Apple AirPort Extreme Connection Issues
I've been having some really strange connection issues with my Airport Extreme and other Apple devices.
This tends to only happen in morning or late at night. The wireless connection will randomly drop out. My iPod Touch 3rd Gen will 'see' the network but report no Internet access. My Apple iMac 24" desktop that is hard wired into the AEX will report no Internet access. Trying wireless on the same desktop will not work either. It 'sees' the network but reports no IP address. My old Dell XPS 400 Windows 7 based desktop is hard wired into a DLink Gigabit switch which in turn is hard wired to the AEX. This desktop will receive the connection fine, no issues at all.
The only way the Apple devices will get the Internet connection again is if I use the AirPort Utility on my iMac and reset the router. Then everything works great all day until either later that night or the next morning. Not at the same time every day, but it seems to be mid to late morning when I start using the equipment and experience the issue. The old Dell PC is used as early as 7am everyday with no issues at all.
I can't tell if this is a problem with the firmware update I did recently or some sort of electrical noise. 6 months ago the router was connected to the surge protection outlets on an APC Back-UPS RS 800 (800VA). The battery failed in it and I haven't replaced it since. My iMac is connected to the exact same model in the next room, which is newer and still working fine. The issues with the router (assuming it's the router here) have only started happening since the last AirPort firmware update. There's nothing running in my house abnormally or during these connection drops, but this is an old house with older electrical circuits. Outlets are not normally 3 prong grounded, but in these two locations (by the router and in the next room at the iMac) are. I had them replaced a year ago for the 3-prong grounded outlets. There is a whole house surge connector in the basement to prevent large electrical spikes. I'm in southeaster Wisconsin so about the same time this has been occurring, it's been the rainy season with many big storms.
Something in my mind keeps making me thing this is electrical noise, and I should put another APC in place so that there is line conditioning in the place the router & cable modem are connected. My mother uses the old Dell for light gaming and Internet use. It's not really worth it to me to buy a huge battery backup system to keep it running, as the system probably has a $150 value or less. I'm contemplating a full APC backup replacement, or a simple low VA APC system to use just for line conditioning and such to help stabilize the AEX Router, cable model, etc. We get about 1 or less blackouts per year. Brownouts are 2-3 a year. This is why my iMac will always be on a UPS.
For reference, my wired network is Cat6 with gigabit equipment. The AEX is based on 802.11n draft, dated 2007 MB053LL/A Model A1143 on the box.
My system looks like this: <<Internet>>---Cable Modem---AEX---1.)Apple iMac, 2.)Vonage Phone Box, 3.) Dlink Gigabit 10 Port Switch. The Dell desktop, nearby Sony Blu-Ray player, Xbox 360, and 2 other wired ethernet connections are all in the switch.
Anyone have anything I can try here? I'm open to any suggestions as this is a bit frustrating & annoying.
This tends to only happen in morning or late at night. The wireless connection will randomly drop out. My iPod Touch 3rd Gen will 'see' the network but report no Internet access. My Apple iMac 24" desktop that is hard wired into the AEX will report no Internet access. Trying wireless on the same desktop will not work either. It 'sees' the network but reports no IP address. My old Dell XPS 400 Windows 7 based desktop is hard wired into a DLink Gigabit switch which in turn is hard wired to the AEX. This desktop will receive the connection fine, no issues at all.
The only way the Apple devices will get the Internet connection again is if I use the AirPort Utility on my iMac and reset the router. Then everything works great all day until either later that night or the next morning. Not at the same time every day, but it seems to be mid to late morning when I start using the equipment and experience the issue. The old Dell PC is used as early as 7am everyday with no issues at all.
I can't tell if this is a problem with the firmware update I did recently or some sort of electrical noise. 6 months ago the router was connected to the surge protection outlets on an APC Back-UPS RS 800 (800VA). The battery failed in it and I haven't replaced it since. My iMac is connected to the exact same model in the next room, which is newer and still working fine. The issues with the router (assuming it's the router here) have only started happening since the last AirPort firmware update. There's nothing running in my house abnormally or during these connection drops, but this is an old house with older electrical circuits. Outlets are not normally 3 prong grounded, but in these two locations (by the router and in the next room at the iMac) are. I had them replaced a year ago for the 3-prong grounded outlets. There is a whole house surge connector in the basement to prevent large electrical spikes. I'm in southeaster Wisconsin so about the same time this has been occurring, it's been the rainy season with many big storms.
Something in my mind keeps making me thing this is electrical noise, and I should put another APC in place so that there is line conditioning in the place the router & cable modem are connected. My mother uses the old Dell for light gaming and Internet use. It's not really worth it to me to buy a huge battery backup system to keep it running, as the system probably has a $150 value or less. I'm contemplating a full APC backup replacement, or a simple low VA APC system to use just for line conditioning and such to help stabilize the AEX Router, cable model, etc. We get about 1 or less blackouts per year. Brownouts are 2-3 a year. This is why my iMac will always be on a UPS.
For reference, my wired network is Cat6 with gigabit equipment. The AEX is based on 802.11n draft, dated 2007 MB053LL/A Model A1143 on the box.
My system looks like this: <<Internet>>---Cable Modem---AEX---1.)Apple iMac, 2.)Vonage Phone Box, 3.) Dlink Gigabit 10 Port Switch. The Dell desktop, nearby Sony Blu-Ray player, Xbox 360, and 2 other wired ethernet connections are all in the switch.
Anyone have anything I can try here? I'm open to any suggestions as this is a bit frustrating & annoying.
24" iMac C2D 2.8GHZ, 4GB Ram, 1TB HD, 512MB Video, Mac OS X (10.6), Brother 2170W Printer, iPod Touch 1st Gen 16GB
