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Neighbor claims I'm over powering his wireless

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Dogmeat

Senior member
I'm running a Linksys WAP54G access point to deliver internet access around my home. I did install the High Gain Antenna's on the unit to avoid drop outs around the house.

Last night my neighbor came over and asked me if I was running a wireless network by name. (SSID was broadcasting) He claims that I am overpowering his network and knocking him off. He says he has to reboot all his eguipment everytime his notebook see's my network.

Side note: This particular neighbor is an arrogant @ss. I know he spent Big Bucks having a company come out and set up his system. He was bragging after getting it up and running about how he could sit out by his pool and use his notebook and that he had spent aroung $1000 bucks having it installed.

Ah but I digress. (can't help it - I was ROFLMAO after he left last night)

My question is, How do I increase the power so his phone and microwave don't work --- no, how can I shield my signal in the direction of his house?

BTW, we each have 1/2 acre lots here in Vegas. His house is no closer than 100' from mine. Can I tilt the antenna or put up metal shields around them?

On another note, his "Guru" said that he had accessed my network a couple of weeks ago. I'm running WEP with 64 bit encryption. (I know it's not great -but it's something). I can up it to 128 bit with a longer key but what should I really be doing. I have some limitations as my notebook doesn't have the fancy options.

I can't stay in the Forum's all day - but I'll check in for replys - So thanks for your help in advance.
 
Simpler solution, to me, would be for you to us one end of the channel spectrum and the neighbor to use the other end... Ie, you use 1-4 and he can use 8-11 and the middle channels are off limits. Most WAPS default to channel 6 so it's possible you are both using that, causing the problem. In addition there is overlap in the adjacent channels, so if you were on 5 and he was on 7 there could still be problems. Once you switch further away from him, you could turnoff SSID broadcast too, not really needed except for new clients looking to connect.

If he was smart he'd have already done that himself and set his clients to not associate with other devices. Could be that his setup is screwy and he looses signal a lot. Before you made your changes it just re-associated with him, but, now because he can see your system it tries to connect to you and causes his problems.

But, yes, you can get directional antennas. Since you already invested in high-gain stuff though, there's an easy parabolic mod (link) that you can do to what you already have. With the template you form a curved object covered w/ metal foil, etc, placed behind the antennae turns it into a sector beam, w/ higher gain for the 'aimed' area.
 
Well, You could turn off your SSID Broadcasting. or He could just make a profile on his computer and set it to only look for his own SSID.
 
one of you change channels and you're all set. good wireless networks have tons of overlap - its just overlapping on differenc frequencies.
 
Thanks for your responses.

I was just outside taking a break and was wondering about putting a parabolic shield - so that link is great.

I turned off SSID last night after he left - it was hard because I was still LMAO (you have to know this guy).

I'm running on channel 10. Since he thinks it's my responsibility, and I want to be a good neighbor, I'll try the lower end channels. He's pretty illiterate when it comes to technology (I'm not professing that I'm any king of network guru, but I'm pretty decent about computers and technology) so I don't expect him to change his setup - unless he still has problems when I switch to the other end of the channel spectrum.

I'm still concerned about his "Guru" being able to connect to my system even with the minimal protection I have in place. Basically I have a Toshiba PCX5000 Cable Modem/Router connectied Cat 5 to 2 desktop systems and a Linksys wireless print server (connected to a USB printer and a // Laser printer). Other devices I connect wirelessly are my TIVO and a Notebook computer. If he connects through my wireless AP can he see the other systems or are they protected by the routers firewall. Seems to me that if coming from the backside (AP) there is the potential to have full access if file and print sharing are enabled.
 
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Well, You could turn off your SSID Broadcasting. or He could just make a profile on his computer and set it to only look for his own SSID.
Click to expand...

That would seem to be the better solution. I'll bet the neighbor is using XP's default connect-and-disconnet-to-various-access-points-whenever-it-feels-like-it-and-without-warning approach. That's as much the problem as anything. He should just use a wirelss profile manager that locks on to his and only his SSID.
 
Originally posted by: Dogmeat
Thanks for your responses.

I was just outside taking a break and was wondering about putting a parabolic shield - so that link is great.

I turned off SSID last night after he left - it was hard because I was still LMAO (you have to know this guy).

I'm running on channel 10. Since he thinks it's my responsibility, and I want to be a good neighbor, I'll try the lower end channels. He's pretty illiterate when it comes to technology (I'm not professing that I'm any king of network guru, but I'm pretty decent about computers and technology) so I don't expect him to change his setup - unless he still has problems when I switch to the other end of the channel spectrum.

