Airport Time Capsule - Bridge Mode/Setup?

I'm told I need to enable Bridge mode on the cable provider's modem. IS this true?

Yes, if you want the Time Capsule to function as your network router. However, some modem/router products cannot be configured to operate in Bridge Mode as a simple modem....and some providers will not support this type of setup.

So, you will need to get in touch with the support folks at your new provider and ask them whether 1) it is possible to configure the modem/router to operate only as a Bridge Mode modem.....and 2) whether they will help you and offer support for this type of setup.

An even simpler solution might be to swap the modem/router for a simple Bridge Mode modem, if your provider offers that option.

If it turns out that the modem/router cannot be configured as a simple Bridge Mode modem, or the provider does not offer a simple modem only option, then your only option will be to set up the Time Capsule in Bridge Mode. In this setting, the Time Capsule can still provide a wireless network and back up your Macs, but the modem/router will actually be charge of your Internet connection and network devices.

Do I need to set up something special on the Time Capsule?

Since you have changed providers and will be using a new modem, the Time Capsule needs to be reset back to factory default settings and then set up again, so that it will pick up the correct Internet settings from your new provider's modem.

You can probably use the same names and passwords on the Time Capsule that you used before, and the Time Capsule reset will not affect any of the data stored on the Time Capsule hard drive.

Thanks for the quick reply! Never, sure if I'm giving too much info.....

The TC model is the most recent (tower). Internet provider is CenturyLink DSL using a ZyXEL PK5001Z modem.

The IP address thing confused me too. Here's the modem setting

And here is the TC

and

I haven't taken a screenshot from when the TC is failing. I'll add that later when it happens. I am currently using High Sierra.

I think that answers all the questions so far. Thanks!

Ok... Great job.

Internet provider is CenturyLink DSL using a ZyXEL PK5001Z modem.

I have to admit I am rather lost as to how your modem can be setup with one IP range and the TC is getting another.

Do you have the guest network setup on the Zyxel? It is possible your TC is getting an IP via guest instead of via main IP address.

Plug the WAN port of the TC into each LAN port of the Zyxel in turn and see if it changes IP to 192.168.0.x

If not try manually configuring the TC Internet tab

As a first step you might want to save the current configuration.. just use top menu area under file.

If you run into trouble you can import the setup you just saved.

as follows exactly configure the internet.

If this totally fails then restore the TC.. and connect the computer to the Zyxel and give me a screenshot of the IP and settings you are getting from the router.

It's really strange. I set it up with a static IP address as above and still the internet access seems fickle. If I wake my computer up from sleep it will connect to the TC but no internet connection. If I change my Wifi to the router and then back to the TC it suddenly has internet access.

I'm beginning to wonder if this is a hardware issue.

I did also attempt to connect it to all four LAN connections on the router and it continued to have the 192.168.10... address prior to changing it to a static IP. I have 3 other devices plugged into the router without any problems with their internet access.

I used my serial number from the airport utility to look up the info for my TC. Not sure if the website spit out the right info or not. It's a model A1470. Sorry for the confusion.

Looks like this:

Here is the traceroute from the TC:

traceroute to 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

1 pk5001z.pk5001z (192.168.0.1) 3.226 ms 2.187 ms 2.589 ms

2 spok-dsl-gw07.spok.qwest.net (67.5.64.7) 21.116 ms 22.071 ms 21.191 ms

3 spok-agw1.inet.qwest.net (67.5.65.49) 22.308 ms 20.945 ms 21.035 ms

4 sea-edge-12.inet.qwest.net (67.14.41.58) 28.867 ms 30.117 ms 30.515 ms

5 63-158-222-114.dia.static.qwest.net (63.158.222.114) 31.837 ms 28.800 ms 28.795 ms

6 108.170.245.113 (108.170.245.113) 28.911 ms 28.514 ms 29.060 ms

7 209.85.250.101 (209.85.250.101) 28.767 ms

108.170.231.21 (108.170.231.21) 28.640 ms

209.85.249.111 (209.85.249.111) 30.287 ms

8 google-public-dns-a.google.com (8.8.8.8) 29.931 ms 28.760 ms 28.796 ms

And when directly jacked into the modem:

traceroute to 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

1 pk5001z.pk5001z (192.168.0.1) 1.018 ms 0.738 ms 0.764 ms

2 spok-dsl-gw07.spok.qwest.net (67.5.64.7) 84.500 ms 19.921 ms 20.149 ms

3 spok-agw1.inet.qwest.net (67.5.65.49) 20.078 ms 19.955 ms 21.191 ms

4 sea-edge-12.inet.qwest.net (67.14.41.58) 27.518 ms 28.092 ms 27.688 ms

5 63-158-222-114.dia.static.qwest.net (63.158.222.114) 34.547 ms 27.998 ms 27.814 ms

6 108.170.245.97 (108.170.245.97) 28.983 ms 28.957 ms 28.296 ms

7 209.85.247.61 (209.85.247.61) 27.810 ms

209.85.249.245 (209.85.249.245) 28.415 ms

108.170.237.201 (108.170.237.201) 28.081 ms

8 google-public-dns-a.google.com (8.8.8.8) 27.055 ms 27.726 ms 27.931 ms

I changed the static IP to the 192.168.10.200

My computer knowledge is fairly limited so I was hoping i could get help with my set up.

I set up my Time Capsule as a Bridge and have wifi enabled for both my modem/router and the Time Capsule with the TC connected by ethernet cable to the router. I let guests use the router and I connect my laptops via the Time Capsule for backing up. Periodically the internet access will drop while using the TC but not while using the modem/router. I'll still be connected to the TC by wifi but no internet access. Eventually the access will come back up and everything goes back to normal.

