troubleshooting home wireless network
Well, I'm still trying to get the wireless network up and running while we wait for all our stuff to arrive later today. (See previous entry.) Thanks to everyone who responded with suggestions.
In a nutshell, here's the problem: We have just moved halfway across the country. In our new home, neither of our Powerbooks can connect to the Internet using the wireless signal coming from our wireless router. Both of our Powerbooks could connect to the Internet in this way at our old home. I've found a partial, though unsatisfactory solution that eliminates the wireless router from the equation: I can plug Powerbook1 into the cable modem with an ethernet cable and then share the Internet connection wirelessly with Powerbook2.
Essentially, this is a process of identifying all the variables in the home network and determining which ones are functioning correctly and which ones are not.
I've written up a systematic response below the fold to Scott's comments:
Preface: Our wireless network is mostly the same as it was before:
The same two Powerbooks.This element is different:
The same wireless router.
The same Internet service provider.
The cable modem.
Additionally, on Monday night we were both able to use the wireless network at a local bar. So I don't think there's a bug affecting the laptops. Instead, it's something unique to this particular network in our new home.
"1) Try plugging one of your PBs directly into the modem and see if it works. If it does, then the problem is with either the router or the wireless card. If it doesn't, it's your ISP."
1) Check. Both PBs can get Internet access by plugging directly into the cable modem via ethernet.
"1.5) Make sure the cable from the modem to the router is plugged into the correct port. Sometimes it's upside down. Sometimes it's different looking. This is your most likely problem."
1.5) Check. Cable from modem is plugged into the wireless router correctly."2) If that's all good, try plugging one of your PBs directly into the router via ethernet."
2) If I plug a PB into the wireless router using an ethernet cable, the PB still cannot access the Internet."3) If that works, plug in the router and log into it. Make sure that it's broadcasting an IP address via DHCP. Make sure that the channel is set to automatic."
3) Even though, step 2 doesn't work, I tried step 3. Yes, the wireless router is broadcasting an IP address via DHCP. There's no way to set the channel to automatic, but the PBs have no problem picking up the signal. It's just that once they get a signal they cannot go anywhere with it.
"4) If that's all working, open up system prefs>network>airport>tcp/ip. Make sure you have it selected to join via DHCP. Check your IP address. It should be either a 192.168.x.x or 10.0.1.x. If it's not, click 'renew IP address.'"
4) Check. Looks good.
"5) Reboot your compy just to make sure."
5) Tried that. Doesn't seem to help.
"6) If that doesn't work, you may have the stupid wake-from-sleep bug of 12" powerbooks. If you do, it'll see the network but fail to connect."
6) I don't think this is the problem. See above preface.
Addendum: When I open prefs>network> and select "Network Status" from the "Show:" drop-down menu, the Airport status is described like this: "Airport is connected to the network. You are connected to the Internet via Airport." However, I cannot open any webpages. And I cannot "ping" successfully from the Network Utility.
Weirdness. I talked to the ISP, and they passed me off to the manufacturer of the wireless router, who passed me off to Apple. *sigh* Round and round we go.
Apple's troubleshooting guide is located here.
Comments
I've posted a query (repeating the above) to the Apple discussion forums.
Posted by: G Zombie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://ghw.wordherders.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 3, 2005 10:57 AM
Freaky.
Looks like something got messed up with the Router in, um, route. That is, 1) your modem works. 2) Your PBs' wireless networks work. 3) The only piece of the network that's not working is the router.
You might try picking up a cheapie router at Staples and seeing if it works. They don't cost much at all anymore. If it doesn't fix the problems, you can just return it.
Posted by: Scott | August 3, 2005 11:59 AM
I wish I could offer some useful advice, but you have all my sympathy anyway. I bought a wireless router at the weekend and have now failed on two separate occasions to get it to work properly. (The second time, it was good for several hours and then just stopped again. Totally frustrating.)
Posted by: sharon | August 3, 2005 12:25 PM
The more I think about it, G, the more I'm convinced it *has* to be your router. It's sending out a signal and an IP, but it's simply not routing that connection where it needs to go. I've got one of these that I keep around as a spare for when my airport breaks down (which is increasingly common). Not too hard on the wallet, either.
Posted by: Scott | August 3, 2005 7:16 PM
Well, or it has to be the relationship between router and modem (since the modem is a new/different brand, correct?). Have you googled the name of router + modem + connection problem to see if you get anything?
Posted by: Jason | August 4, 2005 8:31 AM
Jason's right that it could very well be the router/modem combination.
Another possibility could be that the router's firewall settings aren't the right config for your particular ISP. The fact that you can get the IP address broadcast to you but can't go anywhere from there sounds like a firewall issue.
In reading over past comments, I don't think I'm repeating something here, but if so forgive me... but I would look immediately at the router's setup page. When you plug your ethernet directly into the router (and have the router plugged into the modem), point your browser to 192.168.0.1 to get to the settings. (If you've changed the default login/password, you should be able to reset the router by sticking a paperclip into the little "reset" hole that's on it somewhere).
A final possibility to think about--were you using WEP encryption to broadcast your wireless? If so, I recently had to do a complete reset of the router and the wireless setup on my computer (i.e. clear out all established connections and then start from scratch) because somehow the stored WEP key had become corrupt. If you weren't encrypting the wireless, ignore this paragraph completely.
Posted by: Jarom | August 4, 2005 9:51 AM
Agreed on the encryption ... and I've noticed on my Linksys router that when I've reset (or powered down for a long time), sometimes the router "forgets" my WEP encryption and I have to restore all those settings.
Posted by: Jason | August 4, 2005 10:24 AM
I was going to second Jason's last comment. On a few occasions the power has gone out or something and the router forgets the encryption key. Use a paperclip to push the reset button, log into the router's page and reenter the encryption key and make sure all the other information is right.
Posted by: Scrivener![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://ghw.wordherders.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 5, 2005 1:39 PM
Thanks for all the feedback. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by: G Zombie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://ghw.wordherders.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 5, 2005 10:29 PM
cable modems are assigned with specific MAC addresses. you may need to change your router settings by cloning the MAC address of the new cable modem.
Macintosh OS
-Click the Apple menu
-Click on the Control Panel to open your control panel folder
-Open the TCP/IP control panel
-Go to the Edit menu
-Click on the User mode
-Change the mode to Advanced and click OK
-Click on the INFO button
-The hardware address is your MAC address
Macintosh OSX
-On the dock, click on System Preferences.
-Select the Network pane.
-On the TCP/IP tab, make sure that “Using DHCP” is selected. The number next to Ethernet address is the MAC address.
Posted by: verlaine | August 29, 2005 12:51 AM