Error Joining AirPort Network

[trainguy77]

I makes lots of sense if you think about it. There can only be one router on a network handing out IP addresses. When your router turns on it would get a IP from your service provider. Then it gives an IP to airport and all airport clients. If airport is trying to get a IP from your service provider and get a network IP for it's self and all computers on it's network. that will not work. You need to make airport get and IP from the router and also let the router give IP addresses to it's clients. Does that make sense?

 

[DaBuzz]

Not really...that's not the behavior a router should have.

A router should get a public IP address from the cable modem (in my case), which I get via DHCP. So by disabling "Distribute IP" addresses, I force all my clients to configure TCP/IP manually?

In any event, it seems not to have made any difference for me.

 

[hacurio1]

I've posted this to the Apple forums, but haven't gotten any response.

I have a AirPort Extreme base station, with WPA enabled. Occasionally my connection drops, and my Mac does one of 3 things:
It shows the AirPort network (as well as my neighbor's), but when I select it it says "There was an error joining network AirPort"
It shows no available networks;
It will reconnect (rarely).

It's not my Mac - Apple replaced it for me (PowerBook 17 Rev B). I am running OS X 10.3.3, with the latest AirPort software and firmware. It also did this when I had an 802.11g Netgear router.

Has any one else experienced this, and can offer advice?

Thanks.

That used to happend to me whenever my cordless phone ringed. Next time your connection drops, see if its not becasue the phone ringed. It happens to me on Airport Stations and Dlink stations.

 

[DaBuzz]

That used to happend to me whenever my cordless phone ringed. Next time your connection drops, see if its not becasue the phone ringed. It happens to me on Airport Stations and Dlink stations.

You know, I suspected that at first...but there are times (like 2 minutes ago) when the phone rang and the connection stayed up. Is your phone in the same room or in proximity to the Base Station or Mac? I don't know what's on the other side of the wall where my desk is...I wonder if my neighbors have a 2.4Ghz phone.

 

[DaBuzz]

Don't everyone take this the wrong way...but at least I am glad it's not me or my setup! After Apple replaced the Mac, and attempting 2 brand of router, and seeing all the posts here, I am starting to think it's just that AirPort isn't ready for prime time.

For anyone who is a WiFi expert: what other devices can cause interference in an AirPort/802.11 network?

 

[trainguy77]

Not really...that's not the behavior a router should have.

A router should get a public IP address from the cable modem (in my case), which I get via DHCP. So by disabling "Distribute IP" addresses, I force all my clients to configure TCP/IP manually?

In any event, it seems not to have made any difference for me.

an example is web servers behind a router they IP that web server has when you connect to it is the IP your network has. not the individual computer. And then within the network each computer has a IP address which should be assigned by the router that "owns" the internet IP. So your router should give out the IP addresses to the ariport and all computers on airport. When you choose not to have airport Distribute IP addresses then it will allow the other router to do so.

 

[DaBuzz]

an example is web servers behind a router they IP that web server has when you connect to it is the IP your network has. not the individual computer. And then within the network each computer has a IP address which should be assigned by the router that "owns" the internet IP. So your router should give out the IP addresses to the ariport and all computers on airport. When you choose not to have airport Distribute IP addresses then it will allow the other router to do so.

OK...but then that seems to assume that there is an additional router, right? A cable or DSL modem doesn't act as a router. It is another DHCP client on the ISP's network.

So the option in AirPort Admin to share a single IP address is consistent - the AirPort Base Station shares the IP address from my ISP with the other Macs on my network via NAT and DHCP, creating virtual IP addresses for those clients.

By all means correct me if I am mistaken.

 

[kombi]

same problem but not an apple router/firewall

i am having the same issue but i do not have an apple airport firewall/router, I am using a belkin 54g router.....anyone having the same issue, found a fix?

 

[DaBuzz]

Well, here is something I tried I didn't know about, but it seems to have helped (somewhat).

Since I thought my issue was shuttling my PB between my wired work LAN and my home AirPort LAN, the Apple Store (SF) Genius re-arranged my network ports (under system preferences, Network, the Show drop down box). There is an option to show network ports, and you can delete or re-arrange the ports in the order the OS should look for them. I moved AirPort up to first, and I don't think I've had a problem since.

 

[iPC]

Don't everyone take this the wrong way...but at least I am glad it's not me or my setup! After Apple replaced the Mac, and attempting 2 brand of router, and seeing all the posts here, I am starting to think it's just that AirPort isn't ready for prime time.

For anyone who is a WiFi expert: what other devices can cause interference in an AirPort/802.11 network?

Everything. By law the wireless station has to accept all intereference, and cause none of its own.

Microwave ovens, cordless phones, Nextel phones, CRT's, big speakers (on), solar radiation, etc etc etc.

I think your neighbors dog farting might do it too...