Database Users

XDAIIi wi-fi problem

Hi all. I looked at several wi-fi posts on here, but couldn't find anything related to my problem.
I'm beginning to suspect that it's because of something stupid I'm doing, cos it really should be working...
Anyhoo ...I have a wireless router at home, and it's serving 3 PCs with DHCP IP addresses, and an internet connection. I have no issues with it.
What I'm trying to do now is get my shiny new XDAIIi to connect, so that I can have the damn thing on the internet. So far, no luck.
Now, I have got the XDA to detect my SSID. It detects all the settings, and tells me it's connected. I even have a signal strength bar on it which reads about 50%.
However, when I set it to pick up a DHCP address it stubbornly refuses, remaining with a "I can't see a DHCP server" 169.x.x.x address.
I've tried reserving an address on the router and allocating it to the MAC address of the XDA, and manually setting the XDA to have that IP address, entering my router as the gateway, and even entering 2 valid DNS server IPs from my ISP into the name server entries. Still nothing. It says it's connected with the IP address I allocated, but I have no net connection, and I can't ping that address from any of my PCs.
All the while the status screen on the router tells me that the device, with it's MAC address, is connected to the router fine.
Surely this has to be something simple. I have set up all the clients and router for my network, and the settings on the XDA are pertty much the same, and really SHOULD be working.
I'm kinda at my wits end.
So basically any suggestions or advice, or anyone with similar experiences please get in touch, cos I'm struggling to see what I've done wrong, and it's giving me an ulcer.
Many thanks in advance.
Jess

3COM WAP (3CRWE454G72) - XDA IIi WIFI Problems
Hi Jess,
I very much share your frustration.
I have a 3COM WAP (3CRWE454G72) which has served me well. I have a few machines at home working from it. At work we have 20+ machines working from the same model (older firmware).
My specs are as follow:
3C number 3CRWE454G72
Software version 1.03.07A
Boot loader version 1.00.00
Wireless version V1.0.2.1
Hardware version R01A
Don't have the office one's specs here at the moment ...
At work I can get an IP address (there's a windows DHCP server) .. AND I can ping google and traceroute to google. BUT, XDA IIi doesn't seem "know" that it's connected (e.g. network settings shows the WAP as available, but not connected). SKYPE even works!! But nothing else, no IE, no Terminal Services Client, no Avant Go, no network ActiveSync. They all say that the is no network card configured (but with vxUTIL, vxIPCONFIG, etc). I can see ALL the IP details from the DHCP server.
At home it's worse. I can't even get it to connect to the WAP (either with WEP 128, WEP 64 or encryption turned off). As I'm not even getting an IP address at home from the WAP's DHCP server, I've built a new DHCP server on my one linux box and it works for all my machines ... now I can actually trace requests from devices for IP's ... and the XDA IIi never requests an IP address. Which tells me that it's not even getting through the first stages of connecting with the WAP (again tried WEP, NO WEP).
To make things worse. I have been able to connect to some open WAP's in the neighbourhood ... everything functioning normal.
I'm losing the will to live here also ... ;-)
Wolfie

the plot thickens...
Hi Wolfie.
Well, at this end I seem to have more news.
By removing all WEP encryption and removing the MAC address access restriction I had enabled, I got the XDAIIi online, and all was working.
I then enabled the security a step at a time, and at each step updated the configuration on the handheld, and it still all worked. I was so pleased.
)
However this morning I have come to put the thing online again, and once again it refuses to pick up a DHCP address.
I tried my process again, and this time it wont work.
It definitely seems that it's the encryption that's stopping it, but I can't get it working this morning.
When I disabled everything I managed to get it online, but then re-enabling the security killed it and I can't get it to come online again.
SIGH
Oh well, I will try again later. Fussy thing. Anyone ever manage to solve this ??
Jess

have u tried soft reseting the device and retrying, sometimes that cures these hiccups
rgds
jim

WIFI WOES
Jess, thanks for the reply. There's hope. ;-)
I have tried your approach yesterday. However, to no avail. At home I completely opened my WAP, e.g. any MAC, no WEP/WPA, etc. But still nothing. When I look at my log files on the WAP. I can see plenty of entries coming from my XDA IIi ...
04 min(s) 41 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
04 min(s) 43 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
04 min(s) 45 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
04 min(s) 46 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
04 min(s) 48 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
04 min(s) 50 sec(s) after system power on : Wireless MAC address 00:09:2D:14:C9:F2 has connected with the device
... and it just goes on and on and on .... while trying to connect.
At the same time in all connections attemps, I don't get a single entry in my DHCP servers log saying that my XDA II attempted to connect.
Jim: I've tried hard resets, soft resets, O2 Active installed, Corporate mode, pretty much everything my single brain-cell can come up with. ;-)
The thing is definitely a little fiddly indeed ...
The search goes on ...
... anybody out there got their XDA IIi working with WIFI using DHCP and WEP or WPA?

