Mac suddenly can't connect

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DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#115097 13-Mar-2013 18:58

Hey guys,

I am plagued with an issue I've been working on for hours.

Suddenly my girlfriend's mac book pro can't seems to establish any kind of connection to the internet.

Network Utility reports a valid IP address, valid DNS address as it is set manually in the router and it is sending and receiving packets. Airport is reporting that it is connected and "Airport", "Airport Settings", "Network Settings", "ISP", "Internet" and "Server" are all green!

Sometimes ISP will be red with the word "Failed" underneath, however, internet and server will remain green.

I can't even ping the modem let alone anything else. If I plug an ethernet cable in, it flashes up like clockwork.

I am in the process of testing it with another modem, but every other device in the house works fine. The annoying thing is that my modem does not pick up "attached devices" via wireless, only Ethernet. The firewall is disabled, there are no extra DNS/DHCP settings that are unusual. I've tried re-configuring the router and manually entering the DHCP/DNS info in the mac instead, which did not work.

Every time I try to ping the modem the mac replies "Host offline" or something to that effect. Otherwise I get "Request timeout for icmp_seq 0,1,2,3,4...ect. I looked, and ICMP packet support is enabled and ping requests are not blocked in the modem.

I'm at a total loss. I'm loosing sleep! HELP! :O

Thanks!

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#781245 13-Mar-2013 19:16

What sort of encryption are you using? Try changing it

josephhinvest

1543 posts

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#781247 13-Mar-2013 19:24

Create a new Network location, and/or new User Account, see if it works then.

Cheers,
Joseph

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#781256 13-Mar-2013 20:01

As soon as I created a new account, it was able to connect. I changed back, still was not able to. Changed the SSID and password, was able to connect. Changed back to the new account...Was NOT able to connect. Changed it again and it connected fine.

I disabled encryption all together (I was using Mixed WPA2/WPA-PSK) and both were able to connect.

This has only just sprung up in the last couple of days. it was working fine with encryption for the last 3 years!

UPDATE:

I can change the SSID and encryption type, the computer connects breifly, then decides to stop. If I rinse and repeat I can get it working breifly and then it stops again. Any ideas? I think this thing must just be faulty.

UPDATE 2:

I Got it working consistantly with NO encryption at all. No idea why it is rejecting any sort of encryption for a reasonable length of time all of a sudden.

It's not really a problem. I'm rural enough for strangers not to be using it and anyone who can come in range is more than likely welcome to use it anyway.

...So I guess I solved my problem. Kinda.

josephhinvest

1543 posts

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#781273 13-Mar-2013 20:33

I would try deleting your existing Network Location, and creating a new one for the problem user account.
System Prefences > Network > Locations pop up > Edit locations > "-" button

Cheers,
Joseph

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#781279 13-Mar-2013 20:38

josephhinvest: I would try deleting your existing Network Location, and creating a new one for the problem user account.
System Prefences > Network > Locations pop up > Edit locations > "-" button

Cheers,
Joseph

I deleted ALL networks as well as keychain information to make sure it isn't secretly remembering anything..

It would work for 2 minutes regardless of name/encryption..ect, then stop again.

Like I said above, I got it working by removing encryption all together. It is a bit silly, considering in any other housing arrangement, that method would simply be unacceptable to me. I'd still like to see if anyone else had a similar issue.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#781425 14-Mar-2013 09:53

Im not a big fan of mixed mode WPA2/WPA when you've got a few different devices.
You could try mac address filtering instead if you're worried about security (not the best but will keep out just about everyone).

It still seems like it could be the Macbook or the Router that is playing up.
I'd imagine the router, since 99% are cheap rubbish that break after a couple of years, especially in summer. Also when they play up, they can do so in strange ways.

When you've got a chance try it with another router, even at a friends/relatives place.