Can you help this non-tech type get her wifi back?
May 31, 2017 9:05 AM Subscribe
I have a MacBook & iPhone, neither of which will connect to the internet through my router. Can you help?
This just began this morning. I'm getting a message (occasionally) that says: Another device on the network is using your IP address (192.168.1.2). Although more often I get nothing. I disconnected my phone from the wifi, but this had no impact. I've unplugged the router and restarted the computer. No change. The laptop appears to be connected and the router's lights are blazing. I searched a bit online where people suggested manually putting in a new IP address but that makes me nervous, since I have no idea what I'm doing. But if some kind and knowledgeable mefite assures me this is the right thing to do, I'll try it. On the other hand, might this be something I can just wait out? I've had other wifi blips that just straighten themselves out. Thanks for any input!
This just began this morning. I'm getting a message (occasionally) that says: Another device on the network is using your IP address (192.168.1.2). Although more often I get nothing. I disconnected my phone from the wifi, but this had no impact. I've unplugged the router and restarted the computer. No change. The laptop appears to be connected and the router's lights are blazing. I searched a bit online where people suggested manually putting in a new IP address but that makes me nervous, since I have no idea what I'm doing. But if some kind and knowledgeable mefite assures me this is the right thing to do, I'll try it. On the other hand, might this be something I can just wait out? I've had other wifi blips that just straighten themselves out. Thanks for any input!
Assuming that you do have internet right now (e.g. ethernet) and it's not some upstream problem that is being misreported by your router:
First, try renewing your DHCP lease on your MacBook.
I searched a bit online where people suggested manually putting in a new IP address but that makes me nervous, since I have no idea what I'm doing.
If the only devices on your network are the Macbook and iPhone, and both are set to manual, non-identical IP addresses, and they were correctly configured, you'll be fine. If there are other devices, it's possible THEIR IPs might eventually collide with your manual IPs, but it's relatively unlikely.
The key here is all you want to change is that last "2" there so that each device has a different number (ideally not "1" because devices will gladly try to use that). Leave the "192.168.1." bit alone.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
First, try renewing your DHCP lease on your MacBook.
I searched a bit online where people suggested manually putting in a new IP address but that makes me nervous, since I have no idea what I'm doing.
If the only devices on your network are the Macbook and iPhone, and both are set to manual, non-identical IP addresses, and they were correctly configured, you'll be fine. If there are other devices, it's possible THEIR IPs might eventually collide with your manual IPs, but it's relatively unlikely.
The key here is all you want to change is that last "2" there so that each device has a different number (ideally not "1" because devices will gladly try to use that). Leave the "192.168.1." bit alone.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
One possible cause of this is that you have a someone "sharing" your wi-fi - they got assigned the 192.168.1.2 address while you were out. For that to happen they would have to know or guess your router name (aka SSID) and any access password (you do have a connection password, right?).
If this has you concerned about security, take a look at http://routersecurity.org/
Scroll down to "Secure Router Configuration - Start With This" and do AT A MINIMUM steps 1-4:
posted by ElGuapo at 10:12 AM on May 31, 2017
If this has you concerned about security, take a look at http://routersecurity.org/
Scroll down to "Secure Router Configuration - Start With This" and do AT A MINIMUM steps 1-4:
1. Change the password used to access the router. Anything but the default should be OK, but don't use a word in the dictionary.For extra credit do 5 & 6
2. Turn off WPS
3. Wi-Fi security should be WPA2 with AES (do not use TKIP)
4. The Wi-Fi passwords need to be long enough to stall brute force attacks. Opinions on the minimum length differ, my best guess is that 14 characters should be sufficient. A totally random password is not necessary, "999yellowtulips" is both long enough and easy to remember.
5. Turn off Remote Administration. It may also be called Remote Management, Remote GUI or Web Access from WAN. (its probably off already)7-13 are more geared towards preventing your router from getting hacked, as opposed to preventing drive-by connection sharing (aka wardriving). Maybe next time you have a techie friend over that you trust, they can walk through those steps with you.
6. Turn off UPnP and NAT-PMP to protect both yourself and the rest of the Internet. For more see the Turn Off Stuff page.
posted by ElGuapo at 10:12 AM on May 31, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks. Not sure if this pertains to what flibbertigibbet said because I don't understand any of this, but when I go in the TCP/IP window it says Using DHCP -- but not manually.
Trying to avoid a call to Verizon but I may have to fo it.
posted by swheatie at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2017
Trying to avoid a call to Verizon but I may have to fo it.
posted by swheatie at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2017
That message means that there's something on your network that's misbehaving. I suspect that when you find it and shut it off (perhaps after rebooting your router), the problems will stop.
DHCP basically means that the router will give each device that connects to it a unique IP. Then, the device 'holds onto' that IP while it's connected, periodically checking with the router to see if that's okay, or if it needs a new IP. This all happens in the background and shouldn't be noticeable if things are working properly.
However, if a device is misconfigured or misbehaves, it may hold onto an IP that the router thinks is available to hand off to somebody else. What happens then is that you've got two devices with the same IP, and this could cause all of the issues that you're describing.
I'd go through and turn off (or disable wifi/unplug ethernet) every single device that is on your network, reboot the router, ensure things are working, then enable devices one by one until the problem comes back (maybe it won't!). This includes stuff like wifi printers, perhaps your tv or set top boxes, etc.
posted by destructive cactus at 10:50 AM on May 31, 2017
DHCP basically means that the router will give each device that connects to it a unique IP. Then, the device 'holds onto' that IP while it's connected, periodically checking with the router to see if that's okay, or if it needs a new IP. This all happens in the background and shouldn't be noticeable if things are working properly.
However, if a device is misconfigured or misbehaves, it may hold onto an IP that the router thinks is available to hand off to somebody else. What happens then is that you've got two devices with the same IP, and this could cause all of the issues that you're describing.
I'd go through and turn off (or disable wifi/unplug ethernet) every single device that is on your network, reboot the router, ensure things are working, then enable devices one by one until the problem comes back (maybe it won't!). This includes stuff like wifi printers, perhaps your tv or set top boxes, etc.
posted by destructive cactus at 10:50 AM on May 31, 2017
Response by poster: Ok, get this. Verizon is doing away with copper lines in my neighborhood; everything is going to be fios, or nothing. So I need to convert to fios, and I guess this was their way of getting my attention. They said they notified me by mail, which maybe they did but whatever they sent didn't look important enough to open. Now that I've agreed to board the fios train, my service is back until they switch me over in a couple weeks.
posted by swheatie at 11:06 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by swheatie at 11:06 AM on May 31, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by JimN2TAW at 9:33 AM on May 31, 2017