GABarber

Q: 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  Unfortunalely the number they gave was no longer valid.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 9:07 PM

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Q: Airport Extreme and Cox Internet IPv6 Problem

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  • by MWPhoto,

    MWPhoto MWPhoto May 13, 2016 12:27 PM in response to Ronni3Jay
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 13, 2016 12:27 PM in response to Ronni3Jay

    Much agreed!!  Link-local only basically disables IPv6 in the Time Capsule.  The result is no dropped connection but it does kill the DL speed significantly. Ugh!! Come on Apple/Cox!  Figure out a solution for this please.

  • by I_Dont_Want_A_Username,

    I_Dont_Want_A_Username I_Dont_Want_A_Username May 17, 2016 1:01 PM in response to MWPhoto
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 17, 2016 1:01 PM in response to MWPhoto

    I tried the Google DNS fix as written on page 11 of this post, but it failed twice within about six hours.  I implemented the Link-local only fix to disable IPv6 and so far that is working.  I don't see any significant differences in download/upload speed - in both configurations it's about 60 down / 6 up, from Santa Barbara/Goleta CA to test server in LA.  I am using an Airport Time Capsule 4th generation (mid-2011) model MD032LL/A.

  • by CromeYellow,

    CromeYellow CromeYellow May 17, 2016 3:01 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 17, 2016 3:01 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username

    Still, All continues to be well with the local link setting.  No loss of connectivity all green lights on AirPort Utility.

     

    Tested again:  Just tested ethernet connected iMac over 168 down / 12 up (Premier Cox plan supposed to get 150/10) and iPhone 6plus sitting right next to the iMac got just a bit slower speeds.

     

    However WiFi speeds farther away from the Time Capsule do drop quite a bit as we go out a few hundred feet away, or go upstairs, with multiple intervening walls, even with 1 - 2 bridging Airport Extremes.

  • by hipsterpdx,

    hipsterpdx hipsterpdx May 17, 2016 3:22 PM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 17, 2016 3:22 PM in response to CromeYellow

    Thanks for the update.....as I have mentioned several times on this post.....Google DNS did not solve issue for me either.....been using "local link only" setting for over 5 months....no issues with connectivity or speed (upload or download).....

  • by YatBob,

    YatBob YatBob May 17, 2016 3:37 PM in response to hipsterpdx
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 17, 2016 3:37 PM in response to hipsterpdx

    Add me to that number link-local works for me with no loss of speed, tried the Google with the iPv6 settings enabled, while I had no real issues with it it would regularly fail the iPv6 test, resting the TC solved the test only to have it fail the next time I tried it, so i went back to the Cox DNS settings.

  • by Caflashbob,

    Caflashbob Caflashbob May 17, 2016 4:25 PM in response to CromeYellow
    Level 1 (14 points)
    May 17, 2016 4:25 PM in response to CromeYellow

    Extremes max out at 100 megs.  My small house was faster to wirelessly connect to the airport

  • by hipsterpdx,

    hipsterpdx hipsterpdx May 17, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Caflashbob
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 17, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Caflashbob

    Not sure I understand your comment - see:

     

    http://www.apple.com/airport-extreme/

  • by Caflashbob,

    Caflashbob Caflashbob May 17, 2016 4:50 PM in response to hipsterpdx
    Level 1 (14 points)
    May 17, 2016 4:50 PM in response to hipsterpdx

    Sorry confused with expresses

  • by Rey G,

    Rey G Rey G May 18, 2016 8:26 AM in response to YatBob
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2016 8:26 AM in response to YatBob

    Same thing for me. The Google with iPv6 settings pass the iPv6 initially but then fail upon re-testing at a later time. Resetting the base station solves it but I decided to just leave it for now. Link-local did bring my speeds down a bit but at this point I think it's a wash.

     

    Glad I found this thread, I replaced my modem (returned) thinking it was the problem and almost bought a new wi-fi router. Dammit Cox!

  • by Space Ranger,

    Space Ranger Space Ranger May 24, 2016 2:28 PM in response to GABarber
    Level 1 (49 points)
    Apple Music
    May 24, 2016 2:28 PM in response to GABarber

    There is a new update - any idea if this may resolve our current ongoing issues?

     

     

     

    Article: AirPort Base Station Firmware Update 7.7.7 Information

     

    About AirPort Base Station Firmware Update 7.7.7

     

     

     

    Firmware update 7.7.7 is recommended for all AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule base stations with 802.11ac. This update improves the stability and performance of your base station.

     

    This update:

    Fixes an issue which may prevent communication between clients on the same network

    Improves performance with an extended guest network

    Addresses potential naming conflicts with Bonjour Sleep Proxy

    For detailed information on AirPort base station firmware updates, including instructions how to install the update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1218

     

    For more information on using AirPort products, go to the Product Support Page at: http://www.apple.com/support/airport

     

     

     

    Post Date: May 24, 2016

  • by I_Dont_Want_A_Username,

    I_Dont_Want_A_Username I_Dont_Want_A_Username May 24, 2016 4:41 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 24, 2016 4:41 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username

    Unfortunately, the "link local" fix doesn't seem to be holding.  I'm still getting 1 or 2 random failures every day, which requires the Motorola/ARRIS Surfboard SB6141 modem to be rebooted.  Cox techs came out and replaced all the cable ends, including up on the pole, but that was really more just preventative maintenance.  They said that Cox enabled IPv6 in this area about a month ago, and since then they've been busy with Apple Router issues.  He passed on a rumor that Apple may address this in firmware "by September", but again...just rumor.  The Firmware update 7.7.7 mentioned in the post above does not address these older routers (mid-2011 model here).  I'm mulling replacing the router and just setting up the Apple in bridge mode (if that works) and turning off the wireless (using wireless from new router instead).  Then I can still use it as a ethernet switch and time capsule backup.  But I'll see if I can stand the reboots for now....rugh.

  • by YatBob,

    YatBob YatBob May 24, 2016 4:45 PM in response to Space Ranger
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 24, 2016 4:45 PM in response to Space Ranger

    I've updated the firmware on my routers and turned on ipv6 automatically, going to see what happens, will report results

  • by I_Dont_Want_A_Username,

    I_Dont_Want_A_Username I_Dont_Want_A_Username May 24, 2016 5:11 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 24, 2016 5:11 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username

    Actually, they also announced a firmware upgrade for the older ones:  AirPort Base Station Firmware Update 7.6.7 Information

     

    My Airport Utility doesn't see it yet.  Would be great if they fixed it!

  • by I_Dont_Want_A_Username,

    I_Dont_Want_A_Username I_Dont_Want_A_Username May 24, 2016 7:31 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 24, 2016 7:31 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username

    It showed up in Airport Utility.  Now installed, and IPv6 enabled, with DNS settings pointing to Google.  So far so good.

  • by Applexometa,

    Applexometa Applexometa May 24, 2016 9:24 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 24, 2016 9:24 PM in response to I_Dont_Want_A_Username

    How about without the Google DNS? any luck with factory settings.

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