Time Capsule - Weird setup - I can ping the router but no internet

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Time Capsule - Weird setup - I can ping the router but no internet

Hi Everyone,

I've just been scrambling across the varisou articles/posts here but cannot quite find the answer I'm looking. Hence this special post. Hold on, it's not that simple setup.

First and to set the scene, I rent the lower flat in a house. My landlord shares its WIFI with me to get internet. When I connect to this Wifi network, it works. When I connect via a repeater (ASUS RP-AC66 Wireless-AC1750), it works.

The issue I have is that the wifi AP is a bit far and with so many walls, does not work great (hence the repeater).

Then I got my MacMini (2016) to work as my home server. I also have a AndroidTV box (Nvidia), a sound bar (HDMI switch) and my MBPro 2015. I also have 2 powerlines so I don't run ethernet cable all over.

The setup I am looking for (does not work but I may have done something wrong):

The repeater set in Media Repeater mode right next to the wall where I know the Landlord WIFI router is. It plugs into one of the powerline via ethernet.

The other powerline is in the living room and ethernet goes straight into WAN port of the Time Caspule.

Time Capsule is set in Bridge mode and provides me with a WIFI network in the flat.

MacMini, Android TV and sound bar straight via Ethernet into the TC LAN ports.

TC internet tab is set in DHCP, it works I get an IP from the landlord router.

TC wireless is set to give me my network. It sort of work. I can connect from the MBPro to the TC.

MacMini also work as server. Connected via ethernet to TC. No internet

TC Network Tab is set in Bridge mode.

HOWEVER, when I connect to the TC Wifi, I cannot get to Internet !! I can ping the router though, and when I check the IP setting from the DHCP, it has received the correct router IP and same DNS as when I connect directly to the router wifi.

To summarise, if I do:

MBPro -> Router WIFI -> Internet OK

MBPro -> Wifi Extender -> (Repeater mode) Router WIFI -> Internet OK

MBPro -> TC Wifi -> TC Wan to Powerline -> Wifi Extender (Media Bridge) -> Router Wifi-> everything works but internet

What am I Missing ?

Ideally I'd like a switch an my own router to create a truly independent network, but that will be for later (MBPro -> TC Wifi -> Powerline -> Switch -> Router -> Wifi Extender -> Router wifi -> Internet --- Would that work better ?)

Thansk for taking the time to read all this. Looking forward to your help/advice.

Posted on Nov 14, 2018 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 15, 2018 12:09 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thank you so much for this. I tried to tinker a bit more but no luck in media bridge mode. I gave up with the Media Bridge option and changed it to repeater in express way mode (5g connects to land lord wifi, 2g extends to me but I don't use it, ethernet through powerline) and everything works fine.

In short, TC works fine.

I implemented the ipv6 tips though. thanks a bunch for that. Not too familiar with ipv6 yet and how it benefits or not. I'll look into that...

Finally, I'm pretty sure I loose a bit in internet speed, but I don't care so much. That was more for the fun of doing it and I still got a NAS to add to that. So far I still achieve 36Mbps down nd 38 up.

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Answer 2

Nov 14, 2018 10:25 AM in response to nicolasfromaberdeen

Even more weird...

Just tried for the sake of it, when connected to my landlord wifi with MBPro, I cannot see the TC but I can see the macmini, I can screen share the macmini and from there see the TC.

In this configuration, MBPro has internet, can see MacMini but no TC.

Macmini, hoas no internet but see TC...

I'm lost

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Answer 3

Nov 16, 2018 9:17 AM in response to nicolasfromaberdeen

I'm lost

Yeah.. it is a bit of a complicated setup.. and things never go quite right when you do things this way.

I presume the setup with the wireless bridge and the power line is to get better speed in your location.

Use standard ookla speed test.

What sort of numbers are we talking .. If you go directly ie the first scenario

MBPro -> Router WIFI -> Internet OK

Vs the setup.

MBPro -> Wifi Extender -> (Repeater mode) Router WIFI -> Internet OK

Now you cannot get a speed from the setup your are trying to achieve because it does not work.. but give me the pings to the main Asus router.

Can you ping the internet by IP even if not by name.. e.g. test by pinging 8.8.8.8 (google public DNS) which should work from the outline you are giving even if you get no internet access via browser because there is a DNS failure.

