atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories 192.168.2.X

I'm not sure if this is a Macintosh problem, a generic network problem or a Verizon problem. So I'll post it here and see if anybody has a clue.

The computer is a Macbook running OSX 10.5, almost always wirelessly connecting to a Verizon FIOS Actiontec router.

The whole combination works almost flawlessly, Speed is teriffic (20mbs and better) and the Mac is a breath of fresh air after a Windows PC.

However....

Every once in a while I'll be using the Mac and go to print, or copy a file to/from the old windows PC and it won't be able to. I'll get a "server/printer not found" message.

Looking at System Preferences|Networking|Airport shows that the IP address is 192.168.2.something. Shutting Airport (the internal wireless card)off and then immediately turning it back on restores the IP address to 192.168.1.2 (which it should be!).

If I don't try to print or send files (or possibly send emails) I never know I'm having a problem - I can surf the web without a problem.

Any ideas why this is happening? And what is 192.168.2 anyway? And why is it popping up occasionally on me?

TIA

Sam

Do you have a shared printer on the XP machine, or is it a network printer?

Are you possibly connecting to someone else's "unsecured" access point.

I agree with rusty, when this happens, look to see what wireless network you are connected to.

Tony -

Yes - I have two network printers.

Rusty/ Mongo -

Possible. I'll make sure to check next time.

Wait - My next door neighbor has just gotten FIOS too. I wonder if his router has the same network name that mine does? That could be confusing. Especially since in a Brooklyn Victorian Rowhouse, next door is like 20' away.

Sam

Then I tend to agree, it could be picking the other wireless signal automatically. Try to rename yours so it's unique and under System Preferences-> Network-> Airport-> Advanced, delete the other network.

Thats probably whats going on. You can still surf the internet because your on your neighbors connection but you wont be able to access your network printer. Im not familiar with macs but you should be able to change your ssid on your router to something vague, shut off the ssid brodcast, and then set your wireless connection to only connect to your wireless. If ATT sets up these wireless commections completely open then you may want to make sure theres some sort of wireless security enabled on the wireless device.

Next time it happens I'll check to see if I'm on my router or my neighbors. I don't want to lock my computer to the router because I do take it out in the world.

But I think you guys are right. I was assuming that I was picking another channel in my router for some reason (probably all those CCNA classes). This doesn't happen often to me, but it happens often enough that I'll find out for sure soon enough.

I'll report back when I find out.

Sam

One quick way is to just shut off your router and the youll know for sure when you connect to another network. You dont have to set your adapter to only connect to your router but you should be able to set a preference order. List your ssid first and then set your neighbors low on the list. That way if your router is available the adapter will connect to it first and if its not then it will connect to whatever is available.

Tito -

That's what I had planned to do. It seems the easiest way.

Sam