Help! Wifi network: All devices suddenly on 192.168.2.xxx instead of 192.168.1.xxx

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Level 4

1,220 points

Help! Wifi network: All devices suddenly on 192.168.2.xxx instead of 192.168.1.xxx

Hi everyone and merry christmas

I hope someone can help me with this. It may not be really an Apple/Mac question but I don't know really whom to ask about it.

I live in Holland and have an ADSL connection through Canal Digitaal, which I believe uses the KPN network. My Zyxel 2601 modem/router is usually accessed at 192.168.1.254. The following devices are connected to it: two iphones, a Macbook Air, an Apple TV 3 and a Mac Pro.

Today I experienced connection problems on all devices except the Mac Pro. Looking closer I found in their respective settings that they connect to 192.168.2.254. All have somehow been assigned IP addresses on an 192.168.2.xxx network. The Mac Pro initially kept switching to the 2.xxx network from the 1.xxx network each time I turned wifi on-off-on-off etc but seems to want to remain on the 1.xxx network.

Going to 192.168.2.254 launches a login page for a KPN router called Arcadyan ARV7519 which is on ANOTHER SSID than my wifi network. Nevertheless, all my devices (except the Mac Pro) say they are connected to my network SSID but with IP addresses in the 192.168.2.xxx range.

How is this possible?

Does it have to to with the channels used by the respective routers or is there some phishing or such going on?

What can I do to ensure that my devices stay on my Zyxel network?

Weirdly, the SSID of the Arcadyan router doesn't normally show up in my list of nearby networks. It only shows sometimes.

Also - in case it is relevant - when I try to access 192.168.1.254 from my Mac Pro I am able to log in, meaning I reach the welcome page of my Zyxel router however it takes a very long time for it to load and to change to different pages on the Zyxel. Interestingly, the Zyxel lists, in addition to the Mac Pro, the other devices on the network but without any information as to IP address or name.

I would be grateful for any help with this because it is driving me nuts.

Thanks in advance

Philip

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 2x3TB 1xSSD ACD 23 inch Epson R1900

Posted on Dec 27, 2012 4:59 AM

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Answer 1

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Dec 27, 2012 6:01 AM in response to pullman

I think the Arcadian is a nearby strong WiFi router that has no password on it, so your devices login and remember that WiFi network in the remembered network list.

The IP address is supplied to a connected device from the Router, thus varies normally, but only in the range of the last three numbers in the address.

I do not think there is phishing or hacking going on, you are just entering internet through somebody else's network.

First of all set a WPA/WPA2 password (and write it down) in your Zyxel modem/router WiFi net. Now it is not possible for others to enter your WiFi net.

Ask your neighbour to set a password on the Arcadian net, so that you cannot enter the Arcadian net.

In your iPhone/iPad go network"to settings/WiFi/ and click the blue arrow on the right side of of the indicated Arcadian net, and click "forget this network".

In the Mac go to SystemPreferences/Network click the Airport net in the left panel, click the advanced button on the bottom right, on the new page drag your Zyxel net to the top of the list and delete the Arcadian net from the list. Then uncheck the "remember networks..." option.

Click "OK" on the bottom, click "Apply" on the bottom. Restart the computer.

Do not enter the Arcadian router with its ....2... address: you could ruin the settings and/or set a password thatwould make it impossible for the owner to enter his network.

groeten en beste wensen.

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Answer 2

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,472 points

Dec 27, 2012 6:05 AM in response to pullman

It means someone near you has a wireless router that is connecting to your wireless devices before your router does. DHCP makes it possible for routers and devices to automatically figure out how to connect to each other, and it appears your devices are locking onto a stronger signal.

Heh! I was going to add a lot of what Lex said, but he's got it covered.

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Answer 3

pullman Author

Level 4

1,220 points

Dec 27, 2012 6:24 AM in response to Lexiepex

Dear both many thanks for the quick replies.

What is very odd is that the Arcadyan network doesn't show up when I do a search for present networks. It is only occasionally that it shows up, and then only on the computers (not the iPhones) and also with very weak signal strength. On the same note, the Arcadyan network doesn't become listed in any of my devices; in other words, there is no network under Settings to forget (even on the computers). EDIT: Rather, it is only the 192.168.2.xxx range that is being used by the devices but while connected to my own network SSID.

Unfortunately I don't know who owns that other router so I don't know whom to contact...There are lots of networks around our house, almost all with non-descript names.

Also, I don't know how to prevent computers logging on with their wifis from going to the 2.xxx network. It happens automatically. Why does a device default to an open network when it has a known network available and which it has connected to many times in the past?

What if I set the internal IP manually to circumvent DHCP - could that be a solution? Or is it a bad thing to do?

Kind regards

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Answer 4

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Dec 27, 2012 8:07 AM in response to pullman

If you see it only sporadically that means that the SSID is not always on or does not function well.

Since you login automatically into Arcadian it means that it is in the remembered list although it may not be visible.

If you really don't have it in the remembered list: reread my post and change following:

"...on the new page drag your Zyxel net to the top of the list and delete the Arcadian net from the list..."

instead of just deleting Arcadian, delete all below your Zyxel net. Make sure that you highlight the list as far down as the cursor goes!

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Answer 5

pullman Author

Level 4

1,220 points

Dec 27, 2012 8:34 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thank Lex. I appreciate that you're trying to help. I have deleted all other networks but no joy.

It is not that the devices log in automatically - they remain on my network's SSID but switch to the Arcadian router.

How is it possible that all my phones and computers can remain on my SSID but switch to another router? Why don't they also change to the Arcadian's SSID??

The only thing that could confuse them is that the subnet mask is the same and the router IP is similar - one digit off - nothing else is the same. But that really shouldn't cause them to switch router.

I'm really at a loss here.

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Answer 6

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Dec 27, 2012 8:54 AM in response to pullman

Very confusing indeed.

I think that the Arcadian is not displaying its network name and is very close to be able to "override" your router.

The IP is not just one digit off, but in the range of 100. Unimportant.

If you are not able to find the owner: you can enter this router: just set a simple password in it like 12345. The owner will find you very quickly, and you tell him the password and suggest that he changes that password to another one. It may be that he has replaced the antenna for a double length to make his router much "stronger".

When you do a settings change, and the setting is applied in the router (that can take some time) close the Airport on your computer then turn it on again. The Arcadian can only be entered by giving the password.

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Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Dec 27, 2012 9:38 AM in response to pullman

Suddenly he can not enter his WiFi net anymore, it is asking him/her for a password, Wouldn't you ask around?

There is another way, maybe, to find him before you change his password: there is are apps that search all infor about networks around and have a directional capabilita. I forgot the names and am even not sure they are available still.

Changing the settings/password in the ....2.... router is just as a last resort. I would cut him/her off the WiFi network (he7She can still connect via an ethernet cable).

Maybe when you enter that router you can change the SSID name from "What it is now" to Welk adres woon je?" or "je stoort mijn WiFi net, ik heet Pullman" : that will be the name he sees.

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Answer 8

pullman Author

Level 4

1,220 points

Dec 30, 2012 12:49 PM in response to Lexiepex

Just to update and close this thread. The reason was the Sitecom home plug system I was using. It turns out one of my neighbours was using the same system and for some reason the two setups interacted - as strange as it may sound because they are password secured.

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Answer 9

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Dec 30, 2012 1:50 PM in response to pullman

It may help to set the channel manually on both systems, and that so far away as possible. For example on 2.4GHz band: set the first router to 1 in house "1 and to channel 13 in house "2.

Have a good 2013 !

Lex

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