Losing Connection

[cookiez300]

I recently installed a wireless router [Brand: Network Everywhere, Model: NWR04B]

Connected via:
Modem > Router > 2 Computers (XP) through cable/ports, and 1 Computer (Vista) Wireless. (Sometimes I connect the PSP wireless as well)

I lose connection from time to time even with full signal and connection status says "connected". Sometimes it says Limited or No connectivity, and sometimes it simply doesn't connect even though LAN status says "connected".

I also get IP Adress Confict error messages, but I have dhcp enabled and all four devices [3 Computers and a PSP] have different adresses.

I turn on/off the modem and the router (a few times) and it will connect, but it loses connection after a while.

Can anybody help me solve this issue?

[johnwill]

Let's solve one issue at a time.

First off, do you have encryption enabled on the wireless link? The duplicate IP addresses sounds like someone else is connecting and you're seeing their machine conflicting with yours.


IP addresses of all zeros are normally caused by one of the following.

Diagnosis:

1. DHCP Service not running.
2. Duplicate IP address on the network.
3. Bad NIC card drivers.
4. Defective NIC hardware.

Resolution:

1. Check Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. The DHCP Client service should be Started and its Startup Type should be Automatic.
   
2. Turn off ALL of the computers and other network connected devices, restart (power cycle) the router, then restart all the computers and other network devices.
   
3. Check for upgraded drivers and/or reload the Network drivers.
   
4. Replace the Network Interface Card.

Some other things you can try here to try to solve the intermittent requirement to reset the modem.

1. For wireless connections, change the channel on the router, I like channels 1, 6, and 11 in the US.
2. For wireless connections, try moving either the wireless router/AP or the wireless computer. Even a couple of feet will sometimes make a big difference.
3. Update the firmware to the latest version available on the manufacturer's site.
4. Reset the router to factory defaults and reconfigure.
5. Update the network drivers (wired and wireless) on your computer to the latest available.

Many times these measures will resolve a lot of intermittent issues.

[cookiez300]

Yes I'm pretty sure I have encryption enabled. 128bit... I entered a passphrase that generated into a key.

I've tried the solutions you've suggested but I still lose connection, though now it's just the 'IP address conflicts'.

When I access my router, there's a client information under DHCP where it shows information (MAC Address, computer name, IP Address) of all network clients using the DHCP server. Sometimes I see two more items than the number of devices connected, named 'Unknown'. Sometimes it has the same name as my main PC but have different adresses. Does that mean someone else is using my connection?

[johnwill]

Repair duplicate IP address on network issue.

1. Turn off everything on the network, ALL the machines and any other network device like network printers and NAS drives.
2. Turn off the router and modem.
3. Turn on the modem, wait for a steady data light.
4. Turn on the router, wait two minutes.
5. Turn on the network devices and computers, one at a time.

This issue is usually caused by resetting a router without resetting all the network connected devices.

Another issue that will cause duplicate IP addresses is assigning static IP addresses to devices that conflict with the router's DHCP address range. If you require static IP addressed devices on the network, they should be configured to be in the same subnet but outside the address range defined for the DHCP server.

[cookiez300]

Thanks. I did as you said and I haven't lost connection so far and everything seems to work fine.

[johnwill]

Glad we could assist.

[cookiez300]

Hello again. I'm afraid I have another problem.

I no longer get conflicting IP adresses, but now I lose internet connection because of the default gateway. I ran troubleshooter on MSN after a failed sign in, and the warning sign was on the deafult gateway.

It's getting a bit frustrating resetting everything everytime it happens. :(

Do you have any idea why it's acting up?

[johnwill]

Please supply the following info, exact make and models of the equipment please.

Name of your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Make and exact model of the broadband modem.
Make and exact model and hardware version of the router (if a separate unit).
Model numbers can usually be obtained from the label on the device.
Connection type, wired or wireless.
If wireless, encryption used, (none, WEP, WPA, or WPA2)
Version and patch level of Windows on all affected machines, i.e. XP (Home or Pro), SP1-SP2-SP3, Vista (Home, Business, Ultimate), etc.
The Internet Browser in use, IE, Firefox, Opera, etc.




Please give an exact description of your problem symptoms, including the exact text of any error messages.

• If you're using a wireless connection, have you tried a direct connection with a cable to see if that changes the symptoms?
• For wireless issues, have you disabled all encryption on the router to see if you can connect that way?
• Have you connected directly to the broadband modem to see if this is a router or modem/ISP issue?
• If there are other computers on the same network, are they experiencing the same issue, or do they function normally?

