Airport Extreme configuration with UFB

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johnno17

15 posts

Geek

#120959 19-Jun-2013 17:17

Hi,
Apologies for a basic question.......
I have just got connected to UFB with NOW in Napier. I am pleased with the service, currently hire a ?router off them a Netcomm N300. I have been underwhelmed by the signal strength of this device especially compared with my old Netgear modem router used with ADSL.

So, my question is I have all apple equipment, imac, iphone, ipad, apple TV so logically I would like to purchase the new airport extreme-is that all I have to purchase? ie all I have to do is plug the airport extreme via the WAN port straight into the ONT on the wall? Do I need anything else such as a modem or is the extreme all I need?

Modems/routers really confuse me!!
Thanks!

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8955 posts

Uber Geek

#839660 19-Jun-2013 17:35

You could connect the Airport to the netcomm, just using the airport as a wireless access point.

To connect the airport directly to the ONT, you would need to check if it supports VLAN tagging on the WAN port - don't think the older generations did, but not sure on the new one.

Behodar

10508 posts

Uber Geek

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#839663 19-Jun-2013 17:47

As far as I know, the new one doesn't either :(

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#839674 19-Jun-2013 18:05

Does this mean that Airport extremes can't be used with UFB?

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#839678 19-Jun-2013 18:11

ahmad: Does this mean that Airport extremes can't be used with UFB?

No, it just means they cannot be the sole router that terminates the connection at the customer end.

Behodar

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#839679 19-Jun-2013 18:11

It means that you'll need a separate router.

Edit: Bah! :P

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#839685 19-Jun-2013 18:15

RunningMan:
ahmad: Does this mean that Airport extremes can't be used with UFB?
No, it just means they cannot be the sole router that terminates the connection at the customer end.

So I need the ONT to plug into another router which plugs into the AirPort??

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#839687 19-Jun-2013 18:18

ahmad:
RunningMan:
ahmad: Does this mean that Airport extremes can't be used with UFB?
No, it just means they cannot be the sole router that terminates the connection at the customer end.

So I need the ONT to plug into another router which plugs into the AirPort??

Yes. You would ordinarily put the airport in to bridge mode for this configuration.

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eXDee

4032 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#839714 19-Jun-2013 18:49

Discussed in another thread, the cheapest way to do this 'directly' and make the airport do PPPoE auth is to run a mikrotik router doing vlan tagging in between the ONT and the airport, in a transparent bridge mode. However this is still more expensive than simply connecting the airport to another normal router.

johnno17

15 posts

Geek

#839763 19-Jun-2013 19:42

So just to make sure I have got this correct I can either connect an airport extreme by a ethernet cable to the ethernet port on the netcomm which in turn is connected by WAN to the ONT
Or else get a better performing router which is compatible with the ONT such as?????
So I don't need a separate modem like the ADSL days?
Thanks for your help everyone

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#840014 20-Jun-2013 08:22

johnno17: So just to make sure I have got this correct I can either connect an airport extreme by a ethernet cable to the ethernet port on the netcomm which in turn is connected by WAN to the ONT
Or else get a better performing router which is compatible with the ONT such as?????
So I don't need a separate modem like the ADSL days?
Thanks for your help everyone

For UFB, you can think of the ONT as the 'modem'. The modem then needs to plug into a router than supports VLAN tagging. You can then plug your Airport Extreme into one of the routers ethernet ports to use as a wireless access point but you will need to put it in bridge mode so that it doesn't try to act as a router.

This is a pretty good setup as the Airport Extreme has pretty incredible wireless.

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#840017 20-Jun-2013 08:31

Would that setup mean that the airport utility wouldn't work for managing the network as I use it at the moment?

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

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#840027 20-Jun-2013 08:38

ahmad: Would that setup mean that the airport utility wouldn't work for managing the network as I use it at the moment?

The only thing you'd be managing via the Airport would be the configuration of the WiFi (e.g. channels, frequency, SSID, passwords etc). Everything else such as DHCP, IP addressing etc would be managed via the other router. You're effectively downgrading the Airport to nothing but a wireless access point with zero routing responsibilities.

If you want a UFB-compatible router with great, easy network management then you can't go far wrong with a Fritz!Box, which Snap sell. They're not cheap but they're awesome (although their wireless is a bit shabby, so this would make a good combo - and in fact is similar to my own setup which is Fritz!Box 3490 + Airport Express for the WiFi).

Behodar

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#840071 20-Jun-2013 09:20

This might be a good opportunity to write to Apple and suggest that 802.1Q support be added in the next revision.

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#840148 20-Jun-2013 11:07

Behodar: This might be a good opportunity to write to Apple and suggest that 802.1Q support be added in the next revision.

I have no idea what any of you are talking about but is this something that could potentially be changed with a Firmware update by Apple?

PJ48

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#840189 20-Jun-2013 11:44

I have installed our AirPort Extreme near the ceiling in our hallway in the middle of the house using an H-Squared Airmount bracket (about US$35 through Amazon) connected by Ethernet to the Telecom supplied UFB gigabit router in our basement. It is set up in bridge mode, and I use Airport Utility to control all the usual in house parameters, while the telecom router is just left alone to interface with the UFB. I have switched off the Telecom wifi in the router to avoid any interference. This setup allows you to position the AirPort Extreme in the best position for the best coverage (central and high). I have also fed a return Ethernet cable back to the basement from the LAN port on the AE, to connect up with some other wired connections. In my experience, AirPlay doesn't work very well if any subsequent wired Airport Expresses are not connected direct to the AirPort Extreme via LAN. Wireless connected airport expresses are not such a problem.

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