Comcast and the Airport Extreme Base Station
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Send to friendAwhile back I picked up an Airport Extreme Base Station to replace a Linksys Wireless Access Point. Unfortunately I was brain-dead while getting everything setup and couldn't get it to talk to the Comcast Cable Modem so I ended up putting it behind the Linksys WAP and turning off the Wireless on the Linksys device.
Tonight I fixed the issue. Turns out I needed to turn off the Cable Modem (as well as remove the built-in battery backup) for a few minutes while keeping the AEBS turned off. This allowed for the Comcast Modem to clear both the MAC address of the Linksys and the IP addresses. Next I turned on the Cable modem, waited till it had a good connection then turned on the AEBS. The AEBS was then able to pick up a valid IP address and everything was good to go.
Comments
Thank you thank you thank
Thank you thank you thank you! How many hours have I spent trying to make this work. Changing every setting on my computer and base station. Plugging unplugging and resetting over and over. But taking the battery out really did it! Bless you.
Great Information!
Hi Fusion94,
I too, would like to thank-you for posting this. I replaced an old ABS with an Airport Express and ran into the same problem. I reset everything over and over and nothing. I had Comcast reset the modem from their end. It wasn't until I ran across your post that I was able to get it to connect. Taking out the battery did the trick. Out of all the discussions I read; you were the only one to suggest this. You saved me a lot of frustration!
Warm Regards,
Chris
No problem
Glad that it was of help to someone else.
Thanks You
Thanks so much for posting this. I just got all 5 of my families computers up and running today after months of trying to figure out the problem. I have taken my airport express to the Genius Bar 2 times and the second time received a replacement one. I did not even know there was a back up battery in the comcast modem. I can not thank you enough, you fixed something the techs could not even figure out.
THANK YOU!!!
Me too! This is the first thing I'm doing after successfully connecting my AEBS to internet via Comcast thanks to your instructions. You are awesome!
yes, thank you
Hi,
Yes, I also struggled and struggled with every Airport Extreme configuration I could think of. Nothing seemed to work.
Then, after reading these posts, I had it. But, rather than removing the battery (the Scientific Atlanta modem case didn't want to open), I pushed the reset button for a few seconds with the power on. A few minutes later, everything started to work.
Thank you everyone!!!
Todd
Thank you so much!!! After
Thank you so much!!! After hours of trying everything (except what you suggested) we were at a loss. Everything works now. Thanks!!!!
I also would like to confirm
I also would like to confirm that all you need to do is do the following:
1. power off comcast cable modem by unplugging power cord on the modem.
2. Press reset button on the cable modem once.
3. Remove battery from the comcast cable modem for a few minutes.
4. Connect network cable from comcast cable modem to Airport Extreme WAN port.
5. Plug in power cord into comcast cable modem.
6. When all the green lights appear and running constantly, plug in the power cord into the airport extreme. The amber light will start to flash.
7. Install airport utility CD from the package on Mac laptop. Follow the instructions step by step.
8. After you go thru the airport utility setup, the light on the Airport Extreme should turn green and you should be good to go at that point.
I followed this list of instructions yesterday when I setup my dad's Mac Pro laptop with Comcast Cable modem (Arris).
hope this helps!
It's now September of 2009
It's now September of 2009 and this post was still useful. Just bought a new AEBS - I would have figured these types of 'bugs' would have been cleared out by now. It should come as no surprise that I encountered the same difficulties as everyone else!
Thanks for the post! It was a sanity saver!
Four months of frustration ended!
December 2009 and this post is still a lifesaver. Once fortnight for four months I've been taking my AEBS out of my Mac closet and hooking it up, trying everything to get it to work. Every time I end up putting back my old Airport and just enduring the slower connection. I never thought to look for a backup battery.
Today I spent four more hours on the problem and, just when I was ready to float-test the AEBS, I stumbled across this post.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you.
-V.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this!
Thank you
Hooked up my Base Station at mother in laws house for XMas and the old arris Comcast modem wouldn't seem to talk to it. I found this online, followed then reset all the settings on the Base station and it works perfectly. Thanks a billion.
You deserve all honors!
Fusion94, Ok i didn't think i was a total idiot until i tried to hook up my AEBS up to my Comcast box and use it for my wireless network and plug a PC into it via an Ethernet hook-up using one of the other ports. I got so frustrated, what ever I did would either cause the AE to drop out or the PC to drop out. Back and forth I tried all kinds of combinations and yes even called Comcast Home Support, but to no avail.
I stumbled on your post like all the others searching for logical and meaningful help in the mist of all the CRAP that is out there!
Your post was the key to endless frustration. I tip my hat and thank you for taking the time to help us all out.
I gladly report that I have the Mac laptop running Airport and my PC securely tethered via a Ethernet cable and all running together in sweet harmony!
Kudos
This solution was perfect, after I had spent hours trying to fix this problem on my own. I'm bookmarking this page so that I can send it on to anyone else having this problem in the future!