Clear Modem Setup
Setting Up a CLEAR WiMAX Modem With a Linksys Router
Most people that come to this page do so because something is not working with their CLEAR internet service. What use to work fine with another internet provider no longer works with CLEAR. At AusTex VoIP, we've helped many frustrated CLEAR customers get devices and services working properly. They turn to us after they have exhausted themselves trying to get help from CLEAR's tech support, which typically reads from scripts in barely understandable English, and doesn't offer much help beyond checking to see if you've got any internet service at all. Go through our CLEAR modem and router set up here. It has helped resolve many customer issues. We offer paid support if you get to the point where you just can't fix the issue yourself.
Because the current modem offerings from CLEAR WiMAX will not allow for a full bridge mode, the settings below will give you the best chance for allowing access to devices and services running behind a NAT router. Many of us prefer to have our router handle our LAN network's DHCP and NAT translation along with Quality of Service (QOS) settings that are missing from CLEAR’s modems. These instructions are geared toward the Motorola CPEi 150 modem, but will work with the Motorola CPEi 725 and the Series G modems.
If you are trying to get CLEAR internet service to consistently work with IP serucrity cameras and DVRs, VoIP services, VPN, Sling Box, iPad Facetime, video services, and gaming consoles, we have found these settings to work best. While setting up our own Clear network, we came to the realization that the DMZ setting in the CLEAR modem is flaky at best. It seems to break when it had been working. For this reason, we do not use it anymore. From here on out, referrals to “modem” mean the CLEAR modem, and router is a Linksys or other brand of router.
Update 10/8/2010: We tried again to use DMZ settings on a Series G modem on 10/7/11. For the remote application we were trying to set up, IT DID NOT WORK. When we used port forwarding instead, it worked just fine.
Important Note: Port 80 is blocked by Clear. If you are trying to access your network remotely using port 80...well, just stop it. It ain't gonna work. Use a port such as 8088, and then have that port forwarded on your router to port 80 of the device you are trying to access. We don't recommend using port 8080, as Clear reserves it for remote modem access.
Need Additional Help Setting Up Your Clear Network?
If you've tried everything and are still having problems, we can help. We offer a paid, flat rate service to perform basic modem and router set up. We'll also help with port forwarding to specific devices for gaming, video, etc. Our "basic" flate rate service is $30.00. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for more details.
CLEAR Modem Settings:
Plug an ethernet cable between the CLEAR modem and the ethernet port on your computer. Open up a web browser and type in 192.168.15.1 which is the IP address of the CLEAR modem. You should get the modem password screen. Type “motorola" into the password box and enter. Note: some modems may not work with “motorola" as the
password. If it does not work, try "CLEAR123" :
On this page, make note of the two "DNS Servers" Clear is using (write them down). We will be using these later on when setting up our router. Unless you prefer to use other DNS servers such as Open DNS, the ones found here will work just fine for most applications. Click on the “Internet” button in the top menu.
Click on the “Firewall” button on the side menu on the resulting page:
Uncheck the “Enable Firewall” box on the firewall page:
Click the “Apply” button on the bottom right. If you use a DDNS account for tracking your dynamic IP address from your ISP, click on the “Dynamic DNS” side menu button. Check “Enable DDNS” and put in your DDNS account information. Click “Apply”.
Important Note: When using DDNS, make sure you set it up only in the Clear modem. Do not set it up in your router or other equipment, such as a security camera DVR, etc..
Now click on the “Port Forwarding” button in the top menu. Uncheck the “Enable UPnP IGD” box and leave the “DMZ IP Address” blank. Remember, the DMZ function in the CLEAR modems seems to be flaky, so don‘t use it. When done, click “Apply”, then click on the “Forwarding” button in the side menu:
Click the "Add" button down at the bottom. Enter the information in the blank spaces as you see here. "The "LAN IP Address" will be the address we later set up as a static IP on the WAN port of the Linksys router. Once you enter the information for TCP protocol, Click apply, then "Add" again. Enter the information for the UDP protocol. Click "Apply":
For those of you that have a Series G modem, use the image below to set up port forwarding. Not all ports on the Series G modem can be forwarded to your router.
UPDATE 10-8-09: Just for fun, we tried the DMZ setting on the Series G modem instead of port forwarding. We were trying to set up remote access to a security camera DVR. Similar to the Motorola modems, the DMZ did not work. We feel that DMZ sometimes works, but it's best to just go with port forwarding instead. We don't experience any problems with port forwarding.
