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Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Michael Corgan
My internet connection went down overnight so that yesterday morning I could not send or receive emails nor get onto the web. Turned out that the router wireless connection had dropped out, and I don't know why. More puzzling was the fact that there is also a cable connection between router and iMac.
When the same thing happened while I was out this afternoon, on my return I was unable to access the router to select it in Airport and had to re-boot. Before doing this I tried a different cable, to no avail.
Has anyone else come across this problem and if so were they able to cure it?

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Mick Burrell
Could you clarify some points? You say:

there is also a cable connection between router and iMac.

Do you mean that you normally have wi-fi turned on and connected as well as an ethernet connection? If so, in System Preferences>Network, you can drag the connections in the order you'd like them to connect by highlighting one and clicking the small gear icon at the bottom. So if wi-fi is at the top, the iMac will always use that in preference to Ethernet, (I'd always have ethernet as first choice if possible) but it should change to ethernet if wi-fi is not available.

You then say:

I was unable to access the router to select it in Airport and had to re-boot

Do you mean it did not appear in the list of networks when clicking on the wi-fi icon? It wouldn't if wi-fi was down. Did you re-boot the router or the iMac? A different cable wouldn't help if for some reason the iMac was not prepared to use ethernet.

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Michael Corgan
I had turned the router off and on - there is no On/Off switch. I had also re-booted the Mac, checked the email accounts to see if something had been changed - nothing had, and I don't know how anything could have changed overnight - and when I tried accessing my router - one of three networks showing - nothing happened until I re-booted, when access was gained. I have re-ordered the listing as you suggested, and have just tried turning Airport off and accessing email via the cable connection - which still does not work. Another interesting thing!

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Michael Corgan
Is this a clue?

In the Network pane of System Preferences Ethernet has this against it:
"Ethernet has a self-assigned IP address and will not be able to connect to the Internet."

That is a slight hint. All I need to know to correct this is how to install a recognised IP address. Where to find such a thing?

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Lionel Ogden
Just another suggestion, which you may already have tried.

In the Network pane of system preferences, make sure the connection is via DHCP then click the Advanced button and then click Renew DHCP lease

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Michael Corgan
Nope, made no difference. No wi-fi no email/internet on the iMac. The old iBook, using the same router is plodding happily along though. Oh, and I tried other Ethernet sockets on the router too.

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Lionel Ogden
Another thing to try is to select the ethernet option and then click the gear wheel at the bottom and then click make service active.

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Michael Corgan
Tried that, but it is showing as active already. Turned Airport off (again) and this time the cable connection worked. I am beginning to think that there is an electronic poltergeist at work around here - ther have been other peculiar happenings! Couldn't possibly be me!

Re: Loss of internet connection.

Avatar Lionel Ogden
Do you have a cordless phone in close proximity to your router. These can upset a wifi signal.
 
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