[iDriveX]

Wow, so this might be lengthy but I have tried everything so I'm gonna detail everything I have done.

Setup:
12" PowerBook with Airport Extreme Card
Sony SVR-3000 TiVo unit with Linksys WUSB11 ver. 2.6 USB Wireless Adapter
(2) Airport Extreme Base Stations with WDS implemented
Verizon DSL with DSL modem

Problem (Quick Version):
-Even though I have acquire IP address via DHCP on the TiVo and the 12" PowerBook, and Distribute IP Addresses on the base stations, the PowerBook and the TiVo are acquiring IP Address from Verizon in the range of 4.1.x.x and 4.2.x.x. There seems to be no way to keep an internal network in the range of 10.0.1.x for the clients.

How we got here:
-Everything was working fine and then I updated to Airport Firmware 5.1.
- Afterwards any time I tried to play music on my TiVo using the Home Media Option there was a tremendous lag (later to find out because the subnet was actually verizon proper instead of the Airport and the lag doesn't allow for streaming of songs)
- Checking the TiVo and the PowerBook I find IP addresses of 4.1.x.x and 4.2.x.x respectively.
- I reset the base stations and checked the configurations but all remained the same:

Main Base Station Settings:
Network Name: Airport Extreme
Channel: 5
Mode: 802.11b Only (for the TiVo's use)
Distribute WDS
Connect Via: Ethernet
Obtain IP Address via: DHCP
Share a single IP Address: Checked (because I only have one IP Address from Verizon...supposedly)

Secondary Base Station Settings:
Network Name: Airport Extreme
Channel: 5
Mode: 802.11b (Only for the TiVo's Use)
Connect via: WDS
Share a Single IP Address: Checked

I have tried to manually configure the TiVo and the 12" PowerBook by entering in the settings on the clients as:

IP Address: Configure Manually
Router: 10.0.1.1
IP Address: 10.0.1.x (where x is 2-5)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

When I configure manually I loose all internet connections BUT the TiVo and the 12" PowerBook communicate to each other flawlessly. When I switch it back to obtaining via DHCP, the IP Address changes back to the Verizon ones (which are always different after a refresh). I get internet back immediately but loose connectivity between clients.

I have also downgraded the Base Stations back to 5.0.4 and it hasn't helped anything at all. Any ideas on what I can do to get my Local Area Network back and retain internet connectivity?

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
Main Base Station Settings:
Network Name: Airport Extreme
Channel: 5
Mode: 802.11b Only (for the TiVo's use)
Distribute WDS
Connect Via: Ethernet
Obtain IP Address via: DHCP
Share a single IP Address: Checked (because I only have one IP Address from Verizon...supposedly)

Secondary Base Station Settings:
Network Name: Airport Extreme
Channel: 5
Mode: 802.11b (Only for the TiVo's Use)
Connect via: WDS
Share a Single IP Address: Checked

Here's one problem. You've got both AEBSes set to distribute IPs. Uncheck 'Share a single IP Address' on the 2nd AEBS.

I have tried to manually configure the TiVo and the 12" PowerBook by entering in the settings on the clients as:

IP Address: Configure Manually
Router: 10.0.1.1
IP Address: 10.0.1.x (where x is 2-5)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

When I configure manually I loose all internet connections BUT the TiVo and the 12" PowerBook communicate to each other flawlessly. When I switch it back to obtaining via DHCP, the IP Address changes back to the Verizon ones (which are always different after a refresh). I get internet back immediately but loose connectivity between clients.

When you switch to manual config, you need to fill in the DNS Server. You can use your ISP's DNS, which is probably listed somewhere in the Airport s/w, or simply put your router's IP in there. This latter approach is obviously easier and just as effective.

The important thing here is that you disable DHCP serving on the 2nd AEBS, as that will most likely allow the clients to get correct IPs. If, however, you ever want to go manual in the future, remember to fill in the DNS info.

[iDriveX]

Ya know what worked? A Paperclip to the hard reset port!

Then I rebuilt the network from scratch, uploaded the 5.1 Firmware Update as prompt. And the only thing I did differently this time was entering in the Verizon DNS's of 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 and turning off the distribution of IP Addresses on the remote base station. AND IT WORKS!

Main Base Station (Router): 10.0.1.1
12" PowerBook: 10.0.1.2
Compaq PC (Hard Wired): 10.0.1.3
Remote Base Station (WDS Repeater): 10.0.1.4
Sony SVR-3000 (TiVo): 10.0.1.5

All on the same subnet. Sharing of music from the PowerBook to the TiVo is flawless AND I used to always have to connect my PowerBook to the Airport Base Station via Ethernet to do any work via the Airport Admin Utility because I would always get a "Configuration Error" any time I tried to configure it wirelessly but NO MORE! I can configure both base stations wirelessly via the Airport Admin and the whole thing just works about 200% better now!

Lesson: If at first you don't succeed, unstretch a paperclip.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
And the only thing I did differently this time was entering in the Verizon DNS's of 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 and turning off the distribution of IP Addresses on the remote base station.

Now that's a brilliant idea.

[iDriveX]

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Now that's a brilliant idea.

I know, I thought of it all by myself ;-)