Airport Extreme vs. Verizon DSL: FIGHT!

Question

Airport Extreme vs. Verizon DSL: FIGHT!

I have plugged my Airport Extreme into my Verizon branded Actiontec GT784WN modem/router/gateway thing.
When I have plugged the AE into the Actiontec box, I get MASSIVE latency and connection speed issues.
The AE is in Bridge mode and is using DHCP to distribute IP's automatically.

I have a Roku box and a MacMini plugged into the Verizon box.

Of course VZ wants me to take the AE out of the chain and just use their built-in WiFi, but I'm using the AE to feed two Airport Expresses and have a hard drive plugged in.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3), 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM

Posted on Sep 17, 2012 5:50 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,120 points

Sep 17, 2012 6:37 PM in response to Christopher Padgett1

The AE is in Bridge mode and is using DHCP to distribute IP's automatically.

If the AirPort Extreme is in Bridge Mode, it operates as a simple switch or pass through device

It will not be distributing IP addresses if it is in Bridge Mode, since DHCP is turned off in Bridge Mode.

It sure sounds like the AirPort Extreme is configured as another router on the network, which can create IP address conflicts and Double NAT issues...which will definitely slow things down.

Double check again to make sure that the setting for Router Mode on the AirPort Extreme is "Off (Bridge Mode)". Based on what you are telling us.....using DHCP to distribute IP's automatically....... it is in Router mode with both DHCP and NAT enabled, which would not be the correct network setting.

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Answer 2

Sep 18, 2012 6:35 AM in response to Bob Timmons

thanks for the reply bob. i'm demonstrating my ignorance in these matters. the AE is definitely in Bridge Mode, as illustrated here:

the DHCP i was referring to is here:

i am attempting to use OpenDNS, which may or may not contribute to the problem. my concern is jsut waht you mentioned, that i have two devices trying to serve IP addresses. i was getting the Double NAT message at one point, but in fiddling with things, i have made that disappear.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,120 points

Sep 18, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Christopher Padgett1

Did you enter the DNS server numbers that you want to use on the Actiontec router?

If you have entered them on your "main" router.....you do not even need to enter them at all for the AirPort since it is in Bridge Mode. In Bridge Mode, it picks up settings from the "main" router and uses those settings.

As it stands now, you are likely forcing the signal to negotiate through multiple DNS servers, which will certainly slow the signal down.

Some service providers force you to use their own DNS servers. If that's the case with Verizon, you may was well delete the DNS server info from the AirPort setup as things are going to go through Verizon's servers anyway.

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Christopher Padgett1

thanks to Bob for his help. i ultimately solved this issue by sucking it up and paying gross Comcast.

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