Why do I have blinking yellow light after setting up Motorola cable/internet modem and airport extreme? How do I fix it? I've tried unplugging all devices, changing ports etc. By the way, all wireless and wired connections are working properly...just that blinking yellow light.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the AirPort Extreme icon
Click on the yellow dot and more information will appear
What happens?
It says double NAT and to change the airport extreme to bridge mode. When I do, the wired connections go down and wi-fi continues to work. Once I change it back to back to original setting everything works perfectly but still have the blinking yellow light on the Airport Extreme.
What is the model number of your Motorola modem?
SBG6580
This model is a combination modem/router or gateway type of device......not a simple modem.....so Bridge Mode would be the correct setting on the AirPort Extreme to avoid the Double NAT error, which is slowing down your connection speed.
Best Option
Configure the AirPort in Bridge Mode, allow 30 seconds for it to restart
Then, power off your entire network.....all devices, modem, AirPort, computers, etc.....in any order that you want
Wait a minute
Start the modem first and let it run a minute by itself
Start the AirPort Extreme next the same way
Keep starting devices one at a time until everything is powered back up
Alternate Option....Not Recommended
Click to Ignore the Double NAT error and the AirPort will display a green light
Power cycle the entire network as above
Bob- I am in the same situation.
When I set up the Airport Extreme in Bridge Mode I lose the Guest Network.
Is that normal?
Is there a workaround?
For example using your "Not Recommended" Alternate Option?
When I set up the Airport Extreme in Bridge Mode I lose the Guest Network.
Is that normal?
Yes
Is there a workaround?
Not unless you want "guests" to be able to see other devices on the "other" router's network. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a Guest network.
If you want to try it, run the Double NAT error setup and that might allow you to set up a Guest Network. There's probably a 50/50 chance that the "Guest" network will be able to access the Internet.
Personally, I would never do this, but it's your call. If it works, great. If it doesn't, not much that you can do except put the AirPort back in Bridge Mode where it belongs.
I sorta need a Guest Network because I have a bunch of way older macs that wont connect if i have my wireless network password protected.
So i have an unprotected guest network.
I'll try the other way.
Sorry but you will literally have no security if you do this . Any user in range of your Guest network will be able to log on and get on your main router's network.
You might as well run the whole thing unprotected.
OK- so I took the Extreme out of Bridge Mode, told it to ignore the Double Nat and the Guest Network is working.
Bob- what is the liability of running "Double Nat" and ignoring it?
See previous post. You have also slowed down your connection speed on your AirPort. Expect issues whenever you try a firmware or operating system update as they do not like Double NAT.
Sorry Bob- I don't get that.
My "unprotected" Guest Network distributes 172.xx.xx.x
My protected main network distributes 10.x.x.xxx
"Guests" can not see the Extreme via Airport Utility.
What am I missing?
I checked connection speed at speakeasy.net and I don't see reduced speed.
I respect your information and experience so I'll definitely keep in mind what you are saying
Of course I understand that anyone can ride my Guest Network.
But I don't understand how they can get at other devices or my "main (protected) network"
I will run some tests to see if there are still holes in Apple's VLAN implemenation when the AirPort is connected to another upstream router and not a simple modem.
The bottom line last time I checked this some time ago......I was using a Uverse modem/router and connected an AirPort Extreme up in the Double NAT error setup to run some tests.
If I connected a laptop to one of the LAN ports on the Uverse or connected a laptop to the Uverse wireless network, I could still "see" the devices on the Uverse network when I was on either the "private" or "guest" network of the AirPort Extreme.
I cannot remember whether I could see "downstream" from the laptop connected to the Uverse router into the AirPort Extreme "private" and "guest" networks.
why do I have blinking yellow light after setting up Motorola modem with airport extreme
