question for the wireless network experts...
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From: Berkeley
Originally posted by yobri
I had this problem before also. I had to reconfigure the card, more precisely, reloaded the program drivers along with the reconfig and it solved my problem. My problem (like yours) started when I tried accessing a neighbor's network... then my card started giving me all available network options instead of using my default. I seem to remember my configs having an option to default a network. See if you can locate the option with your card interface.
I had this problem before also. I had to reconfigure the card, more precisely, reloaded the program drivers along with the reconfig and it solved my problem. My problem (like yours) started when I tried accessing a neighbor's network... then my card started giving me all available network options instead of using my default. I seem to remember my configs having an option to default a network. See if you can locate the option with your card interface.
thanks. i'll look into it and give it a try.
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From: Berkeley
btw, just out of curiosity. assuming i was able to detect and connect to someone's wireless network, is there a way to access the computers on that network, if i don't know the name of the network those computers are on??
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From: Tiffin, Ohio
I'm pretty positive that you can set an order on which connections to connect to, and it'll autoconnect.
When I went to UC last year, I had a WiFi in my dorm room, the school had one, and a lot of others had one. While it detected them all, it'd auto-connect to mine because my signal was the best based on the connection order.
Now if your home one disconnects you periodically, it'll only be able to detect your neighbor for a brief moment in time, and that's why it gives you the option to connect to his.
I don't know if MAC address filtering would actually be able to prevent the computer from seeing the other network. I've been war-driving before, and have picked up filtered networks before.
When I went to UC last year, I had a WiFi in my dorm room, the school had one, and a lot of others had one. While it detected them all, it'd auto-connect to mine because my signal was the best based on the connection order.
Now if your home one disconnects you periodically, it'll only be able to detect your neighbor for a brief moment in time, and that's why it gives you the option to connect to his.
I don't know if MAC address filtering would actually be able to prevent the computer from seeing the other network. I've been war-driving before, and have picked up filtered networks before.
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From: Seattle, WA
The easiest (I've found) way to get around this is to just disable XP's wireless zero config stuff. While it is pretty easy to work, it can end up being more of a pain than it's worth. The O'reilly article outlines how to disable the service, and to configure your network card's own drivers. Basically XP's WZC (wireless 0 config) does all the SSID settings for you, but it sucks. So you have to disable it and do the settings in the network card's program. If you still need help, PM me.
If it were me, I'd let my neighbor know that you're picking up his signal, maybe he's having the same problems. But like you said, he's running WEP, so it should be okay.
If it were me, I'd let my neighbor know that you're picking up his signal, maybe he's having the same problems. But like you said, he's running WEP, so it should be okay.
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From: Long Island, New York, US
Yep, I don't think restricting MAC addys has any bearing on picking up SSID broadcasts - once you try to connect, then the MAC restrictions will keep you out. I have a wireless network that I set up just 2 days ago in my house (I just learned on the fly) - there are 2 others that I can choose from but both of them have very low signal strength (~1.0 Mbps) and the fact that my thinkpad automatically picks up my router leads me to believe that it autoconnects based on signal strength (although it may not be as simple as that). I use WPA encryption and MAC restrictions so I don't think anyone can access my network without doing some work.