What does this mean and how to correct it: The router address you have entered is not compatible with your WAN IP address.

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Level 1

4 points

What does this mean and how to correct it: The router address you have entered is not compatible with your WAN IP address.

I am connecting to an ISP via Airport Extreme, which is extended through two Airport Express. When I attempt to edit anything in any of these devices, even a name, I get this message: "The router address you have entered is not compatible with your WAN IP address." My connection seems to work, but there is clearly something wrong with it. One of the Express has no DNS and will not update without the same message. I have no idea what this is all about and will greatly appreciate any insights.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Aug 2, 2016 12:12 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 2, 2016 1:52 PM in response to shane e.

It means that the setup of WAN is wrong or the setup of the whole network is wrong.

The best way to fix this is start over ..

Reset all three to factory and reconfigure each one in turn. Do the Extreme first and check that it is working .. then add the express.

If you need more help with this we will need to know what modem or modem router your ISP has given you and possibly the type of broadband.. and who is the ISP.

Give us screenshots of each setup as you do them.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,166 points

Aug 2, 2016 3:04 PM in response to shane e.

In addition to LaPastenague's comments, this error message typically means that there is a 'mix' of public and private IP addresses being assigned to the router's ports or your ISP uses private IP addresses for your WAN connection. Which would mean that they do not actually provide you with a public WAN-side IP address, but give you one from their pool of private addresses.

Most likely, as LaPastenague has mentioned, it is due to incorrect router settings or setup.

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Answer 3

shane e. Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:06 PM in response to LaPastenague

Our only ISP in this somewhat rural location is one that serves this small neighborhood. It's a microwave system that beams it to our antenna and then into the house via RG5 cable. That goes directly into the Airport Extreme. The system does work, gives excellent speed, and is very reasonable. But, that said, I get the noted message if I attempt to make any changes in my own network settings. In fact, I can't change the router address — or anything else, for that matter. To start over, I wouldn't know where to begin, except that the ISP has given me the DNS, and the Subnet mask. And I know the router address. The connection is "static".

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,166 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:17 PM in response to shane e.

FWIW. I too am located in a rural area and use a microwave Internet service. The 'microwave' modem feeds into my router and I too use the static IP addresses that my ISP has provided me.

Just to make sure that you have then entered in the proper place, we would use the AirPort Utility to check, as follows:

Run the AirPort Utility, and then, select the AirPort Extreme.
Select Edit.
Select the Internet tab.
The 'Connect Using:' option should be set to: Static
The IPv4, Subnet Mask, Router Address, & DNS Servers fields should be populated with the IP addresses that your ISP has provided you.

Is this the way you have it configured now?

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Answer 5

shane e. Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:26 PM in response to Tesserax

The router address is my own Extreme. The IPv4 address I am uncertain of but am now checking with ISP. Otherwise all are from ISP.

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Answer 6

shane e. Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:31 PM in response to shane e.

But in my System Preferences, it has the IPv4 being configured by DHCP.

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Answer 7

Tesserax

Level 10

158,166 points

Aug 3, 2016 7:35 AM in response to shane e.

The router address, in the AirPort Utility, should be your ISP's router that they should provide you. These are all the WAN (or public-side) IP addresses that remote users would see. Not the internal private IP addresses behind the Extreme's NAT firewall.

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Answer 8

Tesserax

Level 10

158,166 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:38 PM in response to shane e.

... and this is what you want it set to. DHCP is how your computer gets its local private IP addresses.

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Answer 9

Aug 2, 2016 10:35 PM in response to shane e.

A lot of small rural services give out private IP instead of public.. it is much cheaper.

The address they pass is often 10.x.x.x and this will conflict with the Airport which also use 10.0.1.1 by default.

Many people see that error who are using private and small building, radio or satellite services that choose to provide private IP in the wrong range.

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Answer 10

shane e. Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 3, 2016 7:41 AM in response to LaPastenague

LaPastenague's suggestion to reset components to default and reconfigure automatically solved things, in addition to Teserax's clarification as to which router address to use solved things. Once again, many thanks to the helpful folks in the Community.

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