need some wireless help

[Modas]

Hi Guys -

Well, I finally got my wireless connected, and secured (I think) but something doesn't seem to be right yet.

By the little communication icon in the system tray, I have a little yellow dot that keeps cycling back and forth.  If I highlight the icon, everything looks good expect there is a status message that states"

"Aquiring network address"

Is there something I'm misssing in my setup that I'm getting that message?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!!

[x0847Marine]

Originally posted by Modas
Hi Guys -

Well, I finally got my wireless connected, and secured (I think) but something doesn't seem to be right yet.

By the little communication icon in the system tray, I have a little yellow dot that keeps cycling back and forth.  If I highlight the icon, everything looks good expect there is a status message that states"

"Aquiring network address"

Is there something I'm misssing in my setup that I'm getting that message?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!!

Sounds like your router is not handing out an IP, is DHCP is enabled?

[Tigger29]

Yes sounds like a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) problem.  It's probably not enabled at your router.

The way it works is... well in very basic terms, you turn on your computer and it shouts out to the entire network "HEY SOMEONE GIVE ME AN IP ADDRESS PLEASE, MY NAME IS BOB" then the router (or DHCP server) shouts back "HEY BOB, TAKE THIS ONE... 192.169.0.101" then you computer sets itself to *.101 and talks back directly to the router "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?  GOOD!"

What's happening is your computer is yelling out that it needs an IP address, but no one is responding.

Try this for a temporary workaround... right click on your network connection in control panel, go to options... double click on TCP/IP... select "specify IP ADDRESS" instead of "AUTO-OBTAIN IP" and put in 192.168.0.101... or 192.168.1.101 (one or the other SHOULD work, depending on which router you have).

Then click OK, open up Internet explorer and for the web page type in "http://HTTP://192.168.0.1"  OR  "http://HTTP://192.168.1.1"... THAT should open up your router settings page.  Navigate to the DHCP page and make sure it's enabled.  Once you enable it, go back to your network options and re-enable "AUTO OBTAIN IP and AUTO OBTAIN DNS"

If you can't communicate to the router this way then you've got a WEP (encryption) problem with the wireless network, faulty wireless card, and/or poor reception.  Make sure you have the correct WEP password and all that.

good luck

[Modas]

Thanks guys -

I'll give that a try.  I can connect without problems, the computer is just looking for an address.

Hopefully that will clear it up.

[Irwink!]

If you can connect, to the internet I presume, then your computer already has a address. If it can't find a DHCP server and you haven't assigned a static address it will assign itself an APIPA address that would not be in the range of your router's address range and you would NOT be able to connect. Don't know what the litttle message in you status bar means.