Did you ever get this working?
I have a shiny new XDAIIi and have been trying to get connected via my Cisco Aironet 1200 WAP. The device happily detects my network, accepts the WEP key fine (complains if I enter the wrong key so I know it's communicating) but refuses to pick up an IP address. The Wireless LAN Manager just sits there "Scanning network..."
I firmly belive I'm just missing something but...........
Any help gratefully received :?

bump
I got my QTek 2020i today and for the life of me I can't get it to connect to the internet using my wifi connection @ home
I also have a 3COM router 3CRWE754G72-A and I have my home pc connected to this and also occassionally my work PC - both with no probs.
I can get the qtek to connect and I get a 50% signal strength and I can view an IP address and everything looks good but I can't seem to setup a "Connection" as required by IE?
This is what I get:
"Cannot connect with current connection settings. To change your connection settings, tap Settins"
I tap settings and I get this:
My ISP
Add a new modem connection
My ISP
Add a new modem connection
Add a new VPN server connection
Set up my proxy server
I've gone into each of these and had a "play" but I still can't get the bloody thing to work :evil:
Can someone PLEASE help as this is starting to drive me mad! - I'm not giving up easily...I've been trying to get this to work for a good 4 hours now and I can't find anything in the manual or on the web that helps...this post was the closest I could fine >>> hence the bump!
Cheers
Wayne

have you try to configure the network cards in the connection setting and set the internet using the tiacxwln Compatible Wireless Ethernet?

guoper said:
have you try to configure the network cards in the connection setting and set the internet using the tiacxwln Compatible Wireless Ethernet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I can get the connection to read "connected" via the Wireless Lan Manager and I can get an IP address - which is totally different to all the other PC's that use my wifi connection - they're all 192.168.1.x whereas this is very different? - the address that I get isn't even the same as the IP Address of my router - I have a static IP address so I know this isn't changing???
Also, when I view the network card page I see the following:
Configure Wireless Networks
Add New...
3Com Available
I can click on this and view the settings for it or I can hold-click and get the option of connecting. If I do this, it just says "connecting"; it never actually says "connected"?
Anyone know where I can get a walkthrough for this?
Cheers
Wayne

3 Com Routers
Hi, DotN
I put a 3Com router in my local pub.
I have no problem connecting to it and solving the usual pub talk problems with it.
If you are getting a connection but your IP address starts with 169.254 then I would say you have a WEP problem. The software only appears to check for incorrectly formatted WEP keys, so either turn it off or make sure you enter the correct key. When selecting connect to a router the message sticks on connecting, come out of the screen and go back in after about 30 secs. Check you ip address. I have had some issues with GRPS trying to connect, but they seem to go away after a couple of hides.
I have to say that I am not over the moon with my XDA2i, but the wifi part has worked pretty well for me.
Laters
Paddy

Re: 3 Com Routers
MacPad said:
Hi, DotN
I put a 3Com router in my local pub.
I have no problem connecting to it and solving the usual pub talk problems with it.
If you are getting a connection but your IP address starts with 169.254 then I would say you have a WEP problem. The software only appears to check for incorrectly formatted WEP keys, so either turn it off or make sure you enter the correct key. When selecting connect to a router the message sticks on connecting, come out of the screen and go back in after about 30 secs. Check you ip address. I have had some issues with GRPS trying to connect, but they seem to go away after a couple of hides.
I have to say that I am not over the moon with my XDA2i, but the wifi part has worked pretty well for me.
Laters
Paddy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Paddy
Thanks for the info. You're bang on with the IP Address!...169.254.x.x
So what encryption can I use?
I've deffinately got the correct password but it's obviously not working
Cheers
Wayne

