirPort Utility, Manual Setup, Internet icon. Leave the Service Name blank on this page.

Tried that - no luck. It MAY be a hardware problem with the AX. During the last round of resets, it started acting a bit odd. It reset a few settings itself, including back to factory name at one point (ie the wireless network reverted to applexxxxxx).

I'm giving up for the week, but will try again next week with the full Airport base station (again, original vintage, but it's been running my home fiber network for 5 years with no problems...).

One thought - there's no chance this has to do with the "hex password" problem that I encounter trying to set up a Windows machine to access the network, is there? The password works fine with the computer, but I'm wondering if there's a communication issue between the AX and the PPPoE server. I get a green light, but the "Looking for PPPoE host..." message never goes away in the status bar.

OK, now I'm trying with the full airport base station (first generation, but I know it works fine). Still no luck. I've tried deleting my PPPoE service on the computer, but it still doesn't work. The base station seems to think it's got a connection based on the indicator lights, but all I get is "looking for PPPoE host" on the Airport info bar.

Ugh.