Network headaches

I have a serious network problem at home. Ever so often, my router will go mad and not allow me to go online. But other family members can still connect to the internet using the same router! My ip address will be changed from 192.168.11.x to a 169.254.x.x.

According to the research that i have done online:
"If your local IP address is returned as 169.254.y.z with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0, the IP address was assigned by the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) feature of Windows XP Professional. This assignment means that TCP/IP is configured for automatic configuration, that no DHCP server was found, and that no alternative configuration is specified. This configuration has no default gateway for the interface."

Ok, so no DHCP server was found. But, how do i find it!?!?

Solutions i have tried that did not work:
1. using ipconfig/release
2. using ipconfig/renew

Solution that works:
1. Switch off and switch on my router...

Tadah! The solution is easy, isnt it? The problem is ..it brings about a lot of inconveniences at home as there would be a temporary denial- of- service for other family members!!

I need divine help for this!