Limited Connection (can't connect wirelessly)

[AphexDreamer]

I'm stumped.

My desktop is on the internet just fine but all of a sudden none of my Wireless devices can connect to my router to obtain internet.

They all say Limited Connection.

My droid simply doesn't ever get an IP from my router.

I have reset the broadband, IP, I've cleared the device list. Powered on and off but I still get the same issue.

What The F is wrong here?

This is for 2 Laptops, 1 Desktop and a Droid. All trying to connect via wireless.

[95Viper]

Maybe, possible interference from:

A. Neighbor with router on same channel(s) as you.
B. Have you gotten any new appliances lately?
C. Sunspots, Gremlins or other worldly explanations... kidding.

[AphexDreamer]

Ok so I did a force reboot I didn't want to have too. Cause I have to setup port froward again.

But this fixed it.

But this always reoccurs over time.

I'm going to have to call AT&T again. This happend before as well but they even replaced the router.

I switch channels but once I get the Limited Connection Issue changing channels does nothing for me.

I still need to find a FIX or what the problem is. I just don't get it.

[AphexDreamer]

So I changed channel and my Computer can connect but now my Droid can't get an IP.

Its stuck at resolving IP.

Perhaps Is should go out and buy a 3rd party router? Will that work? Or does AT&T make things so that internet only works with their router?

EDIT: Happened again...

Have to do another hard reset....

[slyfox2151]

Originally Posted by AphexDreamer

So I changed channel and my Computer can connect but now my Droid can't get an IP.

Its stuck at resolving IP.

Perhaps Is should go out and buy a 3rd party router? Will that work? Or does AT&T make things so that internet only works with their router?

have you tried setting a static IP?

[STCNE]

Originally Posted by AphexDreamer

So I changed channel and my Computer can connect but now my Droid can't get an IP.

Its stuck at resolving IP.

Perhaps Is should go out and buy a 3rd party router? Will that work? Or does AT&T make things so that internet only works with their router?

I'd be careful with ATT and replacing their stuff, they "disabled" my router after I swapped from theirs, apparently it was a breach of contract to have multiple computers hooked up to the internet. I almost always have the limited connection too, and frequently get ip and DNS server errors.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by AphexDreamer

So I changed channel and my Computer can connect but now my Droid can't get an IP.

Its stuck at resolving IP.

Perhaps Is should go out and buy a 3rd party router? Will that work? Or does AT&T make things so that internet only works with their router?

It is a problem with AT&T routers. Just go get a 3rd party router, put the router in the DMZ on the AT&T router and connect all your devices to the 3rd party router. AT&T doesn't do anything to prevent this, nor do they care.

Originally Posted by STCNE

I'd be careful with ATT and replacing their stuff, they "disabled" my router after I swapped from theirs, apparently it was a breach of contract to have multiple computers hooked up to the internet. I almost always have the limited connection too, and frequently get ip and DNS server errors.

That doesn't make any sense, they provide you a router specifically so you can connect multiple computers to the internet...

[AphexDreamer]

Well I got an app from my phone that shows me what channel the wireless networks it picks up are on and mine is in the clear. Also I have no phones in the house that run 2.4Ghz or any other electrical device for that mater.

So its not an interference issue.

This time I'm not changing anything we shall see how long it lasts.

Also I've called them before with the exact same issue and they never once told us we couldn't have multiple computers connected. Thats why they then sent someone who took a look at things, which in the end just gave us a new router and prayed that would fix things.

I was convinced as well till now. The exact same crap.

I will be notifying them tomorrow. We have a pretty good deal with 18Mbps down and I don't want to lose it but if this keeps happening my family just wants to switch. I tell them that that won't necessarily guarantee a fix but they have just about had it with this constant disconnections.

[STCNE]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

It is a problem with AT&T routers. Just go get a 3rd party router, put the router in the DMZ on the AT&T router and connect all your devices to the 3rd party router. AT&T doesn't do anything to prevent this, nor do they care.



That doesn't make any sense, they provide you a router specifically so you can connect multiple computers to the internet...

i replaced their modem and bought a router, they didn't provide a router.
Of course everyone in my neighborhood has had problems with ATT, lets just say when they want you to upgrade to a faster service your only options are to do it or to switch to comcast. If you don't you get a barrage of advertisments in your mail and ATT reps visiting your house, along with your internet connection having issues. On a good day my connection is 1mb down, .2 up 30ms ping, on a bad day its .2 down, .001 up, and 500ms ping.
ATT is well known for their shady business practices in CT.

sorry for the rant, I'm so sick of trying to keep this connection online, and my parents who know nothing about internet are sticking with it for the long haul.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by STCNE

i replaced their modem and bought a router, they didn't provide a router.

Then you were in a completely different situation, and your comment doesn't relate to this thread, the OP of this thread recieved a router from ATT. In fact, I don't believe ATT even offers striaght modems anymore.

