Wireless network does not have a valid IP configuration

[evikke]

Hello all!

I've had this problem since I bought a new desktop PC with windows 7 installed. Every once in a while my internet stops working (router+modem) and a yellow exclamation mark appears. When I use the windows solution utility I get two different messages:

a)either my wireless network connection does not have a valid IP

b) the default gateway is not available

I am using d-link dwa-127 wireless adapter since my computer does not have an integrated wifi card, and I have already removed norton, which could possibly be blocking my conncection. I have tried setting my IP manually, but it does not work.

At the beginning it all functioned normally, and even now it works, but it did not before. I also noticed that when it does not work it says 'Unidentified network', and when it does it says 'Smuc' (the ssid of our network).
The internet as such is working this whole time, I always check it on my laptop with windows XP and an integrated WiFi card.

How could I solve this problem and keep my internet connection stable?

 

[chev65]

If you can post a screen shot of your ipconfig/all it will help me to diagnose the problem for you.

 

[evikke]

Hello and thank you for replying!

I had to make two screenshots because all wouldn't fit in one.

scr1: http://shrani.si/f/1Y/e1/2pwukZ37/ipconfig-1.jpg

scr 2: http://shrani.si/f/6/oS/wkNcd47/ipconfig-2.jpg

I really hope you manage to isolate the problem, it's been driving me crazy !

 

[chev65]

I'm not seeing any major problems with the ipconfig.

The problem could be the wireless settings being used or there could be a channel crossover problem.

If you can download and install the Xirrus WIFI inspector it will show me more info if you can post a screen shot of the read out. The Windows snipping tool works well for this.
Wi-Fi Inspector | Xirrus

 

[evikke]

I've installed it but I am not really sure what read-out to post...

 

[chev65]

I've installed it but I am not really sure what read-out to post...

Just save a screen shot or use the Windows snipping tool to save an image and post it here.

It shows the other wireless signals in your area and which channels they are using, it also shows me which security and encryption you are using. This information is very useful when trying to make a wireless connection work to it's full potential.

You might not be using the best possible channel and the security and encryption you are using may not be the best ones to use.

 

[evikke]

Hello, I made the screenshot of xirrus.

http://shrani.si/f/X/SF/4MQQqDFc/xirrus.jpg

I hope it'll help at all.

Could the problem maybe be in my wireless adapter? It strikes me as weird that my internet connection would only drop on this computer (desktop) and not on my laptop... :/

 

[chev65]

Hello, I made the screenshot of xirrus.

http://shrani.si/f/X/SF/4MQQqDFc/xirrus.jpg

I hope it'll help at all.

Could the problem maybe be in my wireless adapter? It strikes me as weird that my internet connection would only drop on this computer (desktop) and not on my laptop... :/

Couple of possible problems here, the signal strength is fairly weak which can cause problems as weak connections can be very unreliable. When the signal strength shows up as yellow it tends to be slower and can also cut out randomly.

The first adjustment I'd make is to go into the routers set up page and change the setting that says 20-40Mhz over to just 20Mhz. The 20-40Mhz setting uses the bandwidth of two channels but the problem is that with a weak connection that setting will actually hurt performance so it should be changed to the 20Mhz setting which uses a single channel.

Since there are no other wireless signals near you which means most any channel should work well, try going with channel 6.

If all your wireless connections can use 802.11 "N" then going into your routers set up page and changing it to the 802.11n "Only" setting can give you much better performance as the router does not need to slow down in order to work with older wireless standards like 802.11g.

In your case it might even help to move closer to the router or move the router closer to where you need to connect from because the signal strength is rather weak.

 

[evikke]

Aw, problems with the router again... I guess I'm stuck with a dropping connection then, since I live in a multiple-story house and the router is in my landlady's apartment. Consequently I have no access to the router/modem.

Installing a more powerful antenna for my computer probably wouldn't work, would it?

 

[chev65]

Aw, problems with the router again... I guess I'm stuck with a dropping connection then, since I live in a multiple-story house and the router is in my landlady's apartment. Consequently I have no access to the router/modem.

Installing a more powerful antenna for my computer probably wouldn't work, would it?

If she didn't assign a password to the routers set up page you can access it by typing 192.168.0.1 into the URL of your browser.

A better antenna might help a little.

There must be a few walls separating you from the router because the signal strength is really what's holding you back. :sarc:

 

[evikke]

I'm pretty far away, yes. I'll try to persuade her to install a second router or something. I'll try accessing the router, though I fear there's a password since she believes that everybody in the street is trying to steal her 'internet'. -.-

I'll try to access the router when I come home and I'll keep in touch.


EDIT: Does this 192.168.0.1 really work? I tried it right now and I get the message that my browser cannot connect with it.

 

[chev65]

I'm pretty far away, yes. I'll try to persuade her to install a second router or something. I'll try accessing the router, though I fear there's a password since she believes that everybody in the street is trying to steal her 'internet'. -.-

I'll try to access the router when I come home and I'll keep in touch.


EDIT: Does this 192.168.0.1 really work? I tried it right now and I get the message that my browser cannot connect with it.

Provided that you are on the same network as the router is on then yes it should work. A dedicated access point would be the best way to solve this, rather than just using another router.

Access points tend to cause less problems when added to a network. Secondary routers usually require more time to set up compared to an access point.

Same gateway as I'm using to access my router though she may be using a password to access it. The default password is usually Admin. http://192.168.0.1/

 

[evikke]

I tried it now and it basically worked. I am trying to change the mode to 11n only, but it says that the encryption will change from TKIP to AES. I shouldn't touch that, right?

 

[chev65]

I tried it now and it basically worked. I am trying to change the mode to 11n only, but it says that the encryption will change from TKIP to AES. I shouldn't touch that, right?

Yes for N only to work properly you need to use AES encryption as it's made to work at 802.11n speeds. In fact most every driver made specifically for Windows 7 should be using AES encryption with WPA2 security. But remember with the N only setting that G clients won't be able to connect anymore.

Once you get the router set up correctly you should then go to the Network and Sharing center then to "Manage Wireless Networks" on the left and then edit the settings to reflect the changes you made in the router.

Let me know if it's working yet.

 

[evikke]

The weird thing is that right now it is working perfectly. I even have 4 lines instead of the usual 2 for 'signal strength' and there seems to be no problem. I don't think anyone changed any settings or installed any antennaes or anything. In fact it's been working non-stop for 2 days now... What causes WiFi networks and equipment to act like that? Why in the world does it work one day and not another?

 

[chev65]

The weird thing is that right now it is working perfectly. I even have 4 lines instead of the usual 2 for 'signal strength' and there seems to be no problem. I don't think anyone changed any settings or installed any antennaes or anything. In fact it's been working non-stop for 2 days now... What causes WiFi networks and equipment to act like that? Why in the world does it work one day and not another?

Because of the fact that your neighbors also have wireless and they are hogging the available channels sometimes, they can also change channels anytime and cross into the one you are using. Yes the can also effect signal strength and can actually cut out the connection completely.

In these cases you can use a WIFI scanner like Xirrus to see what the best channel is. Wi-Fi Inspector | Xirrus

If you still want full wireless N speeds then you should change the encryption to AES witch is made to work with wireless N.