Iphone and Macbook wifi issues

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Knakkel Author

Level 1

4 points

Iphone and Macbook wifi issues

My daughters iphone and macbook won't connect to the internet via wifi anymore all of a sudden.

I googled answers for days now, all without the solution.

My setup:

Router: pfSense

Accespoints: 3 x Ubiquity + Cloudkey Gen 2 plus.

I have setup a main LAN for all wifi related things in my household to connect to internet which do not need to be restricted.

Second, i setup a "guest" network for my daughter to connect to the internet. This network has time restrictions to manage her internet usage.

None of the above hardware causes any issues for years now so that's not the problem.

As far as i can see the problem is dhcp, iphone and macbook receive a 169.254.x.x address which leads nowhere. Also the find wifi network in settings keeps spinning.

If i connect anything other then a Apple device to the guest-network it works fine and gets a correct ip address. If i connect my own or wifes iphone to the guest network: same issue, getting a 169.254.x.x address.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

iPhone 14 Pro

Posted on Aug 26, 2023 4:51 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ku4hx

Level 7

23,592 points

Aug 26, 2023 7:37 AM in response to Knakkel

Restart the router and modem by pulling the power plug and wait 30 seconds before reinserting. Do the modem first then the router.

This is a first order solution to rule out the need for resetting. other solutions may be needed.

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Answer 2

Aug 26, 2023 10:51 AM in response to Knakkel

ku4hx provides good first steps above.

<< the problem is dhcp, iphone and macbook receive a 169.254.x.x address >>

that Address is from the range of self-assigned IP addresses that EVERY internet-capable device gives itself when it first attempts to connect to the Internet. It is typically used only momentarily, then replaced with a "good" local IP address provided by a DHCP sever, typically the one in your main Router.

Self-assigned Addreses are perfectly good for local use, but Un-Routable (cannot be used to connect to the Internet).

>> When that address persists for long enough for you to still see it, it is because "no one will talk to me" -- no DHCP-enabled Router will give me a good local IP address.

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Answer 3

Knakkel Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 29, 2023 2:03 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

@Grant Bennet-Alder I understand why devices get that ip address, but looking for the reason why only apple devices get that address in my setup. Also toggling private ip address on or off does not help.

It's beginning to drive me nuts. Somehow the dhcpserver does not receive the calls for an address at all, it can be seen in the logfiles of the dchpserver.

I found a temporarily solution: move the devices over to the network that does work, but thats not the solution to why i setup a guest network in the first place. My daughter has no restrictions anymore now.

For now it's working (not in the way i would like) and like to thank everybody who collaborated so far.

If in the near future i'm able to solve this, i will let you know.

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Aug 29, 2023 7:05 AM in response to Knakkel

the punchline is "nobody will talk to me".

If you have adequate signal, and could get on the non-guest network in the same location, then something about the way you have configured guest network on your Router or on that Mac is messed up.

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Answer 5

Knakkel Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 30, 2023 3:56 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Ok fair enough... But i did not change any setup for over a year now. So what happened in the last week or so.

It kept bothering me, and i started trying things further. If i connect an old laptop to the guest network with a ethernet cable, i get an ip offered. If i connect that same laptop to the guest network on wifi i don't get an ip.

After googling some more i discovered there is a bug in Ubiquity firmware which prevents DHCP packets reaching clients on a Vlan. It's called dhcp snooping and/or dhcp guarding.

2 weeks ago i did a regular update on my (Ubiquity)setup, because updates are good right?

Well wouldn't you know ... i downgraded to the last know good and working setup and voila ... it works again.

So it was not anything related to apple devices, but i had to start somewhere

Again, thanks for colaborating. Case closed.

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Answer 6

Knakkel Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 29, 2023 1:44 AM in response to ku4hx

Thnx, thats the first thing to do when things don't work anymore.

Unfortunately it did not help.

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Iphone and Macbook wifi issues

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