Router allocating crazy IP addresses

mrochester · 7 Nov 2012 at 22:46

Hi all

Over the last few days I've had WiFi connectivity issues with my BT Business Hub router. I've just noticed on my laptop that the router has allocated it a completely crazy IP address (it usually gives 192.168.1.**) but this time it's allocated something like 192.254.87.55 or equally as silly.

Has anyone got any idea why the router may have just suddenly done this, and perhaps how to resolve it (other than a router reset, which I really don't want to do!). Turning the router off and back on again usually always fixes the issue temporarily.

Many thanks

M

bremen1874 · 8 Nov 2012 at 00:05

Is it a 169.254.n.n address you're getting? If so it means your machine is unable to access a DHCP server and is allocating itself an automatic address instead.

mrochester · 8 Nov 2012 at 06:30

bremen1874 said:
Is it a 169.254.n.n address you're getting? If so it means your machine is unable to access a DHCP server and is allocating itself an automatic address instead.

Yep correct. So how do I fix it?

Sparx · 8 Nov 2012 at 09:49

Assign your network adapter a static IP outside the DHCP range.

mrochester · 8 Nov 2012 at 09:51

Sparx said:
Assign your network adapter a static IP within the DHCP range.

The trouble is its all my devices that are having problems, intermittently. Some devices will connect, some won't, then the next day it'll be a different set of devices that won't connect etc etc.

PistolPete · 8 Nov 2012 at 09:57

Can you backup the settings and do a factory reset? Sounds like the only way forward other than a replacement.

GeForce · 8 Nov 2012 at 09:58

Have a look at the DHCP settings on the router, particularly reduce the lease time (make it an hour or so) and increase the number of IP addresses in the pool (everything in the range 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.250 for example).

Sparx · 8 Nov 2012 at 10:06

mrochester said:
The trouble is its all my devices that are having problems, intermittently. Some devices will connect, some won't, then the next day it'll be a different set of devices that won't connect etc etc.

You just said your laptop in the OP.

I would go with the above 2 poster's recommendations. You'll have to try a factory reset first then possibly look into the DHCP settings.

Kaka · 8 Nov 2012 at 10:40

Sparx said:
Assign your network adapter a static IP within the DHCP range.

Shouldn't that be outside the DHCP range unless you have setup reservations? If not, you have two clashing IPs (one static and one from DHCP).

Sparx · 8 Nov 2012 at 13:17

Kaka said:
Shouldn't that be outside the DHCP range unless you have setup reservations? If not, you have two clashing IPs (one static and one from DHCP).

Yes, it should! My apologies. Edited my original post for others reading for future reference.

mrochester · 8 Nov 2012 at 13:23

Thanks all, looks like a router reset is in order. It's just a pain because its a hacked BT router to work with O2 so it's a bit of a fanny to setup.