DHCP assigns wrong IP address on the wrong domain. Probably a wrong setting somewhere on my MAC.

So… Here’s my problem… I’ve got a wifi router that delivers a network that I called “P1”

And I’ve got a powerline DLink DHP-W306AV connected via LAN to the router, that I use as a range expander (without using the power line feature). I called this network “P2”.


I can connect my Mac Book Pro to P1 without any problem… But I cannot connect to P2.


When I connect to P1, here is my IP address:


When I connect to P2 then I get an IP address on the wrong domain. And it doesn’t show any router… and I’ve got the wrong subtask (should be 255.255.255.0).

I have no idea what’s going on.. it looks like my computer always tries to connect by default via domain 169.254.72.xxx. Where does this domain come from anyways? An old setting from a country I travelled to? A default “goto” IP address assigned by MAC computers when they can’t manage to get something that works through DHCP??


Some more things..:


1-My wife has a MAC book pro too… Her settings are the same as on my own MAC (tabs TCP/IP, DNS, WINS, 802.1X, Proxies.. are exactly the same)

And she can use both networks without any issue. On P2, the DHCP gives her an IP address on the proper network..


2-I checked the DLink settings… Nothing fancy there… Just the normal basic settings… And its the same settings for any computer that wants to connect to it (no MAC address restrictions or anything like that)…


3-I have also tried to assign my MAC a static IP address (like 192.168.178.102)…. Then I can connect to P1, but still not to P2. When on P2, the TCP/IP settings look OK…. but I can’t reach the internet…



I am really clueless.


Does anyone have an idea what could go wrong?

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 12, 2019 12:20 PM

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5 replies

May 12, 2019 1:01 PM in response to pmolinar

The IP address you are seeing on IP2 is what is known as a "self-assigned" address. That means that when your Mac is connecting this network, it is not getting the proper IP address from the network's DHCP service.


My guess, at this point, is the configuration of the DLink extender.


Let's start with what is the make and model of your "main" wireless router? Is the DLink powerline adapter connected on the same electrical circuit as your main router? That is, if you "pull the circuit breaker" at the electrical panel, do both devices not get power? Finally, do you have any proxy server settings configured for your Mac, i.e., System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced... > Proxies?

May 31, 2019 10:15 PM in response to Tesserax

Many thanks Tesserax,

THe DLink powerline adapter is connected to the same electrical network as anything else in the house, but it is on another floor and uses a circuit different than the main router (I’ve got several circuits in the house : 1 for the kitchen , 1 for the living room, 1 for the basement , etc.). Of course if I pull the main circuit breaker, everything goes down.


As for proxies, I’ve got no protocols checked, but I do have “bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains” = *.local, 169.254/16

(I dont really know what it means!)

I also “use passive FTP mode (PASV)”

(dont know either!)


Could the solution be there?


THe strange thing is that my wife's computer does connect properly through the Dlink... So the Dlink should logically get the signal even though it is connected on a sub-circuit distinct from the main router...

May 12, 2019 2:44 PM in response to pmolinar

169.254.xxx.yyy is a self-assigned IP address.


This sort of address is assigned by your Mac to Itself when it starts up. It is needed to identify itself uniquely on the Network.


I most cases, with a properly operating Network, this address would be sent out once in a broadcast message, for all listening, that says essentially "send a good local IP address, back at this temporary self-assigned IP address". That is usually the last time that address is seen, as the response from a Router comes back so quickly, most Users have never seen a self-assigned IP address.


So when you see a self-assigned IP address persist, it tells you, "nobody will talk to me". In most cases, this is caused by really fundamental problems, like cables unplugged.

Jun 1, 2019 7:31 AM in response to pmolinar

That proxy information is correct, and that is NOT the solution to your problem.


RE: power

Are you in the US (which typically uses 120 Volt two-phase power) or somewhere else like the UK (which typically uses 240 Volt one-phase power) ?? Does your main breaker break two wires or one?


With two-phase power, you could be on a circuit on the opposite Phase from the Router. This would mean the place where they connect is at the neighborhood transformer, and that could add some rather long wires.

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DHCP assigns wrong IP address on the wrong domain. Probably a wrong setting somewhere on my MAC.

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