Hi again
Okay, I've just checked the encryption and I'm using WPA-PSK authentication with TKIP encryption.
Is this what you had?
Cheers
Wayne

3 Com Routers
Are you using a password or 13 Hex pairs, I use the pairs. Try either turning wep of completely or entering 26 1s. Remove your setting for your ap in Configure Wireless Networks screen then reconnect.
Let me know what happens
Paddy

Re: 3 Com Routers
MacPad said:
Are you using a password or 13 Hex pairs, I use the pairs. Try either turning wep of completely or entering 26 1s. Remove your setting for your ap in Configure Wireless Networks screen then reconnect.
Let me know what happens
Paddy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I've basically removed all security from my wifi setup. I live in the middle of nowhere so it's not a problem - although once I get the wifi working I'll try and get the security going again.
I still can't get a connection
...stop the press!
Okay, I had a thought...maybe I can't connect because of the speed?
the router is a 11g but supports 11b (which is what the QTek 2020i/XDA IIuses) - sure enough, I had the 11g only option selected - DOH!
removed that and I've managed to connect without security.
I assume this was my problem all along...will now stick the security back on and try again
Thanks again Paddy
Cheers
Wayne

Update: I've now managed to get the wifi working with WPA-SPK authentication using TKIP encryption
all along it was simply a case of me having the speed on the router set above what the PDA was capable of! I'd set this ages ago when I first setup my wlan and had forgotten about it cause everything I use is 11g
Cheers again
Wayne

DotN said:
Update: I've now managed to get the wifi working with WPA-SPK authentication using TKIP encryption
all along it was simply a case of me having the speed on the router set above what the PDA was capable of! I'd set this ages ago when I first setup my wlan and had forgotten about it cause everything I use is 11g
Cheers again
Wayne
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doh!...nope, not working again...back to the 169.254.x.x problem.
It's obviously to do with the encryption this time. I'll try some other variations - at least I know that it can work :roll:
Cheers
Wayne

Ouch......
No hard feeling, glad you found the problem
Paddy

bump!
pretty much same prob!
i can get an ip, have to check what it is, it tells me its connected on the scanning network page but on the other bit it tells me its available or connecting but never connects!
i've turned wep off and still no joy!
its really starting to drive me mad!
please please someone help

Take a read back through the last lot of posts between myself and MacPad - I think you'll find the answer there.
For me, I had to totally disable my security and everything else - I could then connect. Once I'd done that, I managed to use WEP with a 26 digit key - start by using something like "0" 26 times...make sure u count as u type them zero's in though as if u get it wrong it won't work!
apart from that, not sure what to say. If you're getting the 164.x.x.x ip address though then as MacPad said, it's to do with the security.
I would mention that the XDAIIi/Qtek 2020ii use 11mbps wifi (b) and not 54mbps (g) so make sure u've got ya router configured to allow both types of connection...this eventually turned out to be my main problem - doh!
Cheers
Wayne

ok now im home ive re-read and done the things mentioned. with a completely unsecure connection i can get a connecation, but the moment i use any kind of encryption (im using wep 64bit, but tried 128bit as well) no matter what key i use i get a split second of connection then its gone!
firewall is not on either.
any ideas??
thank for the suggestions guys im finally progressing

Wireless Problem

Done a search on various site but still no joy.
Just got a o2 XDA Mini S yesterday.But I cannot get it to connect to my wireless network at home.Its an open network, with a laptop,3 PC's,2 xbox's accessing it various times of day.All connect no problem.
My xda says my network is available,but cannot connect to it. Do I need to put in IP addresses in manually ? On the network cards section, it the SDIO WLAN wireless adapter that is used ?
Have tried allsorts,

First Question,
Is your WiFi router set to DHCP mode. If so then check that your device is also set to DHCP mode. If not change router to DHCP check that all your other devices are set to DHCP then you should automatically be allocated an IP address. A useful utility is WiFi Companion.
This scans for available networks and allows you to connect. it will also show you the IP address you have been assigned.
You could assign an IP address manually but this will have to be changed every time you walk on to another network. DHCP is better.
Regrads

Thanks for the info DW, it is my router,popped round a mates last night and it connected to his network ok.
Will check what you said and the firewall

not sure by what you mean exactly by open network.
but are you using MAC address filtering?
when I got the Sony Laptop, I was so eager to get it all setup etc, that I forgot bout the filtering, it would see the network, but refused to connect.

