Connecting to a HGC Broad band through Airport Express

Posted by JohnnyJ (366 days ago)

Hi,
I have been unsuccessful in connecting to the Internet after following steps-
1) Connect to Airport Express wirelessly (with PPoE unchecked) in my Mac's configuration.
2) Used airport admin utility to put in my my hgcbroadband account name and passwork into airport express Internet settings (PPoE).
Advise on steps I may have done wrong/ missed would be appreciated.
JJ

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by axptguy38 (366 days ago)

Have you tried connecting directly to your computer?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JohnnyJ (366 days ago)

Yes- and it works under PPoE setting and Ethernet connection directly connected.
Cannot get it to do it wirelessly when I connected ethernet cable to Airport Express and try PPoE configuration in Airport Express.
Thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (366 days ago)

Ok let me get this straight.
- Your airport express is connected with an ethernet cable to the modem.
- Your computer is connected wirelessly (or wired) to the apx. You can open the axp management interface from your computer.

If it worked with direct connection but not now something is wrong in your axp configuration. Does your axp have the latest fimware?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JohnnyJ (366 days ago)

Thanks for your reponse axptguy and answers to yur first 2 questions are Yes and Yes.

Not sure if my axp has the latest firmware- will have check at home tonight. However latest or not should it not connect. A friend suggested that the ip address in my internet connect might still be that of the direct ethernet connection whereas it should be that of the axp.
Any thoughts, please

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (366 days ago)

Ah. Your friend is wise. In some cases the ISP stores the MAC (hardware) address of your first connected device and ignores the MAC of your subsequent devices. So when you connected your axp that's a new MAC and the ISP went "nope".

Just speculating but if that is the case there may be a solution (apart from calling the ISP).

Some routers allow setting the MAC in software. Don't know about the axp but we'll assume that it does. You could try setting the same MAC as on your computer to see if that works. Note that it's a different MAC for each network device. On your computer the MAC will be different for the wired and wireless NICs.

On a Windows machine, you can find out the MAC with the command line string "ipconfig /all". On MACs I don't know.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JohnnyJ (364 days ago)

Thanks- though I have still not been successful!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (364 days ago)

"Thanks- though I have still not been successful!"

Don't worry, I still sometimes fail after more than a decade of doing this stuff.

Typically, you have to look at what works first. Then keep connecting stuff until it stops working. One thing at a time. Once you've found the component that breaks the setup, that's where you need to focus your effort.

My friend's favorite tip is CCF. Check Cable First. It is in fact quite amazing how many times one finds a simple cable unplugged after hours of software troubleshooting!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JohnnyJ (363 days ago)

Did the CCF but no go. Found out there seems to be general problem connectiing AXP to HGC Broadband and here is an excerpt from another forum-

ADSL (In Hutchison Whampoa group and/ or similar Estate)
Apple router firmware cannot dial up, even with firmware Verson 6.0, 6.1 or newer.
I suspect there is a server or smart switch in between end users and the exchange and it uses some unusual protocol that looks like PPPoE. Apple PPPoE dialer can dial up but Airport Express/ Extreme's dialer in the firmware cannot read server's feedback, or the server cannot receive the dialer's request.

so it's back to cable connection for me!!!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (363 days ago)

You could try another router. Buffalo is a good and not too expensive brand.

Or borrow one from a friend if possible, just to see.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by valleypunter (359 days ago)

you guys seem wired up.

What the best (fastest) connection for home. Is it PCCW especially if you need NOW anyway for sport etc. The new 100m plan is it fast?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (359 days ago)

100mbit is fast yes. 1000mbit is "fastest". But that's just theory. I have no idea of the actual speeds in "real life".

I will order the 100mbit as soon as the PCCW fiber team calls me back. This seems to be taking a while.

Quite frankly for normal surfing the 6mbit plan is probably plenty.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by NRM (358 days ago)

>On a Windows machine, you can find out the MAC with the command line string "ipconfig /all". On >MACs I don't know.

If you are running OSX on your Mac you should be able to find out the MAC address by opening a terminal window and type in 'ifconfig -a' at the prompt. OSX is certified UNIX afterall...

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by axptguy38 (358 days ago)

"If you are running OSX on your Mac you should be able to find out the MAC address by opening a terminal window and type in 'ifconfig -a' at the prompt. OSX is certified UNIX afterall..."

Ah yes of course. My bad for not remembering my rusty Linux/Unix. ;) Thx NRM

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by NRM (358 days ago)

> Ah yes of course. My bad for not remembering my rusty Linux/Unix. ;) Thx NRM

hehe :-P you are forgiven, but remember that a windowesque "click 'n drool" approach to computing is the equivalent of drinking & driving

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by axptguy38 (358 days ago)

"hehe :-P you are forgiven, but remember that a windowesque "click 'n drool" approach to computing is the equivalent of drinking & driving"

Hey, I still use the command line in Windows on occasion! ;)

Seriously though, I would tend to agree with your view. Unfortunately I don't keep myself in enough practice to be a practicing purist of the command line.

Also Vista, despite it's bad rap, has some good ideas going.

(I am based in Hong Kong)