I've noticed that I have the option of using reserved DHCP settings assigning permanent IPs to the computers connected to the network - each computer would always receive the same IP from the router. Would doing that give me a more stable network? I'm still getting random disconnects, especially on the wireless side. It also dropped a wired connection the other day, but rebooting that computer reestablished its connection.<br><br><br><br><br>

No harm if you assign the IPs permanently. And check your router manual or the manufacturer's website for that DHCP Lease time, the default for unlimited lease could be 0 (zero). Looks like you have it set to renew itself every 180 minutes, so that might even cause the wireless connection to drop.<br><br>And if the wireless connection drops, you shouldn't need to reboot to get it back online, it should still see the network and you'd just connect back on it manually from the wireless control panel.<br><br>And I guess now would be a good time for you to turn the MAC filtering on for your wireless connections, too, if you haven't already. Makes it even harder for the piggybackers to hog your bandwidth. <br><br>

The wireless network is hidden and WPA2 encrypted.<br><br>

Yes. I was thinking you had said about that in an earlier thread. Still, no harm done and it's just an added security measure to have the MAC filtering on.<br><br>While we're on the topic, the other day I was looking at the spousal laptop's network control panel, and that wireless open network called THOMSON was there. Then that Phosphor's story about his neighbor came to mind and now I'm having wicked thoughts of checking if I could see the computer of the owner of that network and copy a text file on their computer advising them to turn on their wireless security and scare them s***less... <br><br>

Yeah, what's up with that 180 minutes lease time? Mine is set to zero by default (which is one day). I don't know if that would make a difference, but I can't see why that would be an advantage for it to be so short.<br><br>

It's the default setting. I suppose I should change it, then. <br><br>I have set the reserved DHCP settings I need, though. Now each machine will keep its IP constant. When the router dropped the wired connection, I began to suspect IP conflicts.<br><br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by MacBozo on 02/16/08 01:29 PM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

Setting it to zero disconnected everyone. I've reset it to 1440 minutes (1 day).<br><br><br>

What router are you running btw?<br><br>

When the connection drops can you go into Network settings and tell it to renew DHCP lease? What IP address does it show when the connection drops? It's odd you had to restart the wired computer to get a new IP address. It could be a flaky router, can you take it back for exchange? I have seen the wired side go out due to wireless interference though. Once every few months or so our 2.4Ghz phone's frequency crosses paths with the router, when a call is active it knocks out the router, wired and wireless, until the call ends. Sometimes it takes the router down totally, and sometimes even though the router comes back to life it requires turning Airport off and back on for the laptop, or rebooting the laptop to get the laptop working again.<br><br>I like reserved IP addresses so I know what computer I'm trying to connect to BTW, but it is still using the DHCP function of the router. You could also try assigning static address outside of the DHCP range, manually entering them into the computers. Use the router address for the DNS server address.<br><br>------> JD's Trivia game<br><br>------> MCF-MM Trivia game

D-Link WBR-2310<br><br>