Guest Network Not Connecting to Internet

Question

Level 1

8 points

Guest Network Not Connecting to Internet

Ever since the last firmware update on my Airport Extreme and multiple Airport Express, the guest network I have on one of the A Express has stopped connecting to the internet. I get a connection to the WiFi but get a '!' and no access to the internet.

Everything was working fine before the last firmware change. I have restarted everything but no joy. I really don't want to have to do factory resets on everything and redo it as I have one Extreme and 5 Express.

Any ideas?

Posted on Jun 1, 2016 9:54 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 1, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Andzzzzz

Are all the express extending wireless.. if so that is far too many.

It is relatively easy for things to go wrong when you have multiple express set to extend wireless.. try turning all the express off and reboot just the extreme and the one that failed. That will remove any chance of it connecting to the wrong device.

We do need to know more if that doesn't work.

What models they are? If you are setting up the Express in extend wireless?

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Answer 2

appreciate

Level 4

1,278 points

Jun 2, 2016 12:13 AM in response to Andzzzzz

an apple article for guest network is : AirPort base stations: About the Guest network feature - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Andzzzzz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2016 12:18 AM in response to appreciate

Sorry but that page is next to useless.

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Answer 4

Andzzzzz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2016 12:25 AM in response to LaPastenague

I had already tried what you suggested, i.e. turning everything off and just having the Extreme and one extended Express - first with no guest network, then with the guest network enabled. Same issue.

I also tried enabling the guest on the Extreme - same issue.

As I said, all devices including the guest network were working fine until the latest firmware upgrade.

Kit;

Airport Extreme (Current Model)

Airport Express 802.11n (2nd Gen) - I have 5 of these in total but only 2 extend the network, the others are airplay only - only one has a guest network

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Answer 5

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,138 points

Jun 2, 2016 6:52 AM in response to Andzzzzz

I also tried enabling the guest on the Extreme - same issue.

For now, power off all of the AirPort Express devices and concentrate on getting the Guest Network option working on the AirPort Extreme. The reason for this is that the Guest Network will not be extended and will not work on any of the Expresses, until it is working correctly on the AirPort Extreme.

As you know, the Guest Network option will not operate correctly on the AirPort Extreme unless it is configured to operate as a router in a mode of DHCP and NAT. Check the Router Mode setting of the AirPort Extreme to confirm that it is set to DHCP and NAT.

If you find that the Router Mode of the AirPort is Off (Bridge Mode), then you have found the problem.

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Answer 6

Andzzzzz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2016 3:27 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob.

I am using my ADSL modem as the DHCP router as I need more control over QoS and port forwarding than the Extreme allows, so this may be the source of my issue. However, as I said this was working for about a year up until a recent firmware update.

To clarify I only have guest mode on one of the Expresses in an area of the building where guests will be, the main WiFi serving the office (where the Extreme is) doesn't need or have the guest mode enabled.

Is it your understanding then that it is not going to work?

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,138 points

Jun 2, 2016 3:37 PM in response to Andzzzzz

as I said this was working for about a year up until a recent firmware update.

I have never been able to get the Guest Network to work correctly unless the "main" AirPort router was set up in DHCP and NAT and the Guest Network feature was enabled.

Then, the Guest Network on other AirPorts that were set up to extend the network would work correctly as well.

But, I could never get the Guest Network feature to work on any other AirPorts if it was not first enabled on the "main" AirPort router.

This has been since the "extended" Guest Network feature was offered in Firmware 7.6.3 about 4 years ago.

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Answer 8

Andzzzzz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2016 3:52 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I am wondering (more by luck than judgement) the way I set it up worked for some reason and then the firmware update rebooted everything and maybe DHCP allocated different IP addresses and that stopped it.

I have currently set up another cisco box I had laying around with the guest network, not ideal but looks like that will have to do for now.

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