Weird issue with a wireless device & network - please help !

[swayzak]

I've been having REAL problems with my Logitech Squeezebox Controller device (it's a hardware handheld remote controller for Squeezebox music players).

It persistently fails to connect to my wireless network - either saying "DHCP address cannot be found" or "no valid IP address".

The wireless music system operates either via internet (MySqueezebox.com) or a local music server (my netbook running Logitech Media Server- LMS). Using the former means that the Controller (and it's accompanying players- the Receiver, 2 x Booms) can be used to access music etc. without having to turn on local server.

The Controller's Diagnostics screen gives following info:

Check Network = "No valid IP"

Wireless info = "nil" for IP Gateway (all other entries are present)

Server info gives:

Mysb.com DNS failed
Ping - can't ping
TCP port 3483 cannot connect
TCP port 9000 cannot connect
mysb.com registration -

Squeezebox Server 192.168.1.78
Library name - Netbook library
Ping - can't ping
TCP 3483 OK
TCP port 9000 OK

So something very strange is going on.

All other wireless devices (netbooks & PCs, 2 SqueezeBooms (more Squeezebox players - bit like small ghetto blasters) etc. work fine.

The Controller displays a red wireless icon (meaning it's not connected properly to network) - yet it still appears to be able to control music playback etc. from the local server on my netbook !!

The Controller briefly gets a "static" IP address according to router (which I don't understand as the DHCP server is enabled - it should say Assigned by DHCP) - then it says the device is inactive & IP is 0.0.0.0

However last night, after many weeks of this, the Controller finally connected to the network (white wireless icon). I don't know exactly what I did to enable this - just another "connect to network" attempt.

So I quickly looked at router page for this device (as SuperUser) & it had a valid IP address, assigned by DHCP. I then checked the "always use this IP address" to make it static (the lease time changed to infinite), as I thought this might "capture" a stable, working setup for the Controller !

Tonight I'm going to try it again & see if it can connect.

It would be great if someone on here could explain what might be going on here as Logitech support has failed & O2 support were dreadful.


thanks

 

[spidey07]

1st step is to make sure you broadcast the SSID. Many clients don't like it to be "hidden" and can exhibit unusual behavior.

 

[swayzak]

1st step is to make sure you broadcast the SSID. Many clients don't like it to be "hidden" and can exhibit unusual behavior.

Thanks

Yes - always set to broadcast.

inSSIDer also used to select a "quiet" channel.

WPA/WPA2 security.

 

[spidey07]

In that case troubleshoot with no security/encryption enabled and in the same room as the router/ap but not right next to it. If it still has problems then it's a client/device problem (antenna not plugged in, driver, etc) or possibly interference/antenna orientation. Wouldn't hurt to try and upgrade the firmware on the router.