I'm having the same problem. My Exec can see the network but not connect. I investigated it a bit more and for some reason it keeps trying to use the same IP address as my laptop. It also cannot connect to the net to update Avant Go when it's syncing (via my laptop).
I've tried connecting with all other devices switched off, to avoid the IP address conflict, but still cannot connect to the internet.
I'm pretty much stumped.

Setting the Wireless power setting for best performance was the trump for me.
On my Vario - Settings - Connections - Wireless LAN - Power Mode

Thanks for the suggestion. I gave it a try but unfortunately it didn't help.
If my laptop is switched off my Exec can connect to my D-Link router, but I cannot access any internet resources. I presume that somewhere in the settings is the solution but I can't find it.

EXCELLENT db44!!!
For some reasons setting wireless "best performance" wortked for me too. Wizard (QTEK 9100 - gray market I guess as QTEK did not register on their site for me). I will still try Opera too.
Kind regards,
Oleg.
www.nano-science.com

same thing happened to my qtek. it detected the network but could not connect and sometimes when it got connected, i still couldn't surf the net. is there anything in the settings that i'm missing? i also tried to enter the IP address manually but no luck either.

My O2 XDA Mini arrived yesterday. It sees my wireless network (as well as two others in my neighborhood) but cannot/will not connect. I've tried everything I've read above - which confirms I'm on the right trail, but...
The D-Link DI-624 wireless router is in DCHP mode. I've dropped all security for connection trials. I've put the MAC address of the XDA in the router, just in case. I cannot find the IP address of the Mini (how do you do that?), but have tried with and without allowing the router to assign it a random and an assigned IP address. My router does NOT have the default (198.162, etc, etc IP address.) so I've been careful not to blindly follow standard instructions. Of course, I have tried with specific IP addresses, default gateway (router), etc, etc.
One clue is that after trying for a long time to connect to the networks it finds, I got one error message from the XDA saying it could not be assigned an IP address from the network(s). Good clue - wish I know what it means.
There are only limited settings to check on the XDA, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something on the router. Any ideas? Many thanks.

Wifi but no Internet

Since I bought the HD2 before 2 month and after 2 Rom upgrade I still have the same Wifi problem. I can connect to my home network and the Router can see the HD2 but I can not connect to the Internet through the Wifi. All other computers and PS3 connect just fine. Ip adress seems also ok.
Please help ?

I did have the same problem a while back, and it occured after I used the wifi router. Have you ever used that, even just to try it?

No I never tried the Wifi Router even once and changed rom twice.

quincy67 said:
No I never tried the Wifi Router even once and changed rom twice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not the same issue then. For some reason I had it trying to give me a static IP address that my router wouldn't allow (I've got MAC forwarding on my router to make sure that nothing other than the 4 things I have can connect to it).
When you connect to the wifi, can you open the router admin on your HD2?

Thanks for your help. No I cannot access the router from the HD2, could it be a proxy issue. I am not using a proxy for the internet

quincy67 said:
Thanks for your help. No I cannot access the router from the HD2, could it be a proxy issue. I am not using a proxy for the internet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries mate - I hope I can help!
It's not a proxy issue, if you're not using a proxy server. Could you try this and let me know how you get on?
Start your wifi connection
Go to all settings, connection, wifi, wireless networks, network adapters tab
Select the Broadcom DHD adapter
It should be set to use a server assigned IP address, not a static one. It probably is, but it's worth checking.

When I open Wifi settings I can only open advanced no wireless networks or network adapter tab. How do I get there ?

quincy67 said:
When I open Wifi settings I can only open advanced no wireless networks or network adapter tab. How do I get there ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you've started wifi, go to the settings tab, menu and all settings. Then carry on the instructions in the last post.

Found the all settings, the DHD adapter is set to server assigned. Any other ideas ?

...
Well i think we have the same problem.. If you try to connect your wireless, do you get the failure after pressing get IP: Cannot obtain serverassigned IP....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=627654 my thread was this..
I found out that if i you go under WIFI>ADVANCED>press on the NETWORKCARD under the field "SSID"> then go to the networkcard>Broadcom 802.11 DHD network adapter>remove the pin in use serverassigned, and write a static ip: example: IP: 192.168.1.23
UNDERMASK: 255.255.255.0
STANDARDgateway: 192.168.1.1
That helped for me, though i cannot use that fix because my college wont accept the static IP. so it works for like 2 mins and then it disconnect. hehe.

