Unable to connect problem

[bol1]

Hi,

Sorry if I'm not providing enough info but I'm not at home right now because I can't connect. Please tell me what I need to provide to start diagnosing the cause and I'll post it. Here's the problem.

I am away from home on an extended trip renting a small appartment. I am sharing the WiFi of the owner in the adjoining house. The signal strengh is strong. There is just me and her using the WiFi. Then the other night I suddenly was unable to connect (this happened briefly once before) When I tried to connect it would constantly be "connecting" and never get to "aquireing network address" stage. (password is correct, I've checked)

The next morning I was able to connect but unable to get to any web page... "unable to display web page" That where it remains now. The router and cable adapter have been turned of and reset. What is weird is my friend who owns the place can connect just fine. Even if she logs off and I'm the only person on I still cant connect.

However, if I come to a public WiFi access point where I am right now I can connect just fine! So it can't be me...or can it?

OK so how do I start sorting this out?
Mike

Win XP SP2
IE7
Broadcom 802.11b/g

[bol1]

Just to add to my original posting. I've now tried using my laptop at two public WiFi points, a library and a cafe. I can connect to web pages at both without any problem at all.....but not at home!

Please someone tell me what tests I should do at home to get the bottom of this and I'll post the results back here if needed

Thanks
Mike

[z1p]

You said the password is correct, so I assume the router has encryption enabled. Once again make sure you have the correct password.

Check your firewall.
Make sure that the MAC filter is not enabled on the router or if it is that your MAC address is allowed.

When you are connected, but can't get out run ipconfig/all [in a command window] and post the output back here.

If possible try running without encryption enabled to see if that is the problem.

Also, what make and model router and what version of windows do you have?

[bol1]

Thanks
Password OK, WPA encryption.
MAC filter dissabled. Firewall OK (Norton Internet Sec) and windows firewall is disabled.
Router is Belkin F5D7230-4
Windows XP SP2/IE7

ipconfig below:


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

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : m2000
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Belkin

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Eth
ernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-F3-97-78

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-A5-29-D2-C2
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.3
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 23 August 2007 20:08:59
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 19 January 2038 04:14:07

[z1p]

OK. it looks like the basics are good. Now try pinging the gateway (192.168.2.1) and www.google.com. (run 'ping www.google.com' in a command window) Report any error you get.

Your lease expiration period is a bit unusual, are you using static DHCP assigned IP addresses?

[bol1]

Well the initial problem is now resolved. Let's just say the owner of the router is rather embarressed! But there is a seperate intermitant problem that seems to occur. last night unable to connect at all, now everything fine again. What I'd like to find is a primmer so I can learn to resolve these problems using the ideas like you've sugested. I'm reasonably tech competant so is there a resource, that explains all this anywhere?
Thanks
M

[z1p]

bol1,

I don't know of any primer on the topic. Network trouble shooting is tricky and troubleshooting a wireless network is more difficult. MS has several pages deicated to wireless networking (See here (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb530679.aspx))