Private IP Address assigned--can't renew IP

david0491 · January 14th, 2009, 08:28 PM

Hello. I'm a bit new here so bear with me.

I recently bought a Wireless Access Point (Edimax EW-7206APg) in order to set up a connect with my Xbox 360 to gain access to Live. I am a total stranger to how to work this thing, so after several failed attempts at connecting to my router (2Wire 1000HW) with IP Address errors, I read the manual and it said something about having to be on the same subnet. I assumed this meant subnet mask, so I opened up Firefox and went to the usual gateway that brings up the router config page, and attempted to change the subnet mask from 255.255.0.0 to that of the access point, 255.255.255.0, hoping that it would allow the connection to work.

Unfortunately, the results were disastrous, causing the whole network, starting at my router to, function wrong. I was getting the "Limited to no connectivity" error, and noticed that my IP address under the TCP/IP properties had changed from 172.16.0.1 to 169.254.x.x, which I know is a default address. I tried ipconfig /release as well as the Repair feature, but neither worked.

On top of that, when trying to access my router in Firefox--to attempt to fix what I had somehow broken--using the normal IP, it didn't work, so I tried typing in the 169.254.x.x and neither did that. I've tried unplugging the router to restart it, rebooting, all failing.

Recently I managed to change my IP in the TCP/IP properties to a static one of my usual router address, 172.16.0.1, and the error message went away. However, I did not know the info for the necessary DNS server, so I was unable to connect.

I guess my question here isn't just how to fix my network so when I enable automatic IP Address retrieval I don't get an error, but also how to get back to my 2Wire's config page. The router is working fine, this comp in the other room using a different network can pick up the signal perfectly, but it just gets the same error when connecting. Also, the ethernet cables are fine. I just want to know how I screwed up when trying to change the subnet mask and DHCP range of my router.

Thanks ahead for the help, hope to hear back soon =)! (sorry for the life-story long post, thanks for reading)

**GroundZero3** · January 14th, 2009, 08:32 PM

So you are trying to piggy back the access point off the 2wire router?

If so you need to check to see if the access point supports bridging mode

david0491 · January 14th, 2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks, but how would I check if it supports bridging mode? I know that when I read reviews of the access point on Newegg, a few buyers said that they were able to use it to connect to Live with their 360's.

**GroundZero3** · January 14th, 2009, 08:44 PM

I would start with the manual

david0491 · January 14th, 2009, 09:00 PM

Thanks GroundZero,

I did find on the Cd manual that it was compatible with "AP Bridge" mode. =) I found a whole installation guide on the CD, I just wasn't aware that Bridge was the name of configuration I needed. I could probably get it figured out if I got my initial connection fixed, which brings me back to my original question: how can I get the whole "invalid IP address" thing to go away. Thanks again!

**GroundZero3** · January 14th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Well the ap web interface will need to be on the same subnet as your 2wire router. So if your router is 192.168.1.1/255.255.255.0 make your ap ip address 192.168.1.2/255.255.255.0 with the default gateway of 192.168.1.1. That will put the ap on the same network. Any time you need to configure the ap you will use .2

Then you will need to configure the wireless to bridging mode, enter the ssid and wireless security settings that is setup on the 2wire router. (something you will want to look into the manual again) After the ap successfully connects to the wireless network then your xbox 360 will get an ip address

david0491 · January 14th, 2009, 09:43 PM

Thanks a bunch, I was able to configure the AP just fine. But now my problem is that I still for some reason I am unable to configure the 2wire because when I try to enter the default IP in the browser bar to go to the config page, nothing happens. I think when I tried changing the subnet of the actual router yetserday I exited the browser window before the process was over, leading to my main connection, which i would use for my xbox, not working. If I could get a solution to how to get back to my 2wire's config page and to get my main connection to stop with the "Limited to no connectivity" when I have the IP set to automatic, that would be great! Thanks =)!

**GroundZero3** · January 14th, 2009, 09:46 PM

you need a machine plugged directly into the 2wire router to get to it. Until the ap is setup correctly with the right settings, nothing is gonna come through

david0491 · January 14th, 2009, 09:58 PM

Yeah, sorry, maybe I should try to explain a little better. My 2wire is generally always plugged into my comp, and I have config'd it before via web browser. Yesterday, since I was messing with the settings to match the AP subnet, somewhere along the line I did something terribly wrong, and since then, then normal way I would access the 2wire, which was to type in its IP in Firefox, doesn't work. I think this is because when I put the TCP/IP properties on "auto-acquire IP Address" and "auto-acquire DNS" I keep getting the same 169.254.70.40 IP address, which doesn't let me connect to the internet, because it gives me the Error of "Limited or no connectivity". Sorry if I lost you, just ask if you need any more information for assistance (I'm very new to networking), and thanks again!

UPDATE: I just contacted AT&T and apparently my problem is in the DSL modem, so they are sending me a new one. I'll see how that works, and they said that if it doesn't, then I need a new network card.