MKB fails to connect to internet wirelessly. Get message 'self assigned IP address 169.254.221.64, cannot connect to internet'. Can anyone help? Am running 10.6.8.

Question

MKB fails to connect to internet wirelessly. Get message 'self assigned IP address 169.254.221.64, cannot connect to internet'. Can anyone help? Am running 10.6.8.

Just got connected to internet through wifi with my MBK after installing provider's router (ZyXel). A friend's MBP could not connect to internet through the same WIFI network..even though it connected to the WLAN... somehow the router was not assigning it an IP address, so Airport would self assign an address like 169.254.221.64 and post a message on the Network utility in System Preferences saying it couldn't connect to the internet. After calling a friend, he suggested I change the WIFI channel on the router to see if that would solve the problem. So I changed it from 9 to 6 and then to 11....the MBK and MBP are both supposed to handle that. Both computers were purchased last year... The MBP in tbe fall and the MBK in Dec. Both are running 10.6.8. When I switched the router channel, now the MBK could no longer connect, and neither could the MBP. So I reset the router back to Channel 9 and reset it. This did not solve the problem. So now neither computer connect through Wifi. They both have the same problem. Airport cannot seem to get an IP address from the router in DHCP mode. My iPhone 4 and iPad 2 both connect and so does a MBA. I have tried zapping the PRAM on the MBK. Nada. Still not able to get the IP address. Any suggestions from you gurus out there? I thought of going to an internet cafe and seeing if I can connect there. Also thought of hooking up the MAC's to the internet via ethernet hub on router (this does work) and downloading LION. But don't want to have to do that yet.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8), White late 2010, Dec model

Posted on Aug 5, 2011 4:44 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Lang1

Level 5

4,090 points

Aug 6, 2011 7:05 AM in response to kasfromhouston

Try creating a new "Location":

System Preferences > Network

Select the AirPort from the left hand side

Click on the Locations combo box and select Edit Locations...

Click on + to add a new location, call it "Home" (or anything else you prefer)

Click on Advanced

Select the AirPort tab and enter your network name

Select TCP/IP tab.

Configure IPv4 Using DHCP

Now click on Renew DHCP Lease. After a few seconds you should get an IP address (probably 192.168.x.x)

Click on Proxies tab.

Select Auto Proxy Discovery and Use Passive FTP

Click on OK and Apply, etc.

Bob

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Answer 2

Aug 7, 2011 12:48 AM in response to Bob Lang1

Hi Bob. Thank you for your suggestion. I had already tried creating a new location without the Auto Proxy Discovery/Passive FTP suggestion without a positive result. Before getting your input, I did see a suggestion on a link that it may be a security issue. So I removed the WEP security and all of a sudden all of the Macs could connect. Now I have to figure out what I can do to build it back with a secure connection. For the time being we are all able to connect and I am monitoring who is on through the router. We shut tge router off when we leave home. So not a long term solution yet, but at least we are up and running.

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Answer 3

Bob Lang1

Level 5

4,090 points

Aug 7, 2011 2:43 AM in response to kasfromhouston

Regarding security, I have found that in your situation what works best for me is to give the network hub a completely new name and password, rather than trying to turn on and off the same security with the same name.

Every 12 months or so, I reconfigure my wireless hub to give it a new network name (I just add 1, 2, 3, etc to the previous name) and use some software to create a brand new random password.

Bob

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Answer 4

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Aug 7, 2011 3:19 AM in response to kasfromhouston

That is correct, WEP is old and often leads to loosing the IP Address and getting very slow, on "modern" routers and modems. Use WAP.

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