iMac (airport) has hard time connecting to wireless

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #1 (**permalink**)

11-21-2011, 09:23 PM

I'm new to the Mac world and so far so good EXCEPT for the wireless connection issue. These are the messages I get when I try to connect to a wireless signal using airport:

"AirPort does not have an IP address and cannot connect to the Internet."

"AirPort has the self-assigned IP address xxxxxxxxxxxxx and will not be able to connect to the Internet."

It usually connects after a 15-20 minute wait or sometimes I can click on "Renew DHCP Lease" and that will work but not always.

Notes:
- I'm running Snow Leopard v10.6.8.
- I have no problem connecting w/ my ipad or pc

Any suggestions?

pendlewitch · pendlewitch #2 (**permalink**)

11-22-2011, 02:10 PM

Hi,
Have you used the diagnostics in Network Preferences at all ?

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #3 (**permalink**)

11-23-2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pendlewitch

Hi,
Have you used the diagnostics in Network Preferences at all ?

I ran diagnostics once after it failed to connect but didn't help much.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

pendlewitch · pendlewitch #4 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 04:45 AM

The message seems very specific. When you booted up your iMac for the first time it should have asked you if you wanted to connect to the wireless connection it found. Unless you configured it later manually?

In System Preferences/Network/Wireless do you have Location 'Automatic checked and Wi-Fi turned on ?

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #5 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pendlewitch

In System Preferences/Network/Wireless do you have Location 'Automatic checked and Wi-Fi turned on ?

In System Preferences/Network, I do not see "Wireless" and only see "Airport", "Ethernet", and "Firewire".

This morning the airport had no issues connecting to the wireless. I'm wondering if it had anything to do w/ clicking "Turn AirPort Off" last night.

Also, I noticed when I restart the computer, it would connect with no issues. It's only when I put the imac to sleep w/o turning airport off that this issue seems to be happening.

osxx · osxx #6 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 02:13 PM

System Preferences > Network >Left Column at the top should be Wi-Fi with a green dot
showing connected and on the left column status connected should show your network if not click on advanced Wi-Fi > Preferred network drag yours to the top and edit the rest if any others are listed.

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #7 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osxx

System Preferences > Network >Left Column at the top should be Wi-Fi with a green dot
showing connected and on the left column status connected should show your network if not click on advanced Wi-Fi > Preferred network drag yours to the top and edit the rest if any others are listed.

chscag · chscag #8 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMacSnow

Are you actually connected to WiFi when opening System Preferences, Network? If not, WiFi will not show up on the list. Make sure you're connected and locked on to the signal, then open System Preferences, Network, and do what member osxx said.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #9 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 03:44 PM

Did wifi only appear with Lion? From memory when running Snow Leopard did state Airport. Seeing Airport under Advanced confirms this. Location is Automatic and the network name appears in the window pane?

Have you tried re-setting the modem/router and if no joy follow the manual to go into the browser address and set up a new network. And when you go into Advanced > DNS do two sets of IP addresses appear there? If not ask your ISP for the addresses. One is primary and the second one, secondary of course.

pendlewitch · pendlewitch #10 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chscag

Are you actually connected to WiFi when opening System Preferences, Network? If not, WiFi will not show up on the list. Make sure you're connected and locked on to the signal, then open System Preferences, Network, and do what member osxx said.

Mine looks like this, and yes I recall it used to be called 'Airport'.

The router address is what you should paste into your Safari address bar to access the router's utility as harryb2448 was explaining.

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #11 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 09:21 PM

Thanks for all the help guys.

looks like clicking "Turn Airport Off" whenever I'm done using the computer, then turning it on again does the trick.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #12 (**permalink**)

11-24-2011, 09:29 PM

Well always personally turn it on in System preferences and turn off in Menu Bar, if you have show status in menu Bar selected.

iMacSnow · iMacSnow #13 (**permalink**)

12-05-2011, 10:02 PM

So after a week of successfully connecting to the airport using the "turn airport on/off" method, I'm having the same issues again!!

Seems like when the airport self assigns an IP address, it starts w/ 169 and doesn't connect. When it finally chooses to connect, the IP address starts w/ a 192.

