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Airport Extreme and Cox Internet IPv6 Problem

This is a notification to others as well as a question:


I have Cox Cable High Speed Internet at several locations using an Airport Extreme 3GB connected as a router to the Cox cable modem.


For more than a week we would regularly find in the morning that the outside connection to the internet DNS servers were lost. We called Cox several times, and they performed the usual reset of router and modem and things seem to work for a while. But the next day gone again.


They came out and replaced the hookups, I I had to buy a new cable modem and replaced a digital switch. Each time things seemed to work for a while.


I thought about replacing the Airport Extreme (as I read others had done in a similar situation to no avail).


After much frustration, I started to search for Airport Extreme and DNS and found similar tales.


After several unproductive calls with Cox Internet first tier support, I finally reached a tier who acknowledged that Cox was rolling out IPv6 and was having a problem with Airport Extreme Routers. They said Apple was working on it and gave me a number to call at apple router support. Unfortunalely the number they gave was no longer valid.

I persisted and eventually got to Apple support and indeed they knew of the problem and said Cox was working on it.. But there was a temporary fix - and that was to turn off iPv6 on the airport extreme (more precisely (internet > Internet Options > Configure Ipv6 : Link-Local Only).


For now this seemed to stop the overnight drop that seems to happen between 12:00 AM and 2:00 AM. From experience I dont think its really an IPV6 compaibility issue, but how the router responds to some sort of reset signal/test signal that the service does in the early morning.


So the question is - does anybody know for sure whats going on or who is really working on this. From my perspective both camps think its the other's problem. BTW - Ive read about others with Non Apple routers chasing something similar.

Posted on Mar 2, 2016 9:03 PM

Reply
483 replies

Jan 4, 2017 9:52 AM in response to xarca

So I had all these problems as well. I switched from AT&T uverse to cox. Internet was working fine with everything that was hooked up to cable and with Ethernet. I decided to completely reset my AirPort Extreme (pressing reset button on the back of AirPort Extreme using a pen). I had to set up a completely new network using AirPort Extreme setup. I did that and everything is working great now. I think it has to do with all the settings from previous AT&T uverse. Now it's a clean slate and everything is up and green dots everywhere and working. Hope this helps.


markymark

Apr 8, 2017 12:54 PM in response to GABarber

A year or so ago I put my AirPort Extreme to IPV6 Link Local and that solved my Cox issues.


Today I tried to switch to Automatic to see if it works yet and here are my results.


Link local 180 Mbps down and 20 up.

Automatic 25 Mbps down and 20 up.


I tried this with several different speed test services and tried switching back and forth a few times. The results were always the same so as of April 8th 2017, keep using link local for ipv6 on your Airport Extreme with Cox

Mar 2, 2016 10:08 PM in response to GABarber

GABarber,


I too had a similar problem. Prior Cox Communications service in Phoenix AZ was terminated, and recently reinstated yesterday (Mar. 1st) afternoon. After the technician left, the wi-fi failed to produce a valid connection, citing DNS error and no response from server. We have a new CISCO modem, ethernet cable to a 2TB Air Port/Time Capsule.


After speaking with Tier 1 and then Tier 2 Cox support, there was adequate evidence for a valid signal through the modem, but the Air Port was not picking it up or broadcasting it (per Cox). Checking my Air Port Utility apps on iMac and iPhone would demonstrate occasional Internet or Air Port signal, but never both together. The modem and Air Port both would demonstrate appropriate green indicator lights, but to no avail to working wi-fi.


The only thing thus far that has worked is your solution listed above: Air Port Utility > Internet > Internet Options > Configure Ipv6 : Link-Local Only.


Thank you, GABarber.

Mar 3, 2016 7:53 AM in response to GABarber

Thanks so much for this. This problem of wifi connection dropping has been driving us NUTS for months, with several calls and service calls from Cox (plus two new modems, one of theirs and finally one of our own). It was getting so that we would have to unplug and replug in the modem every 2 hours. Changed the settings for ipv6 and everything seems to be working right now. Fingers crossed.

Mar 3, 2016 7:54 AM in response to babysus

Thanks Babysus


I am happy to help - but you mentioned something I noticed by accident but didnt mention. At one point when the hardwired router connections failed, I noticed with Wifi on my Macbook was still working. So it seems that whatever goes wrong - it is not always all the connections - This may be a clue to Apple as to what may be going on.


