Problem with Macbook air automatically not acquiring free wifi network dns or router address

I have this problem when my macbook air sometimes does not connect to free wifi hotspots. When the problem happens and I try to run the diagnostics, it normally gets to yellow network settings tab. It seems that it for some reason does not acquire automatically the router or dns address. Sometimes after I shut it down and restart it magically connects to the wifi hotspot but it is very inconsistent. Anyone knows a fix for this problem?


You may want to try changing the service order. What effect this actually has, I'm not positive, but it's worth a shot:

  1. Go to System Preferences and click Network under Internet & Network
  2. Click the little options button under the services list and choose "Set Service Order...".

    little options button

  3. In the list that pops up drag your wireless service, likely called Airport, to the top.

I've heard some claims that this is caused by TCP packet timestamps not agreeing, but I can't find the link (great). Maybe something related to this.