And you don't replace their modem, you just put the router behind it. Replacing their equipment with non-approved equipment is against the TOS. So you leave the modem to recieve the DSL signal, and use the router to expand the private network.

[STCNE]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Then you were in a completely different situation, and your comment doesn't relate to this thread, the OP of this thread recieved a router from ATT. In fact, I don't believe ATT even offers striaght modems anymore.

And you don't replace their modem, you just put the router behind it. Replacing their equipment with non-approved equipment is against the TOS. So you leave the modem to recieve the DSL signal, and use the router to expand the private network.

I only replaced their modem because it was set to not allow routers, the settings were only changeable from ATT's end and they would not change the settings for me. I think the problem was it wasn't on bridging mode, I had to set something like that with my new modem to get it to connect with my router.

I'm going to get out of this thread though before I derail it any more, good luck op.

[AphexDreamer]

Ok So I called them after it happened again just this afternoon.

I explained to them my situation and they just told me some possible causes for it.

Black Out

Or To many Nodes connecting to the network.

None of which apply to me. Especially since we didn't have a black out and only two laptops were connected this afternoon.

So I told them that, they just told me to reset the router. I said that fixes the problem temporarily but its constantly reoccurring and I have to keep reseting the router to get the internet back.

Well I reset the router, got wireless connectivity back and basicly since everything was ok now there wasn't anything else he could do.

He documented all the info so that if it happens again I can call back and they can then send out a technician . He was convinced that changing the channel to 9 would fix things. I hope he is right.

So I'm back to square one, hoping that Channle 9 will save me. Else they will more than likely find no problems replace the router and like last time (although I hope not) will problem suffer the same issue.


I'm coming to abused conclusions here but my cousin from Greece has a Greek laptop with greek fonts and stuff. Could his laptop (or can a laptop for any reason) throw everyone else off the net? I say this cause checking my routers device list shows his laptop as some weird gibberish font probably cause the router doesn't recognize the Greek font. Also my router went form recognizing my Wired Desktop from my Name, to unknown40618692A68D

I suppose I'm good for now till it happens again, which I'm very confident it will.

Also I asked about getting a new router and he said thats its complicated and would slow down our internet? Is this true?

[newtekie1]

It isn't complicated, and it won't slow down your internet. It will happen again, it is just the nature of the shitty routers AT&T gives out. Of course all of this is assuming you have one of those shittastic 2Wire routers.

[mrw1986]

You can run a 3rd party router off of their internet without any problems...I run a TrendNet Wireless N Gigabit router without a hitch. This was both on DSL and U-verse service. I was experiencing similar problems with the router they give you...

EDIT: To add to this, I haven't reset my router since I installed it (over 2 years ago).

[AphexDreamer]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

It isn't complicated, and it won't slow down your internet. It will happen again, it is just the nature of the shitty routers AT&T gives out. Of course all of this is assuming you have one of those shittastic 2Wire routers.

Doing some more research since its likely a problem with the router giving out IP.

My Desktop has a static IP (Never has internet problems) and I have now placed a Fixed IP / configured for a static IP on my Mother Laptop. So I'm going to see if that will at least save my mothers laptop from having connection issue. If it works for her then I'll configure the rest of the wireless devices.

Another note.

I really think that my Cousins Laptop from Greece or perhaps the Antivirus or other software on it is throwing the router off. I believe our wireless issues began after he arrived and he was the first one on the net in the morning (and he left his laptop on) after which my mother tired to get on and couldn't. I have since turned his laptop off and restored the internet. If my mother maintains internet with his laptop off, then Its a good sign that maybe it is the cause.

So 3 things left to try before we more than likely leave AT&T.

1. Completely rule out my Cousin's laptop from Greece. (If we lose connection with his laptop off, that means it isn't his laptop).

2. Test to see if assigning manual, static IP address to the wireless devices resolves the problem.

3. Configure a second router for use as a wireless access point.

If after all three the problem persists. Good bye, AT&T and goodbye 18mbps.

[AphexDreamer]

Well I've fixed it myself it would seem.

With each laptop that would encounter Limited Connectivity I simply manually assigned the IP, gateway and DNS for each laptop and it permanently got rid of the Limited Connectivity.

I guess this would suggest that 2wire routers have a problem assigning an IP under certain conditions?

Not sure what that is. Perhaps to many nodes??

[AphexDreamer]

Update:

A little more research has shown that the problem is with an update that was done to my router that enabled Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

Disabling seems to allow DHCP to work allocating IP addresses.

I'll be testing this to be sure but the moment I turned it off my Droid Connected

[95Viper]

Hope that fixes everything for you.

I had a usb wireless device that simply refused to connect when WPS was enabled, too.
Never figured out why, just left WPS off and did it myself, like you.