On any affected computer, I'd also like to see this:

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD (COMMAND for W98/WME) to open a command prompt:

Type the following commands on separate lines, following each one with the Enter key:

PING 206.190.60.37

PING yahoo.com

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[cookiez300]

ISP: Rogers
Modem: SB5101 SURFboard Cable Modem Motorola
Router: NWR04B Network Everywhere 2.4 ghz 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch
Connection: 2 Computers, Wii- Wired; 1 Computer - Wireless with WEP Encryption

1. Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600)
2. Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
3. Windows Vista Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001)

Browser: Internet Explorer and Firefox

I would often just randomly lose internet connection and it affects all of the computers. A page would suddenly won't load, or I would get sign off on msn.

I get the message:

Limited or no connectivity: The connection has limited or no connectivity. You might be unable to access the Internet or some network resources.

I would try clicking on repair but I get the error saying:

Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action can not be completed: Renewing your IP address

So I would try resetting it. I would turn everything off and turn everything on starting with the modem. After that, I would still get the 'Limited or No Connectivity error' but clicking on repair works and I would gain internet connection, though I'd eventually lose it again and it's just one tiring cycle.


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 206.190.60.37

Pinging 206.190.60.37 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=55

Ping statistics for 206.190.60.37:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 27ms, Maximum = 40ms, Average = 31ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping yahoo.com

Pinging yahoo.com [206.190.60.37] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=55
Reply from 206.190.60.37: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=55

Ping statistics for 206.190.60.37:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 28ms, Maximum = 37ms, Average = 30ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.104] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
CJ <00> UNIQUE Registered
CJ <20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : cj
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Basement

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Basement
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethe
rnet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-F4-5B-94-B8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::240:f4ff:fe5b:94b8%7
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 64.71.255.198
fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 19, 2009 11:28:18 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11:28:13 A
M

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%5
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Basement
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C0-A8-01-68
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.104%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>

[johnwill]

That looks like a good connection, I'd like to see this when you have a connection issue.


Try these simple tests.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD (COMMAND for W98/WME) to open a command prompt:

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands one at a time, followed by the Enter key:

IPCONFIG /ALL

PING <computer_IP_address>

PING <default_gateway_address>

PING <dns_servers>

PING 206.190.60.37

PING yahoo.com

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter to copy the contents to the clipboard.
Paste the results in a message here.

<computer_IP_address> - The IP Address of your computer, obtained from the IPCONFIG command above.

<default_gateway_address> - The IP address of the Default Gateway, obtained from the IPCONFIG command above.

<dns_servers> - The IP address of the first (or only) address for DNS Servers, obtained from the IPCONFIG command above.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[cookiez300]

This is what I got when my connection died.


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : cj
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Basement

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Basement
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethe
rnet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-F4-5B-94-B8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::240:f4ff:fe5b:94b8%7
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 64.71.255.198
fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, January 20, 2009 9:28:23 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:28:18
PM

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%5
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Basement
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C0-A8-01-67
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.103%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 192.168.1.103

Pinging 192.168.1.103 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.103:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 192.168.1.100

Pinging 192.168.1.100 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 64.71.255.198

Pinging 64.71.255.198 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 64.71.255.198:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 206.190.60.37

Pinging 206.190.60.37 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 206.190.60.37:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping yahoo.com
Ping request could not find host yahoo.com. Please check the name and try again.


C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>

[johnwill]

This sounds like your router is going to lunch.


Some things you can try here.

1. For wireless connections, change the channel on the router, I like channels 1, 6, and 11 in the US.
2. For wireless connections, try moving either the wireless router/AP or the wireless computer. Even a couple of feet will sometimes make a big difference.
3. Update the firmware to the latest version available on the manufacturer's site.
4. Reset the router to factory defaults and reconfigure.
5. Update the network drivers (wired and wireless) on your computer to the latest available.

Many times these measures will resolve a lot of intermittent issues.

If all of this fails, it may be time for a new router.

[ska_cruz]

Modem: SB5101 SURFboard Cable Modem Motorola
Router: NWR04B Network Everywhere 2.4 ghz 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch
Connection: 2 Computers, Wii- Wired; 1 Computer - Wireless with WEP Encryption

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100


-ping ip address
Pinging 192.168.1.103 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.103: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.103:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

-ping Default Gateway

Pinging 192.168.1.100 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

1st - try to remove the switch and just plug in the network cable straight away to 1 pc
2nd - perform an ipconfig again and write down the ip add n default gateway
3rd - ping to default gateway. if reply mean no issue with the local connection.

[johnwill]

If you can't ping the Default Gateway, which is the router, it's died or has disconnected.

Have you tried a different cable and a different computer on this router? How about a different port on the router?