Heh - that would be pretty much my next suggestion.
Try a static IP address and see if that works. It's not a long-term solution, but it would determine whether it's your phone or the router that's having the problem.
Last time I set a static IP address, I liked it and left it like that, but I found (after a couple of days with no internet access) that it tries to assign the same IP address when you use your data connection for internet access. Your service provider is very unlikely to allow you to use the same IP address, so you probably can't connect.
Like I said, it's a test to see if you can connect - not a solution.
Do you know what IP addresses your router will allow you to use? Do you have a specified range of addresses, for example?

I have this exact same problem. I can connect to wifi networks at home, office, etc... But no network access. It connects to the AP's, gives me an IP Address, but I can't ping anything!
This thing gets more and more frustrating daily.

skwizod said:
I have this exact same problem. I can connect to wifi networks at home, office, etc... But no network access. It connects to the AP's, gives me an IP Address, but I can't ping anything!
This thing gets more and more frustrating daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It also happened to me. Turns out it was the router I was using. I bought a new one earlier today and problem solved!

Hi!
I got a d-link dgl-4300 router, and had problem getting a IP adr. from it. When I gave my HD2 a static IP it worked, but very slow. After I changed from DHD network adapter to NE 2000 compatible ethernet driver it get IP from router and I can browse internet through wifi fast. Maybe it can help u 2.
regards Xes.

can't use internet OVERALL via wi-fi!!

i have problem with using INTERNET via wi-fi, i'm using [mattc Leo + Froyo w/Sense RC1.3a].. is that just me who have this problem??

I use this version on my wifi and it works very well what is the problem, can you connect to the wireless network ?

thx for your reply
strange!!! it's work now for me
first was seen connect to the wireless network but could not surf ... etc.
anyway it works now!

No internet when switched to WiFi
I have the same issue. No internet when WiFi is turned on with darkstone HD2Froyo, Kernel 2.6.32.9-38076 (Cotulla 25/07/2010). I can ping my HD2 from my network over WiFi.
Seems as if the default gateway on my HD2 is not set in that case.
Is there an app to check the current ip settings?
I´m also wondering about the strange mac address my dhcp server shows me
00:11:22:33:44:55

^ that is the MAC address of your HD2 on the current Android build. We all have it -> CLICK
If you are usin MAC address filtering on the WiFi router, this is your problem - edit the MAC address list

Long shot but this worked for me.
wi-fi has worked no problem on most builds but anything with sense on it just wouldn't find my network, would find networks all around me but not the one sat next right to the phone!!!
Changed the channel on my router from 13 to 11 and hey presto, picked it up straight away

kibicer said:
If you are usin MAC address filtering on the WiFi router, this is your problem - edit the MAC address list
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tould you that i can ping the device so this has nothing todo with mac filtering.
Any other ideas?

I'm using the Darkstone Froyo build and WiFi works a treat when you enable it, the problem with it is that when the device is not in use and you activate the screen and unlock it, 9 times out of 10 it will be using 3g instead.
If you go into Settings -> Wifi it says "turning off"... then immediately goes to connecting to my home network wifi and all is well... ok, all is well until next time the device is idle

Wifi finally connected but cant browse

ok - i have gone through about 6 roms now and im constantly getting the same story.
i primarily use CM based roms cuz those are the only ones that seem to connect to ad-hoc networks shared from my computer. when i use CM7 roms the internet constantly connects and disconnects and when i use CM6 roms the phone says im connected but the PC doesnt see any present connections.. not even with connectify or the other hotspot programs seem to help
its strange cuz i also have an aria with a CM6 rom which connects flawlessly but the HD2 cant even be seen on the network.
PLEASE can anyone help me out with this problem? I've been awake for the past 2 days trying to fix this problem from all sorts of angles and i still cant connect to an ad-hoc wifi

i just tried connectify but the problem is the same, it says im connected but still there is no data coming from the computer. my MAC address appears fine so i have no idea what is causing the problem

not even changing the channels, editing wpa_supplicant, using static IP or DHCP... nothing helps..

just realized that if i try to connect while other devices like my aria are currently connected, the other devices get disconnected from the network.. no idea whats causing that but could use some insight

There is another longer thread with someone having the same or at least very similar problems. All non-Sense builds he's tried have wifi "connecting", but not actually transferring any data. When he loads up a Sense build, it all works fine. I'd look it up, but search unavailable for "10 minutes". I did comment on it though.

