Connecting Airport Extreme Base Station and HiTron CGN3

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Level 1

4 points

Connecting Airport Extreme Base Station and HiTron CGN3

A recent installation of Internet/CableTV services by Rogers.ca replaced my Airport Extreme Base Station WiFi network with one based on the Hitron CGN3 Cable Modem/Router. Many of the WiFi enabled evices in the home were switched to the new network without too much hassle. However, my multiple NEST CO/Fire alarms failed to connect and after some hunting I established that the CGN3, although apparently ipv6 'compatible' has this protocol not enabled. There is no input facility in the modem setup to activate the protocol. The importer of the device seems to have chosen to not respond to such tech issues.

It now comes down to either using the CGN3 as a Modem/WiFi server or extending the network to include the Airport Extreme on the CGN3 (don't know how to do that) or vice versa, extending the Airport network to include the CGN3 (don't know how either).

QUESTION:

Does anyone have any idea on how to make the Airport Extreme and HiTron Modem/Router function together since the Extreme has the ipv6 protocol enabled and NEST (and other 'Internet of Things') devices will reconnect, no problem.

More Info:

The only reason for the CGN3 to remain as a WiFi server is its range which seems to cover the required service area with a more powerful, stable signal than the Airport. That is somewhat important since TV services come over the Internet and mobile devices apps available from the Apple store can be used as very capable program guides/selectors and remotes for the HDPVR and secondary HD boxes that feed the TVs, eliminating a remotes collection and associated programming and infra-red transmission hassles. I believe the Cable boxes would accept getting the TV signals from the CGN3 and function commands from the Airport Extreme networks. That remains to be proven. Level 2 Technicians at Rogers and NEST Labs have looked at this and can't access the CGN3's ipv6 function to activate it. They don't know much about the Airport Express.

Second Thought:

On the other hand, a second apple Airport base station would extend the network range to rival the CGN3 and the WiFi function of the CGN3 could be turned off. I tried to connect the two routers by LAN cable but they don't seem to see each other and I don't know enough about network settings to get any further.

AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Gen), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), OS updated to (13E28)

Posted on Jul 24, 2014 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

Not2grey Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 24, 2014 1:47 PM in response to Not2grey

The Airport Express is a BASE STATION , not the 1st Gen

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Answer 2

Jul 24, 2014 4:29 PM in response to Not2grey

Whichever airport you use.. express or extreme doesn't matter much..

It should be setup in bridge mode. Plug an ethernet cable from LAN port on the CGN3 to WAN port on the Apple router.

Go into the airport utility and run through the setup. Don't be too worried if it chooses the wrong setup.. you can go back and edit it after the setup is complete.

You will want to open the Edit.

Then go to the various tabs to ensure it is setup the way you want..

On the Network tab.. bridge mode.

On the wireless tab, create a wireless network.

I recommend you use names that are short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. eg AEwifi In my case with Time Capsule I use separate wireless names for the two bands. TC24ghz and TC5ghz but that is up to you.. it can make life easier.. then set channels can also make things easier.

Ensure your IPv6 is setup correctly.

The actual internet option will be dhcp.

You will have two wireless networks.. but both will use the CGN3 as router.. the airport if it worked in the past should work. Even if it is not the dhcp server. BUT let me add there is another way to fix this if this setup doesn't work.. please post back your result.. no luck then I will show you how to setup a static IP with the Apple router.

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Answer 3

Not2grey Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2014 11:26 AM in response to Not2grey

Thanks LaPastenague

Got it done, great work!

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Answer 4

Not2grey Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2014 11:55 AM in response to Not2grey

Forgot to mention that the NEST devices still do not connect. NEST provides a setup app for mobil devices (only) that is using pseudo WiFi networks established by and unique to the specific device (rather intelligent CO/Fire sensors). The app directs you to connect your mobile device to the specific pseudo network and after returning to the Nest app attempts to register your existing WiFi network with the NEST device and via the NEST URL with the other, already registered NEST devices, in service in your home. The interconnection is crucial for the full service functionality of the NEST installation. I and both my ISP's and NEST level 2 technicians are still wrestling with that without much progress. My thought at the moment is that although I see the connected Airport Express Base Station in the Mac's Airport Utility and it shows connected with the iNet, perhaps the NEST Devices 'see' only the connection of the HiTron to the iNet and the Airport Express does not register in the setup process. The second thought is that Safary/HiTron/Airport Express and NEST firewalls conflict somehow. I have tried with the HiTron Firewall disabled and nothing changed.

Please give me your second potential solution as well to try or perhaps just eliminate one more possibility from the search for a solution.

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Answer 5

Sep 28, 2015 2:00 PM in response to LaPastenague

Hello LaPastenague,

I appreciate your instructional post on configuring the Apple Airport Extreme 5th Gen with the Hitron Cable Modem/Router/WiFi device. I was wondering, do you have any advice for my situation?

At my church, we recently upgraded to cable internet using the Hitron CVE-30360 with our existing three Apple Airport Extremes. It all works fine with the AE's in Bridge mode, with the exception the guest network which does not connect to the internet. The guest network is necessary to allow our congregation/members to access the Net without accessing the main office network. I've read that for the guest network to access the Net one of the AE's must be the DHCP.
Can you help us around this problem? I tried switching off the Hitron's WiFi and DHCP and putting a single AE in DHCP/NAT but it did not connect to the Net.

Any help or referrals you can recommend are very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Anthony

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Answer 6

wmwu64

Level 1

4 points

Aug 28, 2017 7:45 AM in response to LaPastenague

What's the other method?

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