Wireless Router quite working

[PhillipM]

So I decided to set up a second wireless network at my house to run my itunes over to my stereo system. After instaling the system I decided that I didn't want to do it so I uninstalled the system... Well now my not only will my regular computer not connect to my wireless router that controls my internet but my laptop that I haven't touched also will not connect wirelessly. When I try to acquire an ip address from the router it times out and then gives me a 169.55.xx.xx number instead of the 192.168.0.x that I am needing. The router is an actiontec wireless. I have tried to reset it.. I have tried to work with tech support with no luck. If anybody can offer any ideas I would greatly appreciate it!!! Thank you. Phillip

Sorry for any typos.. I have been staring at this system for too long now trying to get it to work cause I need it for school.

[paul67]

How long have you owned it

[BA.]

Normally, you wouldn't want to run two separate wireless systems in the same air-space. They would compete.
It might be that your router's wireless signal has been disabled in some way. Have you ever used a browser to get console to your router?
you may know that the 169.55.x.x IP address is a default range used by Microsoft Windows. That is where it is coming from.

Are you using Windows XP? Is the laptop wireless a PCMCIA or is it built in?

First, we need to determine whether the router is still sending out a wireless signal. At either your laptop or your home machine, can you determine whether or not they see the signal?
On either machine, do you get a wireless/signal strength icon in the lower right hand corner? (system tray)

You can double cllick on "My network places", then click on the left where it says "view network connections"
You should get a window pop up that shows an icon for your wireless and one for your cable modem/router/DSL (whatever you have).
It may also still say "local area connection".

Make sure the wireless icon says it is "enabled".

After that, we would want to check each machine to ensure that the "view wireless networks" window is not showing your wireless router as a "manual connection". You'd probably want it as "Automatic".

[chicane67]

You will most likely have to hard boot all devices in sequence. The router, although you have 'reset' it still maintains setting memory..... and the IPCONFIG on your desk and laptop will always que off of that.

It will always be eaiser to do your initial set-up with a hard line and then introduce the wireless portion after you get your setting correct for the wireless portion.

Kinda like when you got everything new out of the box.... unplug the router from your computer and modem and then press reset. Now physically unplug it from the AC socket and let 15 minutes go by for capacitance drain. Next plug the router back into the AC and let it boot with the desktop network cable unplugged and/or PCMCIA card un plugged or turned off. Now run>cmd>ipconfig /all. Look at what you see in that receipt, there should be very little configuration information if any at all. If there is, type ipconfig>release and let it time out. EXIT cmd. Turn off your desktop, plug in your network cable and hardboot. Let it run through start up without any activity until the HDD light stops activity.

This time run>cmd>ipconfig /all. You should now see the DNS suffix, the physical addy, the IP, subnet and gateway addy's.

Let me know if this does / doesnt work. There are a couple of things to do after this if it dies not, but I am pretty sure it will.

[EFI69Cam]

Is there a hard reset button on the bottom of the router?

[PhillipM]

So I did try to hard reset the router and nothing changed. I ended up just buying another router and taking back the old one in the new box and telling them that it didn't work:ssst: . All fixed now. Thank you for the help!! Phillip

[Joe_Rocket]

I'd learn enough to at least setup your own SSID and secure your network so neighbors or worse can't get on your network. Once on your network, they can poke around in your file shares and PC's. You can run multiple wireless networks in close proximity as long as you set it up right.

You also, in general, don't want to mount multiple transmitting/receiving devices right smack next to each other. But several feet apart is fine. It's not simply a cancellation issue. Some signals can be additive and turn into something other than than what they should be. This can indeed interfere with other devices, not necessarily "like" devices. You also don't want to be transmitting a signal from one device into the receiver of some other disimilar device that happens to be too close. Things can be damaged that way.

Anyhow, since you have a new router, you want to setup an encryption key, or filter unwanted users by only allowing the known MAC addresses of wireless clients. You can find out your MAC address of each PC's wireless net adapter using the IPCONFIG command that Tyler mentioned. Then enter the MAC addresses into the appropriate web based config screen for your router. They're all a bit different..

I use both encryption and MAC filtering for security and even that is not bullet proof. But much better than nothing at all.

That's my 2 cents worth.

[chicane67]

So I did try to hard reset the router and nothing changed. I ended up just buying another router and taking back the old one in the new box and telling them that it didn't work:ssst: . All fixed now. Thank you for the help!! Phillip

Schweeeet !!!

I am a fan of the D-Link DGL-4300. If not only for the Gigabit Ether.... but the WPA2-PSK/AES WEP2 encryption and you can ghost your SSID all together to disable the SSID broadcast !! I dont use it for gaming.... but its nice to allot bandwidth to a specific application at will.

Or for that matter..... the DI-624 for something like $40.

I just love having 2.5M down loads on my lappy with .11G. The thruput is nuts.....

MAC filtering is still your best bet thou.

[rolltide]

Schweeeet !!!

I am a fan of the D-Link DGL-4300. If not only for the Gigabit Ether.... but the WPA2-PSK/AES WEP2 encryption and you can ghost your SSID all together to disable the SSID broadcast !! I dont use it for gaming.... but its nice to allot bandwidth to a specific application at will.

Or for that matter..... the DI-624 for something like $40.

I just love having 2.5M down loads on my lappy with .11G. The thruput is nuts.....

MAC filtering is still your best bet thou.

uhm... :rolleyes:...cool