You wrote you try to setup an ad-hoc WiFi connection. This means you connect two devices together, not to a network (if you want to use your laptop as Internet bridge it's a more complex config).
You're talking about DHCP in ad-hoc connection... Do you setup a DHCP server on your computer (is this even possible)?
You said when you have other devices connected... this is not ad-hoc.
I think you try to connect the wrong way, sorry if I misunderstood but you have to provide more info for me to help.
As general advice:
Check for your ROM thread as initially their was a problem with all devices (with Android on HD2) having the same MAC (has been solved)
Start first to try to connect to a "normal" WiFi network
Make sur of the network config (try with basic b/g instead of n, n+...)
First step could be to setup a basic b/g network with DHCP enable, SSID broadcast, no security (wep,...): the kind of network you have when you take your access point out of the box.
No other advice... hope this will help.
Check the IP you have on your phone when connected. If it's kind of 169.xxx this can't work. It's auto IP from the device itself.

thanks for the response mate. Unfortunately, there are not many unsecured "routed" wifi connections available where i am to test - thats why i have to rely on the laptop to feed internet to my phones through an adhoc network.
let me explain what im doing:
im currently trying to use internet sharing from my laptop on my phones - i have 2 android phones, an aria and an HD2 - both of which connect to the internet through an ad-hoc wifi connection to the the laptop which has LAN internet connection.
the only way to connect is by issuing each device a static IP
eg. laptop - 192.168.0.1,
aria - 192.168.0.3,
HD2 - 192. 168.0.2
whenever i try to use DHCP i get "obtaining IP address" from the phones until it auto-disconnects.
using a static IP-Config, the aria connects and browses effortlessly. But the HD2 wont. Just says "connected" but the pc says "waiting for peers to connect" and doesnt feed any data to the HD2. Additionally, i found out that if the aria is already connected while attempting to connect the HD2, the aria gets kicked from the net..
if it helps, my rom is CMN V_2.0.. its the only one that gets me "connected", so to speak..

Then I will not be very helpful as I seldom use ad-hoc and bridge connection.
I connect my HD2 to my home network only (works in WEP or WPA anyway).
Just what I know:
1/ for ad-hoc you can't use DHCP (or you may have to activate a server on your laptop, this will add complexity to your setup)
2/ ad-hoc is only between 2 devices (1 laptop and 1 phone for ex), it could explain that when you connect the HD2 the other one is "kicked out".
3/ On your laptop you have to bridge your connections. Anyway, if with another device you can connect and broose, then your laptop setup has to be ok.
4/ if you're connected you may find a good IP in the HD2 (anyway if you use fix IP it has to be ok).
5/ to connect to a server you need a DNS. this is maybe what is missing. Usually when you connect to an access point you use the "AP IP". Not sure it can work here.
Try to manually put the DNS address in your HD2.
Just to make one test:
a/ from your laptop "ping" an Internet server (xda for ex).
--> Start menu, type "cmd", in the cmd windows type "ping server_name"
b/ from your HD2 try to connect with the IP instead of the server name.
This is the puprose of a DNS, to give your device the IP of a server.
NB: to find the DNS server used by your laptop:
In cmd type "ipconfig /all" it will give some info, you may find your DNS in it.
Sorry, no other idea...

I read again what you write and I think you can forget my previous post.
The answer from your laptop is different with the two phones.
I don't think it's a DNS problem.
Sorry, I will be useless! Hope someone with the same network config will help.
My home network is totally different.
If it's specific to your rom you can try to check in your ROM's post if other have the same problem. If no, try to ask there is someone has the same connection setup.
Edit: check this link, it seems that many people with non-sense build has problem with WiFi (I use sense build, always):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=907670

i would use a sense build but it seems all of them take up quite a lot of space from internal storage - im always left with 500-400Megs from the 1GB of space
its just odd because when i had a G1 (before i got my HD2) it connected effortlessly as well.. even more so, both aria and g1 could be connected to my laptop's adhoc simultaneously
OOOOHHH!!! i just rememberd hearing something about internet pass-through, but im not sure how ti works.. i will give it a try