Glenn Barber

Mar 5, 2016 7:35 PM in response to GABarber

I too am in Phx and have the Cox/Time Capsule IPV6 issue. I was able to get it to keep the connection with "Link-Local Only" option but it has killed my speed. We used to see 80-100mbps DL now it ranges anywhere from 10-100mbps but mostly sub 30mbps. Its pretty frustrating when you buy good hardware, pay good money for decent speeds, and arent even coming close to what you should be seeing. Seem like Apple is playing the blame game

Mar 6, 2016 3:40 AM in response to GABarber

I am in CT and have this problem with Cox and my AirPort Extreme, as well. Have seen it both wired to the AirPort as well as on wifi. Wifi will show good, solid signal to the AirPort but Safari will not load a webpage. If I check AirPort Utility on iOS, the status light for Internet at the top of the page is orange. Started happening a week ago, which coincides with Cox's roll out of IPV6 in my area. Happens every night between midnight and 2am, but also happens sporadically throughout the day. Rebooting the cable modem usually does the trick and gets it working again, but sometimes need to reboot the AirPort, as well. Initially thought the problem was with the AirPort. Called Apple and they said because it was under warranty, to bring it to the Apple Store. I did and they gave me a new one. Same problems as before. Called Cox and they sent a tech to the house. Checked everything from the modem back to the pole. No problems found. Tech replaced the modem and left. Same problems popped up again that night. Finally came across this thread indicating to change IPV6 on the AirPort to link only local. This morning, as I write this, the connection stayed up all night (my normal routine for the last week has been to wake in the morning, find the connection dead and reboot the modem-I didn't have to do that this morning). If you read up on IPV6, it becomes obvious that moving on from IPV4 is a necessity, but for the immediate future, the plan seems to be running IPV4 and IPV6 side by side for a while. It's s good thing, too. Because, clearly, some bugs still need to be worked out. My thanks to GABarber for the helpful tip. Until I see an update for AirPort firmware from Apple or modem firmware from Cox, link only local seems to be the way around this.

Mar 8, 2016 8:49 AM in response to iJedie24

I Live in CA and was a long time Cox internet customer. About a month ago I made a mistake and switched to att uverse. Came back to Cox after a disastrous experience. Since I came back, my internet speeds have been terrible and it sounds like I am experiencing the same problems that others are discussing. I get amazing speeds of 65 mps in the room where my cable modem and AirPort Extreme reside, when I walk down the hall or down the stairs it drops to 3-4 mps. Would the fix suggested above fix this? I am also running airport express downstairs, but doesn't seem to be dang the job. Thanks so much.

Mar 8, 2016 6:20 PM in response to GABarber

Thanks to everyone here. I have been experiencing the same issues with cox and our AirPort Extreme.


cox acknowledges the issues and suggested a different modem and router combo unit which I declined so far.


after turning off the Ivp6 as recommended here the stability has returned but the speeds dropped by 50% as was noted.


i Contracted cox and had them reduce my bill by the $10 a month the premium service added.


plus a new bundled price and one month retroactive Rebate.


my choices seem to be to use my AirPort Extreme at 50% speed or redo the settings and have the speed increase but need resetting every two hours or rent a cox Atlanta scientific modern/router combo unit and reset all my devices.


anyone else have better choices?

Mar 14, 2016 1:45 PM in response to Caflashbob

Update:


turned off the automatic vp6 update as was mentioned and the dropouts stopped.


stable. Same time went to cox cables ultimate internet speed setup. Wow.


350 Meg's download and 35Meg's up on an Ethernet connected iMac 27"


using my AirPort Express its 162 Meg's down and 30 Meg's up.


cox guy had to add the code for our local provider to allow the modem to be turned on that high.

Mar 16, 2016 10:15 PM in response to Caflashbob

Hi, I'm trying to set up the same modem Arris SB6190 and have Cox Ultimate as well... been talking to support since yesterday and have been getting the runaround (or they just don't know) submitting tickets, etc. How did they actually fix your problem to enable your speeds to hit 300Mbps+? I'm only getting 175Mbps at the moment which is the same as before I upgraded to this new modem. Did they enable it by just calling/chatting with them or did they actually have to come out to your home to do something? Any information that I can relay to them to get resolved would be helpful. Thanks.

Mar 16, 2016 11:31 PM in response to upwest

My second level guy figured out that my local cox service did not have the correct 150? Code in their set of codes. Whatever that means.


apparently they issue instructions to the "head" inside the modem and the national guy found the local cox service did not have the 300 Meg's code in their system.


He had to enable or contact my local guys to turn it on.


My technical explanation is maxed out with these general,statements.


i Figured out that for a while I was probably the only local without gigablast which is a beta in an apartment complex in the middle of orange county, ca.


with "boost" I am 375 down and 37 up.


really fast on my wife's iMac 27".


don't laugh but it's running Windows 10.


EL capitan was beyond my wife's ability currently to do new things.it seems

Airport Extreme and Cox Internet IPv6 Problem

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