Verizon FiOS and setting up Apple network

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Verizon FiOS and setting up Apple network

We just switched from Comcast to Verizon FiOS.

With Comcast we ran a cable modem (no WiFi) into an Airport Extreme base station (latest model with most recent software) which then served as our WiFi point of presence. We ran an extended network to two older Airport Expresses with AirTunes, one hooked to our home-wide stereo system and one hooked to a printer. We did not have the Time Capsule and were not hanging a hard drive off of the Airport Extreme. This configuration worked great - could get on the network everywhere in the house, could stream iTunes (and other applications through Airfoil) to our stereo, and could print to a non-Airprint printer.

Since the change to FiOS, we now have an Actiontec Router WiFi (MI424WR); it is now our WiFi point of presence. I have set up the Airport Extreme in bridge mode, but that doesn't seem to serve any purpose given what I would like to do. In bridge mode, I cannot log onto the Airport Extreme and it cannot connect the old network together. So, I am a long way from being able to stream music to the stereo or print to the printer.

(btw, the Actiontec is not needed for the TV service -- on a different coax line from the main FiOS entry point box. It is exclusively for the Internet presence.)

I have tried to simply set the Airport Extreme up in bridge mode with all the configurations the same as before. Didn't work. I did a hard reset and had to re-setup the machine, passwords, etc. in bridge mode and that doesn't work. I can see the Apple network being broadcast by the Airport Extreme, but it won't let me log onto it. The two Airport Expresses are now completely unavailable -- cannot be seen any longer by the AirPort Utility (says I need the older version in order to configure them).

Ideally, I would like to have the Airport Extreme serve as the main WiFi connection point - with the Actiontec merely passing the Internet access along to it (letting the Airport Extreme handle DHCP). Verizon tech says that cannot be done and that the Actiontec has to do DHCP. I asked about turning off the WiFi from the Actiontec and the Verizon tech said then all devices would have to plug into it directly for Internet access, so I wouldn't want to do that.

Can I set up the Apple network the way I had it before? What else could I do - in terms of network configuration - to be able to stream music to devices like the stereo and send print jobs to the printer?

Or am I simply doing something wrong? (And/or is the Verizon tech wrong?)

AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th Gen), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 25, 2012 7:58 AM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,156 points

Apr 25, 2012 11:33 AM in response to Elhuardo

The Verizon tech is correct.

The AirPort Extreme will work just fine in Bridge Mode if your wiring and configuration settings are correct.

The setup that I describe below is really your only option unless you want to delve into unsupported configurations of the Verizon equipment. I just helped a neighbor configure his AirPort Exteme with a Verizon Actiontec router and every thing functions as it should. The network is fast and reliable.

Make sure that an Ethernet cable connects from one of the LAN <-> ports on the Actiontec router to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Extreme.

Power up the AirPort Extreme, open AirPort Utility

Click on the AirPort Exteme icon, then click Edit

Click on the Wireless tab to check the Wireless settings here....

Network Mode = Create a wireless network

Wireless Network Name = Your network name

Wireless Security = WPA2 Personal recommended, otherwise WPA/WPA2 Personal

Wireless Password = Your password

Confirm Password = Same password

Then click the Network tab and make sure that the setting for Router Mode = Off (Bridge Mode)

Click the Update button at the lower right of the window and allow 25-30 seconds for the AirPort to restart to a green light.

Then, it is very important that you power cycle the entire network....all devices.

Power off each device in any order you wish.

Wait a minute or two

Start the Verizon equipment first and let the Actiontec router run a full minute by itself

Then start the AirPort Exteme the same way

Start each network device one at a time about a minute apart

Check the network for proper operation.

If your AirPort Extreme was dual band capable and you were using the Guest Network feature before you added the Verizon equipment, you will not be able to use that feature in this type of setup. Otherwise, the network should perform the same as before.

If the Actiontec router and AirPort Extreme are in close proximity....the same room, for example.....the possibility of wireless interference between these devices is real. If you want to use the AirPort wireless network, it would be a good idea to turn off the wireless on the Actiontec device, if possible.

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Answer 2

Elhuardo Author

Level 1

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Apr 26, 2012 7:33 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks - this worked. I think it must have been the power cycling of the entire network since this is the part I did not do last time.

We're in business again!

One further question: if we are using Apple devices, is it better to connect to the Airport Extreme in this architecture, or the Actiontec WiFi? Or doesn't it matter?

(And I'm not sure how I would deine "better" other than things like, speed, compatibility, stability, etc.)

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,156 points

Apr 26, 2012 8:12 AM in response to Elhuardo

Without having a model number and specification sheet for the Actiontec to look at, it really would not be possible to say whether one device would be "better" than the other.

If your AirPort Extreme is less than 3 years old, it is probably a dual band router that provides both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless network. I doubt that the Actiontec provides those kinds of features.

If you have the model number of the Actiontec device handy and want to check further, post back with that info and I'll take a look.

If all your devices are already configured to connect to the AirPort Extreme, that might be a good reason to use the Apple device.

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