You are now done with all the settings needed for the CLEAR modem. In the "Local Address" menu, you can find the DHCP server settings. It is on by default. You can go in and turn it off if you'd like, but it won't affect anything by leaving it on. It's actually better to leave it on, in case you need to come back later and hook directly to the modem again. This way, it will automatically assign you an IP address and allow you to get back into the modem admin pages.
If you leave the modem DHCP server on, you need to go in and set the starting IP address to something higher than 192.168.15.2. This way, you will not have a problem with another device receiving this address and conflicting with your router. When done, unplug the ethernet cable from the modem and power it off.
Linksys Router Settings:
Now for the Linksys router settings. My particular router is running dd-wrt firmware, so it's going to be a little different in the screen shots. Most Linksys (and many other brands) have easy to find settings for each of the areas we are going to set up. Dig around a little, and you will find them. This set up is aimed at those that are not that familiar with setting up routers. It is very basic, but will allow for your CLEAR modem to act similar to a bridged, cable or DSL modem you’re probably used to.
Plug an ethernet cable into one of the LAN ports of the Linksys router and into the ethernet port of your computer. Most Linksys routers by default have an IP address of 192.168.1.1. Once you type this into a browser address bar and hit enter, you will be taken to the login screen. If you have never changed this information in the past, then leave the user field blank, and type "admin" into the password field. Now hit enter and you will be taken into the initial set up screen:
The first thing we want to do is change the way the router gets an IP address. For dd-wrt, this setting is under the WAN connection type, but if your router is running Linksys firmware, it is most likely labeled Internet Connection Type. We want to change this from the default "Automatic Configuration - DHCP" to "Static IP".
Once you select Static IP, you will get settings similar to the ones below. Enter the information exactly as you see here except for the "Static DNS 1" and Static DNS 2" settings. Use the DNS servers you wrote down from the CLEAR modem status page.
Next we want to set up the DHCP server settings under “Network Setup.” This should be on the same admin page. By default, Linksys routers usually use 192.168.1.1 for the local LAN IP address. If you have gotten this far, this is what you should see in the Router IP area. Set it as you see here, or just leave it alone if it’s already this way.
The DHCP server settings are enabled by default, and will look similar to those above. The only thing you need to do here is make sure the “Start IP Address” is larger than the 192.168.1.1. It’s a good idea to have the starting address in a higher range so you can later reserve IP addresses in the lower range for devices you want to always have the same IP address, such as game consoles, servers, sling boxes, security cameras, etc..
Click on “Save” or “Save Settings at the bottom of your page, and that’s pretty much it. Power off your router. Remove the cable from the router LAN port. Now run an ethernet cable from the CLEAR modem to the "WAN" or Internet port on your router. Power up the CLEAR modem and let it get a signal. Power up the router, and you should be good to go.
You will need to set up your router’s Wi-Fi, Port Forwarding, and QOS settings just as you would have done using a cable modem or DSL modem, but we don’t get into that here. We’re just trying to get you set up so you have the best possible chance of everything working, just as it would if you had a fully bridged modem.
Understand, that the CLEAR modem is still running a NAT translation, and you are still running through a “double NAT”. Not everything is going to work with this situation, but these settings will give you the best chance while we wait for CLEAR to allow for full bridging of their modems.
Click on the link below to get a pdf version of these instructions. Might come in handy while your setting up and have no internet access:
Clear Modem and Linksys Router Set Up - pdf Document
Frustrated?...Try our Paid Support.
Guaranteed Results or You Don't Pay.
How it Works:
We will remotely login to a computer on your network using the Teamviewer application shown above. From there, we will login to your Clear modem, and your router to set up the configuration of each of these devices. Let us know what services you are having problems with using Clear, and we will set up your modem and router for the best possible configuration to get them working. If we can't fix your issues, you pay nothing. We will only ask for payment after the successful resolution of your problems (Subject to change if we experience difficulties with payments).
Getting Started:
This service works anywhere in the country where Clear service is offered. Call us to schedule an appointment. We cannot always assist immediately, and find evenings and weekends works best for many of our customers. Flat rate fee of $30 is for basic set up of your Clear modem and router, with simple port forwarding and QOS settings included. More complicated services and troubleshooting can be provided at additional cost. You may call us 7 days a week up until around 8 PM Central Time at:
Local: (512) 600-0990
Toll Free: (855) 4AusTex (428-7839)
