Connect to WAP but can't access Internet

Question

Level 2

196 points

Connect to WAP but can't access Internet

Sudden WiFi connection issue. I connected to a hotel WiFi. Airport showed connection was made and IP address was reported. However browser would not load, and ping went nowhere (Request timeout for icmp_seq 0, etc). Shut down and walked down to Starbucks. Booted and connected to ATT WiFi just fine. Returned to hotel and connection worked fine. Booted Macbook at airport. AP reported connection and IP reported IP address. Could not connect to any webpage and ping went nowhere (Request timeout for icmp_seq 0, etc). Now that I am home Macbook connected to my home network just fine and Internet connection was fine.

My WiFi has always worked fine. Never had a problem until this weekend. Tried disabling firewall, but had no effect.

Where to start debugging?

Macbook - late 2008, Mac OS X (10.6.4), iMac 21.5" - late 2010

Posted on Apr 17, 2011 7:28 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 17, 2011 9:04 PM in response to DesertRatR

Check the system log for messages from airportd.

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Answer 2

DesertRatR Author

Level 2

196 points

Apr 18, 2011 9:20 PM in response to Linc Davis

I searched air "airportd", "airport", and "airp". Nothing under "airportd". Under "airport" it lists once last evening and once tonight airpoty link down and then up. Must have been at boot up. Any other places to hunt?

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Answer 3

PaulKemp

Level 1

135 points

Apr 18, 2011 9:44 PM in response to DesertRatR

If I understand your post correctly, you only had a problem at the hotel? If you are still having trouble and would like to troubleshoot it, I would recommend ruling out Software problems. This can easily be accomplished by booting to your install dvd. Put OS X Install DVD in the drive, then restart the computer holding 'C'. Once booted to the DVD you choose your language. Second, you click on the airport symbol on the upper right hand corner and connect to your network. After you connect, click Utilities->Network Utility and try pinging websites. If you can't ping websites, try pinging known good IP addresses. This will tell you whether you have a DNS issue.

If things are still not working in the Install DVD, it is likely an issue with the network. This would be evident by you being able to connect to other networks without trouble.

I hope this helps!

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Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 18, 2011 9:50 PM in response to DesertRatR

So you've had intermittent problems with two different wireless networks. Your configuration didn't change, and there are no error messages in your log. I'd be hard put to say there's anything you can do on your end. Wireless networking is inherently unreliable.

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Answer 5

BobHarris

Level 9

56,933 points

Apr 19, 2011 6:10 AM in response to DesertRatR

Have you tried specifying your own DNS servers. For example

OpenDNS.org

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

Google DNS

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

You would specify them via System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> DNS -> click plus

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