Static IP for Laptop on just home WiFi?

Discussion in 'Application Software' started by harrismail, Feb 18, 2014.

  1. harrismail

    harrismail MDL Member

    Mar 28, 2010
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    Is it possible to give a laptop a static IP on a home WiFi network but for all other WiFi networks (coffee shops, other homes etc) let it have one automatically (given by DHCP)

    I don't think it's possible as once you've allocated an IP to a network interface it sticks? No?

    TIA
     
  2. redroad

    redroad MDL Guru

    Dec 2, 2011
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    Just a thought but maybe as different user account ?
     
  3. harrismail

    harrismail MDL Member

    Mar 28, 2010
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    It's not as easy as that... the long story is that I'm using a piece of software that monitors the PC health for a family member. I've set up port forwarding and dyndns etc etc and everything works fine... but if the router gets rebooted the laptop would get a new IP address and the port forwarding would fall over.

    If I set the network adapter with a static IP then this will cause problems when the laptop is used anywhere else...??
     
  4. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    Set the port forwarding for Mac address instead of IP then
     
  5. leebo_28

    leebo_28 MDL Senior Member

    Jun 12, 2011
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    thanks..kept thinking foward to host instead of ip. mac makes more sense.:worthy:
     
  6. harrismail

    harrismail MDL Member

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    That sounds like a plan... I'll have to login remotely and hope the router is capable of that task!
    I guess a lot of cheap ones (or even expensive ones) won't be :rolleyes:
     
  7. harrismail

    harrismail MDL Member

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    Damn - just checked and port forwarding is only available on the router in question for IP addresses :mad:
     
  8. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    #10 MrMagic, Feb 18, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2014
    Time for a router upgrade, you can get fairly cheap Linksys / Ciscos that allow DD-WRT firmware to be flashed, then you have a £600 router from a cheap £40 thing with all the settings you could dream of

    I have the WRT160NL

    2 Wireless adapters would work though, set internal one to static for home and the other USB one to DHCP for out and about

    Just disable the internal one when you go out, theres normally a WiFi quick access button on most laptops you can use just quickly turn it on and off
     
  9. Myrrh

    Myrrh MDL Expert

    Nov 26, 2008
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    Perhaps your router can do DHCP Reservations, in which you specify the IP address it always gives to a particular MAC address.
     
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  10. harrismail

    harrismail MDL Member

    Mar 28, 2010
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    It's a family members here in the UK and the router is called a "BT Home Hub 3" which is like no other :rolleyes:
     
  11. Revolve

    Revolve MDL Novice

    Mar 25, 2013
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    I do mine this way for a similar situation and it works perfectly.
     
  12. Mutagen

    Mutagen MDL Addicted

    Feb 18, 2013
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    #16 Mutagen, Feb 18, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2014
    Correct. Two possible solutions are:
    1 - Third party app. that save and restores multiple settings for the network interface.
    2 - Buy USB WiFi dongle, use it when mobile. Switch back to built-in when home.

    Both solutions avoid any changes to your home WiFi router. IMHO, it shouldn't even be part of the equation.
     
  13. leebo_28

    leebo_28 MDL Senior Member

    Jun 12, 2011
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    He's using dyndns..so the router "is" in the equation.
     
  14. gorski

    gorski MDL Guru

    Oct 21, 2009
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    This!:shisha:
     
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  15. Mutagen

    Mutagen MDL Addicted

    Feb 18, 2013
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    Sorry, I'm guilty of incorrect wording. I should have said "changing the router's settings shouldn't be part of resolving the issue." I have never heard of anyone, anywhere, with any portable WiFi device who needs to change their router's settings when leaving/arriving home. :)