Disable fire wall briefly no go.

then check to see if the DHCP service is running.

To check if DHCP is running go to:
Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services
Scroll down to "DHCP Client" and double click on it
Make sure "Startup type" is set to "Automatic"
Make sure "Service status:" is "Started"
If it is not click the "Start" button

Next you could try this:

Go to Start > Control Panel - If you are using Windows XP's Category View, select the Network and Internet Connections category. If you are in Classic View, go to the next step.

* Double-click the Network Connections icon.
* Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.
* Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button.
* Be sure Obtain DNS server address automatically is selected.
* OK your way out.

Go to Start > Run and type in cmd
Click OK

* This will open a command prompt.
* Type the following line in the command window:

ipconfig /flushdns (note the space between ipconfig and /)

* Press Enter on the keyboard.
* Exit the command window

Restart your computer.

Hi Grandms,
I looked through the knowledge base documentation at the Cradlepoint site, but came up empty. Maybe try disabling/enabling the Broadcom adapter. If that doesn't stablilize the connection, I would consider uninstalling, then reinstalling drivers for the adapter. Because of my background, I would powercycle everything.

One question...do the lights on the router go orange or flash when you are getting the acquiring network address message?

Pam

If you have another wireless device available, you could really narrow down the problem. If another device works properly the problem is probably with the laptop network card/ driver or the network setup within the laptop.

Do you have any friends/ relatives with a wireless device? Even with network security, a wireless device should detect the signal. I use a wireless PDA to confirm wireless signals.

John, no other wireless devices available, not even a Wii!

Pam, yes, I have already disabled and enabled the wireless adapter. No, the LED lights on the router do not flash when I am getting the "acquiring network address" message.

Zep, DHCP is running properly and Internet Protocol is set up correctly. I did the command prompt and that changed nothing. I restarted the computer and I am connected to the Internet (Avast just updated), yet the little icon in the task bar still says "acquiring network address". This really has me puzzled.

I just restarted the computer again, and now the wireless connection is working. This is not the first time this has happened, and it is driving me crazy! Grrrrr.

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

When you get time you can read through some of the links

Here is a link that might be useful: acquiring network address

Thanks, Zep. I will do that.

You could also recreate the wireless connection see link, that is mentioned in the Tech Support thread, usually good information on that site and it's on one of the Google links I gave you.

Here is a link that might be useful: recreate.

Radio works but the port is isnt working.. sounds like a modem/router problem. Next time it does it power cycle the modem/router.

One possibility is that it's trying to connect to another wireless router in the area. This can be especially problematic if you and your neighbor both kept the default router names but used different security settings. Depending on where the routers are and where the laptop is, the neighbor's router may be giving a stronger signal.

check your router's logs if you can. That may give you a clue about whether you're trying to connect to it instead of a different router. Many routers have a web interface for management (and please make sure you've changed it from the factory default password).

Open your network connections, right click the wireless connection and select properties. Select the Wireless Networks tab and look at the preferred networks area. Make sure your router is the only one showing. If you have others showing, select them and choose remove.

bpgreen, there are no other networks in my neighborhood, a rural area. Also I have security set up and do not use the default router name. Only signal is mine.

This morning everything is working just fine.

Zep, I have read many of those links previously, but found several new suggestions which I copied and will try if this happens again.