Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station and Fibre services

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ahmad

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# 172021 8-May-2015 14:38

I'm currently on ADSL using a Dynalink ADSL modem connected to an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (a Time Capsule actually) which does the routing duties.

Can I continue to use the AirPort Extreme if I get fibre broadband installed?

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# 1300736 8-May-2015 14:43

I'm guessing from your other thread that you intend to use Spark. I believe that the answer is no (unless the new plans have removed the requirement for 802.1q support). The AirPort will work with some other ISPs though (I'm using one with Mynxnet).

RunningMan

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# 1300745 8-May-2015 14:48

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As above, the Apple hardware doesn't currently have a provision to do the VLAN 10 tagging on the WAN port.

You could either use the TC in bridge mode with a new router to still provide WiFi, or configure another router to just to the VLAN tagging and still use the PPPoE client in the TC.

A third (very, very poor) option is double NATing...

You'd think Apple would add VLAN tagging support - they handle IPv6 already...

Behodar

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# 1300749 8-May-2015 14:52

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RunningMan: You'd think Apple would add VLAN tagging support - they handle IPv6 already...

When I requested it I was told that I wasn't the first... but the more people that request it, the better.

tdgeek

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# 1300750 8-May-2015 14:53

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I have UFB, Spark. Have HG589 (previously HG630b) and turned wifi off, added AEBS to LAN on Huawei, setup AEBS with Airport Utlilty to Bridge Mode (which it selected itself), and I can use the LAN ports on the 659 and the AEBS. Had no double NAT errors but as its bridged, the routing is only on the 659? I have had the odd "this IP is in use on another device" though. Havent researched that yet to see what device.

khull

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# 1300761 8-May-2015 14:55

Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

tdgeek

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# 1300783 8-May-2015 15:00

khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

ahmad

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# 1300802 8-May-2015 15:24

tdgeek:
khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

So would that mean I have to put the ONT connected router into some "dumb bridge" mode?

tdgeek

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# 1300816 8-May-2015 15:51

ahmad:
tdgeek:
khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

So would that mean I have to put the ONT connected router into some "dumb bridge" mode?

One of them has to be in Bridge mode, otherwise you have two devices wangling over which IP to give to which device. Double NAT. I left the main router as is, just turned off Wifi, and put the AEBS into Bridge mode. So the AEBS does wifi, the Huawei does everyhing else. I'm not an expert in this topic, if you put the Huawei into bridge mode, leaving the AEBS to manage everything, I am unsure if the VLAN issue pops up.

sbiddle

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# 1300828 8-May-2015 15:58

If you want to use an Airport as a router you'll need to use a 3rd part device such as a Mikrotik (which I wrote a blog post about) to tag the traffic if you're with somebody such as Spark that needs VLAN tagging.

You'd think Apple would accept it's not 1985 any longer and than VLAN tagging is now pretty much a standard in the MEF world - but considering they don't like standards (their butchered WiFi that is no longer WiFi alliance certified and is a massive cause of frustration for Apple users) show Apple don't really care.

myopinion

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# 1300841 8-May-2015 16:13

I have an AirPort Express in bridge mode still providing the WiFi and the Spark HG630b doing the connection and DHCP. I often have IP conflicts with this setup whereby two devices are trying to use the same IP address. Rebooting the Spark router fixes the issue most times. Other than that switching the DHCP lease to permanent and duration can help as well. One would expect the permanent lease option to fix this problem but it doesn't. Firmware upgrade might.

So yes it would be nice if the AirPort Express could do Vlan tagging.

By the way the reason I didn't just use the Spark router for WiFi was that it was terrible when trying to use AirPlay streaming.

tdgeek

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# 1300852 8-May-2015 16:21

myopinion: I have an AirPort Express in bridge mode still providing the WiFi and the Spark HG630b doing the connection and DHCP. I often have IP conflicts with this setup whereby two devices are trying to use the same IP address. Rebooting the Spark router fixes the issue most times. Other than that switching the DHCP lease to permanent and duration can help as well. One would expect the permanent lease option to fix this problem but it doesn't. Firmware upgrade might.

So yes it would be nice if the AirPort Express could do Vlan tagging.

By the way the reason I didn't just use the Spark router for WiFi was that it was terrible when trying to use AirPlay streaming.

I've had the Ip issue once on the 659, had the 659 one day. Had it the other day on the 630. Does iot matter iof I have say 3 ethernet devices, if some are connected to the Huawei and some to the AEBS?

The two times that issue popped up I didnt have time to check what device it was. I assume the Huawei manages all the IP's? Maybe ths doesnt cover anything ethernetted to the AEBS?

sbiddle

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# 1300853 8-May-2015 16:22

The Airport express is a great device, it's just a shame Apple can't implement what is becoming a core requirement for MEF based fibre networks.

If I was an Apple user I'd opt for an Airport express, and then use 3rd party hardware to tag the traffic. It's a far better solution than suffering from double NAT if you're plugging it in behind an existing router.

tdgeek

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# 1300862 8-May-2015 16:33

sbiddle: The Airport express is a great device, it's just a shame Apple can't implement what is becoming a core requirement for MEF based fibre networks.

If I was an Apple user I'd opt for an Airport express, and then use 3rd party hardware to tag the traffic. It's a far better solution than suffering from double NAT if you're plugging it in behind an existing router.

Steve, can you clarify? A Huawei connected to the ONT, and the AE off that, bridged, is both of your phrases? The Huawei being the 3rd party hardware, but isn't that also plugging in behind the router?

RunningMan

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# 1300887 8-May-2015 17:32

tdgeek:
sbiddle: The Airport express is a great device, it's just a shame Apple can't implement what is becoming a core requirement for MEF based fibre networks.

If I was an Apple user I'd opt for an Airport express, and then use 3rd party hardware to tag the traffic. It's a far better solution than suffering from double NAT if you're plugging it in behind an existing router.

Steve, can you clarify? A Huawei connected to the ONT, and the AE off that, bridged, is both of your phrases? The Huawei being the 3rd party hardware, but isn't that also plugging in behind the router?

Doubt the Huawei would have that functionality - would need to be something like a Mikrotik, and all it's doing is adding the tag.

RunningMan

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# 1300890 8-May-2015 17:38

Previous thread on the same issue here

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?topicid=120959

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