Try using 8.8.8.8 dns in your computer instead of ISP or Asus address. Remove all other DNS values.. also remove any domain value you see in the computer. Tell us how that goes.

Using the RP-AC66 in media bridge can lead to a fairly difficult setup. You probably will find it hard to find RP-AC66 IP and you should set it statically so you can reach it and check it is working..

Other than DNS the other issue is IPv6 which adds to mess.

It is important to set this correctly.. now I am going to assume you are running a purely IPv4 setup.. what the main router is using really won't matter as long as it is passing IPv4 addresses to the clients.

So in the Time Capsule change it to link-local only as well as in the computers.

In my setup I have an Asus main router.. set to 192.168.2.254 instead of default home address, 192.168.1.1 ..

I have set the IP on the TC to static value.. this helps a lot. The DNS server setup is not a big deal because of the way the TC is configured.. but it is good to have your first DNS set to the same as router address.. which I am guessing is 192.168.1.1

Then add 8.8.8.8 to that.

On the internet options tab.. make sure it is set to link local only.

Now on the computer..

Make sure you also set IPv6 to link local only.

On the DNS tab.. you should have local IP as top of the DNS listing.. but then add 8.8.8.8 to that.

Search domain is probably empty which is fine.. if you are getting your ISP domain then clear it so it is blank.. I set my Asus to local to match the TC.. which is stuck forever on local and is also part of your problem.

Once you do that.. tell me what happens.. you should at least be able to ping 8.8.8.8 from either computer.. even if your browser is not able to reach sites..

But I am hoping you can now resolve sites..

No luck there is a more complicated setup of the TC which is worth a go.

What model TC are we talking about..??

Screenshots of configuration always help.. loads.

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Answer 4

Nov 16, 2018 9:17 AM in response to nicolasfromaberdeen

Good to hear you got it fixed.. wireless bridges even when they do work can be unreliable.

Using it in repeater mode still allows it to bridge to ethernet which is then going to work with your powerline. Just finding the IP can be a pain in this setup. That is why it is good to use a static IP on the repeater so you can always find it.

Once you are in a better living situation.. ethernet all the way is the ONLY way to go.

I still got a NAS to add to that. So far I still achieve 36Mbps down nd 38 up.

Certainly with the NAS plugged into the TC will be a better network setup in your own area.

Post again if you have further issues..

I found the TC in bridge was much less reliable than using it with static IP and running it in DHCP mode. This is excellent setup as it keeps DHCP in your local area without double NAT.

See No DNS error, Airport roaming network

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Answer 5

Nov 16, 2018 9:17 AM in response to LaPastenague

I don't need to worry about static IP. I use a fantastic app called Fing. As long as I'm connected to the network, it gives me a full scan of everything connected and their IP. Great app for debugging network.

You suggest to set TC in DHCP only but I don't think I can as it will then compete with the landlord router or am I missing something?

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Answer 6

Nov 16, 2018 11:27 AM in response to nicolasfromaberdeen

You suggest to set TC in DHCP only but I don't think I can as it will then compete with the landlord router or am I missing something?

I assumed the landlord had you on his guest wireless? I also assume you have no access to the Asus?

Are you actually using the main wireless from the Asus?

When you run FING do you see only your side of the network or do Landlord computers show up as well?

If the later.. you should make a suggestion to the Landlord to actually do something to isolate your side of the network from his.

Be that as it may...

The Asus is probably set to a range like 2-254 ..

You are simply taking a slice of IP addresses from the Asus .. lets say 240-254 although the exact range will need to actually work in the TC.. so it can be one address or two addresses either side. Set all your clients in the TC to use static IP via DHCP reservation. The Asus will record those IP addresses as the devices register and will not use them. Check on your FING scan before you start that nothing is already assigned to that range. The Asus is still fully operational as main router to the network.. and asus has no issues with this setup. I have run like this for ages.. but I did change the range on the Asus to exclude a range like I listed above.

As a BTW you really should be on a separate vlan to the Landlord anyway.. with the current setup you can effectively see all his network as he can see yours. Unless you are on a Guest network from the Lan. That means if he drags in a virus that is network aware.. your computers are just as vunerable as his. e.g. ransomware. And visa versa. The security on SMB1 networking is not good.

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Time Capsule - Weird setup - I can ping the router but no internet

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