I've searched and searched to find possible causes:

1. IPV4 is being used and IPV6 is not enabled on either device - no idea if this matters since I don't understand what it means.

2. DHCP Server Lease Time is set at 1 day on the router. Shouldn't be disconnecting my laptop randomly every few hours, I assume.

3. On the TC, in airport utility, under 'Internet' tab, the TC is set up to use DHCP. Not sure if this is correct since the router is using DHCP as well. Under the same tab the router address is listed as 192.168.10.1 whereas the modem/router has an IP address of 192.168.0.1. Also under that tab when i select 'internet options' IPv6 config is set at Link-local only, which i think is correct since my modem is using only IPv4.

4. ???

Thanks so much for the help!

As always we need more info.

Your setup should be stable and does follow recommended setup.

What model is the TC? If the latest one just say tower.

What model is your modem router? It does not matter a whole lot but it helps if we know what kind of broadband you have.

who is your ISP? Again probably of no concern but some issues are related to particular ISP.

On the TC, in airport utility, under 'Internet' tab, the TC is set up to use DHCP. Not sure if this is correct since the router is using DHCP as well. Under the same tab the router address is listed as 192.168.10.1 whereas the modem/router has an IP address of 192.168.0.1.

This is exceedingly confusing.

If the TC has the wrong IP address it can never work.. not just dropout.. it would have no connection whatsoever.

Please give us a screenshot from your airport utility.. showing the internet tab, when the internet is working and when it has failed. Is there any differences.. if you reboot the TC while the internet has failed.. does it immediately come back.. and do you get different values in the Internet tab.

It is possible to fix the problem by using a static IP. And that could well be the best solution. Or at least test to see if that is really the problem. It can also be a faulty TC.

If you use Sierra or later.. that can also introduce considerable problems.

BTW I haven't given it enough time to see if my internet randomly drops. I will update that when/if it happens.

Another thing that I forgot to mention is that my other devices (ie phone) see this same problem with internet access when connected to the TC wifi.

I would still like to know the model of the TC.. and how old it is.

And I would very much like to see the IP info as well as DNS and domain when you connect directly to the Zyxel.

Is it possible to bridge the Zyxel and use PPPOE from the TC? Have you ever tried?

Another thing that I forgot to mention is that my other devices (ie phone) see this same problem with internet access when connected to the TC wifi.

I assumed this would be the case. Your issue is definitely with how the TC WAN is connecting.. but I cannot fathom where the IP address is coming from.

So when I connected to the Zyxel directly my IP address was 192.168.10.103, DNS server was 192.168.10.1 and Search Domain was cflogin.

I finally looked up the TC serial number:

Based on your serial number, your device is a Mid 2012 model and was assembled on:

I'll do some reading and see if I can figure out what PPPOE is and how to set up my TC to do that. Thanks!

I think you will need to get help from someone who has specific knowledge of the setup. Or from CenturyLink directly.

I presume they supplied you the modem?

This setup appears to be too out of the ordinary for poor souls like mine.

The TC model is the most recent (tower). Internet provider is CenturyLink DSL using a ZyXEL PK5001Z modem.

I asked you what model is the TC and you gave me the tower..

Yet in the latest post you have now added an Airport Express. Do you have a Time Capsule and Airport Express or just the express.

The static setup I gave you above is wrong.. please change each address from 0 to 10

ie the airport I recommended be set to 192.168.0.200 change it to 192.168.10.200

The router and DNS change to 192.168.10.1

Do leave the 8.8.8.8 secondary DNS.

See what happens.

Also from a computer directly connected to Zyxel and from one connected to the Airport do a traceroute from terminal.

I don't need the whole lot just the first few hops.

traceroute 8.8.8.8

traceroute to 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

1
rtac3200 (192.168.2.254)
4.015 ms
0.987 ms
0.836 ms

2
melbvoc-lns13.mel.eftel.com.au (203.123.68.186)
18.140 ms
17.881 ms
17.917 ms

3
po-1-353.core1.mel.eftel.com.au (203.123.68.193)
18.372 ms
18.345 ms
17.628 ms

4
203.123.69.134 (203.123.69.134)
19.615 ms
19.225 ms
19.602 ms

5
237.1.2.123.network.m2core.net.au (123.2.1.237)
32.051 ms

49.0.151.122.sta.m2core.net.au (122.151.0.49)
31.784 ms
32.241 ms

6
74.125.52.10 (74.125.52.10)
33.475 ms
37.075 ms
30.087 ms

7
108.170.247.81 (108.170.247.81)
31.107 ms

108.170.247.49 (108.170.247.49)
30.906 ms
33.545 ms

8
216.239.41.177 (216.239.41.177)
33.365 ms

216.239.41.185 (216.239.41.185)
130.184 ms

216.239.40.255 (216.239.40.255)
31.989 ms

9
google-public-dns-a.google.com (8.8.8.8)
227.140 ms
30.327 ms
29.712 ms

mbpray:~ ray$

The two traceroutes are identical as they should be.

I don't think I can add anything more. And I am frankly unsure now which is the correct setup for the TC, using 192.168.0.x or 192.168.10.x

I don't understand how that secondary IP is working in the system.. but I have no doubt computers etc will be getting confused.

I do think the domain is wrong.. cflogin is apparently derived from Cold Fusion application.. so it will be web pages that CenturyLink created. I would recommend you test it on local and see what happens.

There are some other things I can recommend.. but we have now entered voodoo realm.. none of it makes sense. Test what you have changed. If it does make a difference that is great. But I think you need someone with more expertise in that particular model modem router and ISP service.

I do really appreciate all the help. I'll see what happens with these adjustments!