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alligator · Aug 14, 2004, 01:11 PM

I'm really confused. Neither my G5 or my PowerBook (both connected to an airport base station) can access the internet unless my PC is turned on. The airport and PC are both connected to a DSL router.

Why is this?

This is annoying, I have to turn my PC on just to get my Macs to connect to the internet!

bmedina · Aug 14, 2004, 01:16 PM

That should work, but why do you have both an Airport base station and a DSL Router hooked up? The base station can serve the function of both.

alligator · Aug 15, 2004, 07:20 AM

ARRRRGGGGHHH!!! I rewired everything last night, it worked just fine. Then I tried it again this morning, and EVERYTHING IS STILL THE SAME - broken! Nothing changed in the last 12 hours, why does this happen to me?????

The DSL modem/router is my connection to the internet. A PC is connected directly to this. A cable from this also goes to my Airport Base Station.

My two Macs are then connected to the base station, one by eithernet cable, and one by a wireless link.

Again, none of the Macs can see the internet until the PC is turned on. Windows doesn't have to load, the PC must just have power (even for as little as 5 seconds).

WHYYYYYYYY?????

chabig · Aug 15, 2004, 09:42 AM

I suspect the DSL modem/router is to blame. Unplug the PC cable from the router and then see if the Macs work. If they do, that will confirm the DSL router as the culprit. Try switching the ports around on the DSL router.

Although it shouldn't matter, try turning off the Airport Base station's DHCP server. Do this in the admin utility by unchecking "Distribute IP addresses." It would also simplify the network topology if you connected all of the wired computers (PC and Mac) to the base station's LAN port using a simple ethernet hub/switch.

Chris

alligator · Aug 15, 2004, 10:08 AM

Man, this is driving me crazy.

I unplug the PC from the DSL modem, and the Airport (and 2 Macs) cannot get access to the internet. The second I connect the PC to the DSL modem, bam! Full connection for everything. It really has something to do with the PC being connected and on the network.

I do have an extra hub I could use - so I could put that in line after the airport base station. Should I try this?

chabig · Aug 15, 2004, 04:34 PM

Alright. We still need to start eliminating more suspects. What happens if you plug your wired Mac directly into the DSL router all by itself? Does that work?

Then can you plug your wireless Mac into the router by itself?

If both of those work when plugged in directly, we'll have to play with your Airport Base Station.

By the way, what is the manufacturer and model number of your DSL modem?

Chris

johnmccaig · Aug 15, 2004, 07:01 PM

well.. try this pls:

dsl router -> airport -> hub -> all your computers into the hub.

chabig · Aug 15, 2004, 08:05 PM

That's exactly how I would set it up.

Chris

John Strung · Aug 16, 2004, 10:03 AM

... and make sure you don't have internet connection sharing turned on on the PC. It sounds to me like you do.

alligator · Aug 16, 2004, 02:06 PM

Good suggestions. I'll try those tonight.

The DSL modem/router is an ActionTec (provided by Qwest).

If I plug everyting in as suggested, with a hub, I'll lose my gigabit connection (or is this already lost with the Aiport Base Station?).

chabig · Aug 16, 2004, 06:30 PM

Which two computers are you hoping to connect at gigabit speeds? The only two that could possible connect that way would be the PC and the wired Mac. The airport connection will limit bandwidth to the airport connected machine. And you're not connected to the internet at gigabit speed either.

dsl router -> airport -> hub -> all your computers into the hub will allow gigabit speed between the PC and the wired Mac.

Chris