Apple MacBook wireless issue

lemonkettaz · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:31

Hello,

My friend's macbook can't surf the internet in the house, we have a linksys wrt54gs version 6 router connected to the virgin cable modem.

I can connect no problem but since a few weeks ago my friends macbook can connect to the wireless but can't surf the web, sometimes it says no ip address and other times self assigned ip.

We have tried reinstall the mac os on the macbook and also reverting the linksys router back to default settings but all the same result....

any ideas people?

Cheers

Feek · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:34

I assume you've got encryption/wireless security enabled in the router, disable it all for the purpose of testing and see if that makes any difference. That'll help narrow things down a bit.

lemonkettaz · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:35

There is no password needed and its all factory settings on the router.. and nothing

Feek · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:38

Router all flashed to the latest firmware? Tried a different wireless channel?

lemonkettaz · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:39

Yes and yes

Feek · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:42

Hmmmm, I'm a bit stumped. It does point towards some local interference but if your machine can connect and his can't then it's probably not that. Is yours an Apple as well?

lemonkettaz · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:43

No mine is windows.

Also my phone connects but cant surf the web too...

I havent tried every channel though... just about 4, should I try them all

Feek · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:52

Get something like iStumbler or AirRadar on the Macbook and have a look to see which channel has the least traffic on it. Are you in an area that's likely to have a lot of wireless activity?

lemonkettaz · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:05

Feek said:
Get something like iStumbler or AirRadar on the Macbook and have a look to see which channel has the least traffic on it. Are you in an area that's likely to have a lot of wireless activity?

Hmm possibly.. Ill have a look now..

can i get the same app for windows?

squerble · 20 Jul 2009 at 00:43

I have forever hated the "Self Assigned IP Address" issues that seem to bug OS X.

I've always had trouble with wireless networks on my Macbook, and recently my airport card must have very suddenly stopped working properly as I'm 1 foot away from the router and I've only got 20% signal? And I can't get signal more than 2 foot away. It's a bit rubbish tbh.

Never any issues with Windows.

natedog · 20 Jul 2009 at 08:43

mmm if you are running osx 10.5.x give this a try as I have had the same problem when moving around networks

1. open up 'System Preferences'
2. open 'network'
3. click on the airport interface
4. click on 'advanced'
5. click on 'TCP/IP tab'
6. click 'renew DHCP lease'

See if this gives you a real IP Address.

Also some other things to try are

1. Create a new location see if it is anything todo with the current one you are using in the 'Network' preference panel
2. Repair permissions on the system drive if you have done an update

Let me know how you get on as I can give you some more things to check