My network doesn't assign a different IP address to other devices trying to connect!

Elliot · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 05:28 PM

Hello everyone, I'm having some networking trouble and this seemed like the best place to ask for help! I'm not familiar with wireless networking configuration at all, accessing the routers configuration screen is about as far as my knowledge goes..

I'm using a Linksys E4200 Router and an RE10000 Range Extender. Since I've had the router and range extender installed I've occasionally been getting a message on my Macbook saying that another device is using my IP Address. It usually happens when I'm running off of the range extender. Sometimes when I connect to the range extender it will lose connection to the network as well even though the range extender is definitely in good range of the router. We have a lot of devices using the network (5 computers, 5 iPhones, 2 other smartphones, 2 ps3s, a wii and an iPad). Are there any settings that I should change to ensure the network is working at it's best? I'd appreciate the help a ton, it's been driving me and my family crazy.

pete212 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2012, 10:22 AM

Do you know if your using static or dynamic IP addressing? If you dont know, then the default is dynamic.

Static = Each device uses the same IP address all the time, which is set by the user.

Dynamic = Each device uses any available IP address. This is controlled by your router, which makes sure it doesnt assign the same IP address to more than one device.

It sounds like one of your devices is using a static addresses, and then your PC using dynamic is being assigned the same address by the router, hence the message about the same IP address.

To fix, check in the settings on every single device and ensure it is set to use dynamic address (also refered to as DHCP on some devices). If there is a reason for a particular device using a static address and it cannot be changed to dynamic, then you get set up an address reservation on the router. This means that the router won't assign that particular address to any devices, so therefore there will not be any conflicts.

Hope this helped.