I just don't get it. Do you guys think it's a faulty airport card?

pendlewitch #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 10, 2011 Location: Nelson,UK Posts: 1,645 Mac Specs: iMac 27" Mid 2010, 3.2GHz Intel Core i3,4GB 1333 MHz DDR3, ATI Radeon HD5670 512MB, ML 10.8.3	11-22-2011, 02:10 PM Hi, Have you used the diagnostics in Network Preferences at all ? iMac 27-inch Mid 2010, WD My Book 1TB Firewire, Magic Mouse,Magic Trackpad, iPhone 4, iPod Nano 4GB 3rd Gen,ATV2, Samsung LE40 Series 6, Denon AVR1910, Kef HTS 1001.2’s and Kube-1 Sub Denon DCD510AE, Panasonic DMP-BD60,Sky+HD,Logitech Harmony One Advanced. MOTM October 2012.
	QUOTE Thanks

pendlewitch #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 10, 2011 Location: Nelson,UK Posts: 1,645 Mac Specs: iMac 27" Mid 2010, 3.2GHz Intel Core i3,4GB 1333 MHz DDR3, ATI Radeon HD5670 512MB, ML 10.8.3	11-24-2011, 04:45 AM The message seems very specific. When you booted up your iMac for the first time it should have asked you if you wanted to connect to the wireless connection it found. Unless you configured it later manually? In System Preferences/Network/Wireless do you have Location 'Automatic checked and Wi-Fi turned on ? iMac 27-inch Mid 2010, WD My Book 1TB Firewire, Magic Mouse,Magic Trackpad, iPhone 4, iPod Nano 4GB 3rd Gen,ATV2, Samsung LE40 Series 6, Denon AVR1910, Kef HTS 1001.2’s and Kube-1 Sub Denon DCD510AE, Panasonic DMP-BD60,Sky+HD,Logitech Harmony One Advanced. MOTM October 2012.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	11-24-2011, 03:44 PM Did wifi only appear with Lion? From memory when running Snow Leopard did state Airport. Seeing Airport under Advanced confirms this. Location is Automatic and the network name appears in the window pane? Have you tried re-setting the modem/router and if no joy follow the manual to go into the browser address and set up a new network. And when you go into Advanced > DNS do two sets of IP addresses appear there? If not ask your ISP for the addresses. One is primary and the second one, secondary of course. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	11-24-2011, 09:29 PM Well always personally turn it on in System preferences and turn off in Menu Bar, if you have show status in menu Bar selected. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

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iMacSnow #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 21, 2011 Posts: 10	11-21-2011, 09:23 PM I'm new to the Mac world and so far so good EXCEPT for the wireless connection issue. These are the messages I get when I try to connect to a wireless signal using airport: "AirPort does not have an IP address and cannot connect to the Internet." "AirPort has the self-assigned IP address xxxxxxxxxxxxx and will not be able to connect to the Internet." It usually connects after a 15-20 minute wait or sometimes I can click on "Renew DHCP Lease" and that will work but not always. Notes: - I'm running Snow Leopard v10.6.8. - I have no problem connecting w/ my ipad or pc Any suggestions?
	QUOTE Thanks

osxx #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 19, 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 3,949 Mac Specs: 15 MacBook Pro 2009 32GB iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 Apple TV 3 AEBS/AE	11-24-2011, 02:13 PM System Preferences > Network >Left Column at the top should be Wi-Fi with a green dot showing connected and on the left column status connected should show your network if not click on advanced Wi-Fi > Preferred network drag yours to the top and edit the rest if any others are listed.
	QUOTE Thanks

iMacSnow #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 21, 2011 Posts: 10	11-24-2011, 09:21 PM Thanks for all the help guys. looks like clicking "Turn Airport Off" whenever I'm done using the computer, then turning it on again does the trick.
	QUOTE Thanks

iMacSnow #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 21, 2011 Posts: 10	12-05-2011, 10:02 PM So after a week of successfully connecting to the airport using the "turn airport on/off" method, I'm having the same issues again!! Seems like when the airport self assigns an IP address, it starts w/ 169 and doesn't connect. When it finally chooses to connect, the IP address starts w/ a 192. I just don't get it. Do you guys think it's a faulty airport card?
	QUOTE Thanks

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