About Jeffrey J. Wrobel Expertise I can answer OS compatibility questions, from OS 7 to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Living in Rhode Island with family near Cape Cod, Mass has proven to be a bit lacking in Mac popularity (Yankees are slow to change), but momentum is building for Apple.
Experience I studied electrical engineering, video technology, and computers in the early 80s, coming into contact with the very first Apple machines. Unlike many Mac technicians, I also have an excellent working knowledge of the Windoze platform. This has allowed me to work in many different computer environments and has made my company, Lazarus Communications, much more desirable for many small businesses and mixed Mac/PC homes. I do point-of-sale installations, design systems and networks for unique business and creative settings. I have 25 years experience in software installation, use, and troubleshooting as well as all aspects of high level hardware repair. Any questions about peripherals and their Mac-compatibility are also welcome. I am very current in all aspects of the Max OS, while having an excellent breadth of knowledge of older machines. My work keeps me in constant contact with Mac suppliers, products, and problems, enabling me to not only draw on my past experience, but also to add to that experience every day.
Publications I have authored specialized repair manuals for technicians that I distributed through my server to anyone who asked for them. Numerous Mac forums, essays and editorials featured in the Media Awareness Project, and I've contributed too many newspapers and blogs to count. LazCom,com and JeffWrobel.com, which are my websites for my company and professional photography, respectively.
Education/Credentials Studied in the early 80s with students from Worcester Polytech Institute and learned Basic, Pascal, and other programming languages. Found myself to be more creative than a number cruncher, so I went to UMASS to study Philosophy, English, and Psychology (Major, minor, minor). Loved learning the theory of knowledge, language, and ethics. Found the philosophy education to be superior in the amount I learned (and how much was required of me) and went into psychology after college, working with the criminally insane, mentally ill, and head-injured. Eventually, found that I could make a better living and enjoy the work more, if I was working with people to help them find and use computers that fit THEM individually, instead of the prevailing wisdom of one-size-fits-all strategy of the Microsoft crew. Also, was very disturbed at the predatory nature of Microsoft, as they swallowed up small creative and innovative companies and sucked up their original ideas. Was amazed that what Microsoft brought to computing and computers was greed and no substance. They gave up security for monopoly, innovation for homogenization, and they profited on the backs of so many businesses and individuals that they destroyed. The ethics were clearly lacking and because of their size and tax outlay, the US government overlooked information theft that was engineered into their programs.
Past/Present Clients My life experience has taken me from the US Army to working with the criminally insane. Pursued a philosophy degree while working in psychology, then ended up doing graphic design, marketing modular construction products, and ultimately starting the computer business that I now own. At 41 years old, I plan to make my triumphant return to college and get a master's degree in philosophy.
Clients include a multi-million dollar international manufacturing firm, a nationwide jewelry/gemstone distributor, numerous town libraries, 2 school districts, a few celebrities, a famous author, a prominent film maker, Brown University & RISD faculty and students, and numerous small businesses and individuals in Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Boston. I also have a nationwide Powerbook/iBook/Macbook repair program and I sell refurbished Mac parts. The growth of my company, which was a record-breaker in 2008, has been a direct result of my customer service and the experience gained through helping the folks that use All Experts.
Macs/Apples - Airport Extreme settings using a Verizon DSL Modem Westell 6100
Expert: Jeffrey J. Wrobel - 6/6/2008
Question Jeff,
I am completely stumped. I have a Verizon DSL2 Modem/Router; it's a Westell 6100. I also have a Airport Extreme (square one). My whole network has been causing trouble for weeks after 9 months of smooth sailing. I have reset everything so many times I am ready to junk them all. Basically, what should the settings be on the Verizon Modem/Router while also using an Airport Extreme. Both seem to want to use DHCP and even when I "bridge" the AEX I lose my connection and it's not from the modem end. Please help!.
Thanks,
Christian
Answer Dear Christian,
So sorry for my tardiness, but I was hospitalized and am catching up on everything. First, I am a bit unsure as what you mean by "square one" near the Airport Extreme. Could you enlighten me?
What you need to do, for all network troubleshooting, is to start at the first device of the network. That would be the Westell. You need to login to the Westell and here's how to do that:
1) Disconnect the Airport by unplugging the ethernet cable that runs from the Westell to the Airport. Disconnect it from the Airport side and take that end of the cable and plug it in to your Mac. Disconnect the power from the Airport.
2) Unplug the power from the Westell and let it sit for 30 seconds. Plug the power back in and wait for the lights to come on. You should see the POWER light and the DSL light go solid. Once that happens, test to see that you can get on the internet with your Mac. If you can, enter 192.168.1.1 into Safari or Firefox (whatever you are using). Sometimes, it asks for a user name and password. It should be "admin" for both or "admin" for user name and "password" for password. If for some weird reason, this doesn't work, put in your verizon user name and password.
3) Click on Broadband DSL Line from the top menu. Click on Configure Connection from the right menu. Select "Bridged Ethernet" from the Protocol pull down. Click on Save and restart the connection at the bottom. Shut down (power off) the Westell and wait 30 seconds. Plug the ethernet cable (unplug from the Mac) into the WAN (not LAN) ethernet plug on the Airport and power up the Westell. Power up the Airport.
4) Login to the Airport and select PPPoE for connection type and enter your Verizon user name and password. The output of the Airport should be set to DHCP. Do NOT set the Airport to be bridged, just the DSL modem (Westell). You can use the Airport Utility to get the settings done right. Just make sure that the Airport is set to PPPoE and your username and password are entered properly.
5) You should leave the wireless open without any encryption (WEP, WPA, etc) at first to make sure that you can connect wirelessly to the internet. Once you connect successfully, use the Airport Utility to set up the wireless encryption. The best for overall security without too much slow down is WPA or WPA2. You just enter a passphrase, save it on the utility and then login with your Mac. It will ask for the password and it should automatically say WPA (If not, change it to WPA). Put in the password, check the box to remember the password in your keychain, then you should be all set.
Let me know if you have any problems, okay? This shouldn't be a problem and all, but just ask a followup question if it is, okay Christian?
