Unidentified home network with Wifi only internet

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  1. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and 64 bit
       #1

    Unidentified home network with Wifi only internet


    I've read countless threads (here and elsewhere), but have found nothing that really describes my problem.

    First of all, some background. I live on a boat and the only available Internet connection is by Wifi. There are no landline or cable connections available.

    I have two Toshiba laptops, one running 7 Pro 32 and one running 7 Pro 64. They are networked by direct ethernet cable connection. (The network works fine once you get past the unidentified public network to unidentified home network) And I can connect to the Internet by Wifi from either laptop or both at once. (DHCP is enabled on both adapters)

    I have tried, with no success and considerable frustration, to make my home network "identifiable", so I don't have to reset the network location on both machines anytime there is a break in the connection (eg: restart, shutdown)

    Everything I have tried that makes the home network identified though, has kept me from connecting to the Internet by Wifi. It appears to me, that once the home network is identified (specific DNS, valid IPs) that Windows wants to connect the network, rather than the individual laptops, to the Internet, and so, though I can connect to the Wifi network itself (and it says I have Internet access), I'm "invisible", evidently, (no gateway ?) to the Wifi ISP.

    I have worked manually, through Properties of the adapters, and have tried a wired only router (Trendnet TW100-S4W1CA) (also a Network switch, which didn't solve the unidentified problem) When using the router, as soon as I unplug from it, I have Internet connectivity by Wifi (without having to reconnect). The only thing I haven't tried is using ICS, as I'm not sure how vulnerable I would be on the Wifi.

    I hope I've presented the problem clearly, but I'll try to put it more basically. Is there a way to use a wired router with no Internet connection to create a home network and still be able to connect to the Internet by Wifi?
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  2. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #2

    This problem has so many causes and solutions that it's nearly impossible to narrow it down to any one thing.

    You can try the fixes highlighted in the link but there are many other possible fixes in the comments sections.

    Windows 7 Unidentified Network, Limited Access, No Internet Connection Problem Resolved
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  3. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    As with all the other posts I have read, none of that really addresses my problem, as they all deal with connecting a LAN (homenetwork) to a WAN (modem connected Internet). I'm not trying to connect my wired network (LAN) to a shared Internet connection (WAN). I'm trying to connect the individual machines to the Wifi (wireless) network.

    I can either have an identified home network and no Wifi Internet. Or I can have an unidentified home network and have Wifi Internet. In other words, having one, seems to preclude having the other.

    When computer A and computer B are wired (Ethernet adapter) to the LAN ports of the wired only router (no wireless on the router), it creates an identifiable home network.

    I can then connect computer A or B or both, with their wireless adapter, to the Wifi network. (I'm not trying to connect the home network (shared connection) to the Internet, only the individual machines)

    The problem occurs when I try to actually connect to an Internet site. The Wifi ISP does not "see" my request, unless I unplug from the router.

    Logically, I have to assume that since the router has been assigned the default gateway, the wireless adapter has none to enable it to connect to the Wifi ISP, since once unplugged from the router, I can connect.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #4

    I'd like to help but I can't figure out what you are talking about.

    Are you saying that when connected to wireless the machines aren't picking up the default gateway but with wired it does?

    I think that a screen shot of the problem would be more helpful.
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  5. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hopefully, this helps.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Unidentified home network with Wifi only internet-007.jpg  
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  6. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #6

    That is a little strange with the problem showing up when trying to connect wirelessly.

    If this is one of those ISP issued modem/routers then toss it out and get a standard modem and a stand alone third party router. Those combo modem/router ISP issued deals aren't compatible with many systems "despite what they tell you".

    If this is your own router then try updating the firmware.

    There are over 200 listed examples in the link I posted with about the same number of possible causes but in this case I'd say the ISP issued modem/router is the problem.

    http://pocketpccentral.net/blog/2009...blem-resolved/
    Last edited by chev65; 17 Mar 2014 at 10:07.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    There is no modem involved. I neither have one, nor have anything to connect one to other than my stand-alone, non-wireless router. The router is used only to create an identifiable LAN, by ethernet cable, not to connect to the Internet. Nor am I trying to connect the network to the Internet.

    The problem is ... why can't I connect to the Internet using my wireless adapter (which is not involved in the LAN) when I am connected to the router. (If I plugged into the router right now, I would lose my Internet connection. If I tried to connect to the Internet (by wireless) while connected to the router, I wouldn't get a connection)

    This isn't a hardware problem. If I am connected laptop to laptop, then the network has no connection specific DNS, so it remains unidentified. If I connect through the router, I then have a connection specific DNS, but no gateway for the wireless adapter to communicate with the Wifi ISP.

    Here it is without the router (it's not even hooked up right now):
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Unidentified home network with Wifi only internet-008.jpg  
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Pro 32bit
       #8

    I finally resolved many problems similar to this by resetting my router to default (I have a Belkin). Apparently it saved prior information (not necessarily the original one??) and when I changed the SSID, passwords, etc., it conflicted with everything else.
    Try resetting your router to default, but don't forget to save your prior settings. I knew them by heart since I was dealing with this for so long!!
    Hope this helps. It's so frustrating. I did so much research of bad connections, conflicting IP's, access to internet even if it said I didn't... I had a lot of problems. All fixed by resetting router.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks, but I already tried that.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #10

    PBzeer said:
    There is no modem involved. I neither have one, nor have anything to connect one to other than my stand-alone, non-wireless router. The router is used only to create an identifiable LAN, by ethernet cable, not to connect to the Internet. Nor am I trying to connect the network to the Internet.

    The problem is ... why can't I connect to the Internet using my wireless adapter (which is not involved in the LAN) when I am connected to the router. (If I plugged into the router right now, I would lose my Internet connection. If I tried to connect to the Internet (by wireless) while connected to the router, I wouldn't get a connection)

    This isn't a hardware problem. If I am connected laptop to laptop, then the network has no connection specific DNS, so it remains unidentified. If I connect through the router, I then have a connection specific DNS, but no gateway for the wireless adapter to communicate with the Wifi ISP.

    Here it is without the router (it's not even hooked up right now):

    Man I can sure pick the strange ones lately. First you say you don't want internet, then you say you can't connect to the internet?

    Either use a modem or you won't have an internet connection, it's that simple.
      My Computer


 
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