Need WiFi help

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Went to bed last night with wifi working fine.
This morning, one machine works fine but other cannot connect to router.
Tried rebooting and uninstall/reinstall software. No love.
Any suggestions on on something I can clear in my operating system?
Running Vista (yeah I know its old but it works great) and it has virus protection.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Have you unplugged the router for at least 10 seconds when rebooting it?

I've been getting that error a lot recently. I'm about to ask for a new router, and I'm not on wifi either.

John Rogers · 04-15-2020, 08:09 AM

Several questions: what make/model router is it, if you start a command window can you ping the router IP address I.E. 192.168.2.1 (or similar), what lights are on/blinking on the router face?

Do you have a password set to control the log in to the router? Do you use any type of security setting? How old is the router as I have found mine fail after 3 or 4 years due to circuit failures?

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Well, here's what I can tell you.
The Modem/Router is new as of last October provided by ATT for fiber. It is secured with a password.
Our phone connected to the router works.
One computer connected to the router worked.
The other computer recognized the network (all the others in the neighborhood) but, wouldn't connect.

Now here's the weird part:
I called a buddy to see if he had any suggestions. While I was on the phone, I retried the connection and it worked. Something like this happened once before where the phone wouldn't work until I got online.

I figured it was my machine since the phone and other wifi computer worked but I'm starting to wonder. Any further thoughts?

wildthing · 04-15-2020, 11:52 AM

Lots of things could have happened. Maybe the router thinks it's still connected or has reserved a connection for it, but the computer wants a new connection.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Thanks to all who responded.

Wildthing: So then resetting the router would be a way to fix that?

RKDinOKC · RKDinOKC's Garage

Have had to reset my router, ie., turn off for 10 min then turn back on. Something was corrupted in it's routing tables. Resetting let it start rebuilding it's tables.

KFC911 · 04-16-2020, 01:45 AM

Sounds as if you weren't making a connection to the wireless (WAP)...not related to IP (or routing tables). ALWAYS reset/reboot the router first, take two aspirins, and call somebody else in the morning

.

John Rogers · 04-16-2020, 07:16 AM

This sounds like the router that is supplied by AT&T and if it were me I would call them to get a new one since there is not much you can do with it. My AT&T box Uverse and internet only, no telephone, started acting weird so I used my iPhone and Sprint to contact them and get a replacement in two days. Then I got another one and then ANOTHER one so I contacted AT&T and they swore that could never happen so I just put them on a shelf in case they are needed some day.

KFC911 · 01:17 PM

There is likely nothing "wrong" or fixable with the router....it's just "the nature of the beasts"... as long as it's fairly new imo. They ALL suck at this entry level, but I've had to call for a "reboot" of routers/switches that are carrier grade ($$$,$$$) more times than I can remember too.

If it's just an occasional "whatever"...reboot, if it's chronic and a regular thing....something's "not right".
How's that for a technical explanation

?

wildthing · 04-16-2020, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Wildthing: So then resetting the router would be a way to fix that?

Yes. But if it happens again, check your network settings on the computer. Make sure it's all automatic (usually first option then the rest is grayed out).

rusnak · 04-16-2020, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Well, here's what I can tell you.
The Modem/Router is new as of last October provided by ATT for fiber. It is secured with a password.
Our phone connected to the router works.
One computer connected to the router worked.
The other computer recognized the network (all the others in the neighborhood) but, wouldn't connect.

Now here's the weird part:
I called a buddy to see if he had any suggestions. While I was on the phone, I retried the connection and it worked. Something like this happened once before where the phone wouldn't work until I got online.

I figured it was my machine since the phone and other wifi computer worked but I'm starting to wonder. Any further thoughts?

I've got that same exact router along with a managed switch by AT&T. I found that unplugging, waiting, and re-booting the router works. Sometimes you have to do it several times before success.

KFC911 · 04-17-2020, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildthing

Yes. But if it happens again, check your network settings on the computer. Make sure it's all automatic (usually first option then the rest is grayed out).

I agree with the above...for a non-technical person. That said...a large % of the issues "I" encountered were the hand-shake negotiations that occur...even on $750K routers/switches...so removing that from the equation was a "better" option. Simple things...like half verses full-duplex for example. It just depends....and applies at all levels of the protocols and stacks. If you know what you're doing....consider this option. DHCP....it's those Damn D's that are usually problematic....including routing tables, etc.

That's also why a router reboot might take multiple attempts....YMMV.