Any help with internet connection problem?

[MilDoc]

Last night shut down my late '09 iMac as usual. Today can get no internet connection. Since I have a Toshiba netbook and connected each computer to the inet in every possible way, I am certain the following are working:

- ISP connection (else I wouldn't be online now!)
- all connection cables
- DSL modem alone
- Netgear WNDR3700 wireless router + modem

With the iMac connected either thru the router or directly to the DSL modem I DO register a computer isp address, same address as with the Toshiba connected (both the same so I assume the modem is supplying that address).

From this I assume the computer ethernet jack is at least communicating the address OK between the computer and the modem.

But BOTHping and lookup fail on the iMac, using either BT3 or apple as the address.

IMHO that leaves 2 possibilities:

1. the port is not making a complete inet connection (only to the modem), which I don't really know is a even a possibility unless that function is hard-wired

2. the drivers are fouled on the hard drive, but would that still allow the modem to correctly communicate the isp address to the computer? Perhaps that is "hard-wired" via the port and modem jack?

And of course, possibility #3 - I have no idea what I'm talking about. Good possibility.

Any comments, further tests to try, help?

Thanks!

[Bruce Cohen]

Paul,

Just got home from work, here's a quickie. Check to see that Apple Talk is active, you'll find that in system preferences-network-advanced. Sometimes, that kicks out (Microsoft demons come at night and screw up your mac).

I'll send you some screen shots tomorrow, way too tired to start making screen grabs now.

Bruce

[leehljp]

Two items to check after you do what Bruce says to do:

1. Go to Applications>Utilities>Airport Utility and see if it is seeing the wireless network.

IF not, turn the DSL modem off, the wireless unit off and the computer off. Re-start the DSL, wait a minute and re-start the Wireless, then restart the Mac. Now check again and see if the airport utility sees the wireless unit.

2. Go to System Prefs>Network>see if the Airport button is green. I am going forward on the assumption that it is.
Next click on "Advanced" at the bottom right. Next window Click on Airport

Under Preferred Networks, Delete all and start over with setting up the network. You do that by clicking on the + sign.

Do a restart of the Mac.

We recently had a similar problem with a fellow who could not get on in his own house. I could with my laptop, and so could his wife with hers. After we went through step 2 above, his started and worked fine.

[MilDoc]

Well, tried all above w/o effect.

Then came home today and all is well again. That worries me.

[leehljp]

Well, tried all above w/o effect.

Then came home today and all is well again. That worries me.

Off, on, off later and then on again - is sometimes a problem of Apartment living (or jammed up houses like in Japan) - Many wireless signals interfering. That reminds me - Do you have a cordless phone or microwave close by? Sometimes those signals interfere or cause reception problems.

I was assuming that you were using wireless primarily. Which is your preferred usage for the Mac, Wireless or Wired? Kinked and bad cables cause similar problems.

[Bruce Cohen]

Paul,

Glad you're back in business, sometimes weird things do happen.

What you never really clarified is
1- How you're connected to the internet (you mentioned DSL (what bandwidth), you do realize that a DSL connection fractionalizes with more uses (your family) logging on. And although this probably isn't the problem, it is something to know.

2- If you are using a wireless network, a) is it yours/ or are you piggy backing on to a neighbor's network. If it's your's, do you have that wireless network passworded (and hopefully firewalled)

3- If you're hardwired is your Ethernet connection on your mac turned on.

I'm attaching a screen shot of my network set-up, we use both wired and wireless here at home, we have 3 desktops and 2 laptops so I can use (if I choose to) either. I always connect via Eithternet as the thru-put is faster.

Additionally, I have a cable connection, way faster than DSL, and no worries about slow-down when all of us (4) are connected at once.

My IP, the cable network assigns an address for me which is different everytime I log on (dynamic) addressing, while most DSL IPs require you to manually put in an address (which they supply you with at sign up) and that set of numbers cannot be changed ever.

Glad to know you up and running, but if you ever run into this or any other Mac based problem and there's an Apple store near you, you can bring your machine to what Apple calls "the genius bar" and they will look at it and help you out for free, no matter how long your machine is out of warranty, free only if you dont have a hardware problem that needs replacement.

You can make a reservation from home, even using a PC, apple.com. Ding a store near you and get into the genius bar or concierge screen and pick a day and time.

Let me know what happens










Bruce

[LCHIEN]

Most DSLs give DHCP - dynamic IP port addressing. It can be different when you log on. There's a reservation time - if you log back within that time then you get the same IP because they hold it for you (or at least someone with the same MAC address and these are supposed to be unique to the ethernet hardware you have) and you can continue a broken connection after that time it can be reassigned to someone else. Homes and offices have long reservation times but busy places like public wifi with a lot of user turnover use short reservation times so they don't run out of addresses.