I'm still concerned about his "Guru" being able to connect to my system even with the minimal protection I have in place. Basically I have a Toshiba PCX5000 Cable Modem/Router connectied Cat 5 to 2 desktop systems and a Linksys wireless print server (connected to a USB printer and a // Laser printer). Other devices I connect wirelessly are my TIVO and a Notebook computer. If he connects through my wireless AP can he see the other systems or are they protected by the routers firewall. Seems to me that if coming from the backside (AP) there is the potential to have full access if file and print sharing are enabled.
Click to expand...

I suggest 128bit encryption and mac filtering. It at lest makes someone sniff packets for a day or two and log the mac addresses.
 
1. The effective channels are 1, 6 and 12 to prevent signal overlap. You should talk to him about this.
2. The SSID suggestion is a good one. If he's using WZC then it won't even pick up your network.
3. WEP is feeble and easily broken (in about 15min). If you have a single PC I would leave your network open and put a good firewall onto your PC.
 
Thank you for all the great help.

I'm having a hard time not setting up a spare AP that I have with parabolic reflectors aiming at his house just to have him come over and whine 🙂 .

But I'm going to take the nice neighbor route, change to channel 1 (and tell him to go to the high end), keep SSID from broadcasting, set up shielding to decrease the signal strength in his direction, increase to 128 bit encryption and enable MAC filtering.

It's been fun researching ideas though, and I really appreciate the help.

One thing I don't understand though is that he claims I knock him off his Wireless network. Is it possible to overpower another Wireless system - like using a CB with high gain and stomping on the other traffic?

Thanks again.
 
any interference can cause mucho problems.

two access points operating in the same band will always have trouble, especially if one is boosted.
 
yup wifi works well because you can overlap it sorta... alternating channels 1/6/12....

give him a note telling him to use x channel and that u are using the other channel....

if he still has troubles, its his stupid fault at that point.

unless your using one of those inconsiderate super g networks that channel bonds 2 channels together ...those suck.
 
You're most likely not knocking him off his wireless but his card might see your signal as being stronger and it will usually attach to whatever has the stronger signal. So he was basically stuck trying to connect to your system instead of to his own. Just turning off the SSID should be enough to make his systems not try to get yours because it shoudln't see it. But putting on MAC filtering should make that a definiite.
 
??? Why not tell him to have his NIC default to his WAP? I know there's an option in Network Neighbourhood (assuming Windows boxes) that allows this. He might still see it, but it will only connect to his router...

 
Originally posted by: blakeatwork
??? Why not tell him to have his NIC default to his WAP? I know there's an option in Network Neighbourhood (assuming Windows boxes) that allows this. He might still see it, but it will only connect to his router...
Click to expand...

All of the wireless management software I have seen can prioritize connections. Some can also limit a network to a certain MAC, which I know Intel can do.

-Por
 
Dogmeat

The man (or you) can play "macho" as much your respective psychological needs are; however it will not convince the Wireless waves to defy the physics' laws. Keep in mind that if you do any thing illegal, at the end you would lose.

The only solution is cooperation.

Do every thing as mentioned before (SSID, Channels, Security, etc.)

In order to try to force each system to connect only to your respective sources.

1. You can try Windows WZC. Uncheck "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks." And make sure that each one of you has only his network in the proffered list of available Network.

2. Some of the original Brand Drivers/Until might have a capacity to force it to connect only to one specific Network.

3. You can try to use Boingo Wireless Management software (it works with any WLAN you do not need the actual Boingo service). Boingo WLAN Software.

Summarize and edit the positive notions on this thread, talk to him and give him a printout.

:sun:
 
JackMDS,

Thank you for your suggestions - Yes I'm trying to be a good neighbor and am well within the law.

All of my equipment is Stock (the antenna's are an upgrade option sold at Best Buy so I don't think the gain is illegal) and I'm not agrivating him intentionally.

I have taken steps to rectify the situation by implimenting steps suggested in this thread.
I have disabled SSID, changed from channel 10 down to 1, enabled 128 bit WEP and am going to enable MAC filtering as soon as I can figure out the MAC address of the wireless print server.

Additionally, I have consulted with a Physicist (Stanford) that I work with and he gave me a solution for makeing a "Shield" to attenuate the signal in my neighbors direction. I should have it in place tomarrow and will test to see if it indeed works.

I have left a note on his door (he wasn't home and I don't have a problem talking to him, just his arrogance) and told him what measures I have taken and what I will try.

Again, thanks for the help and links. I do enjoy your links to the network protection articles.
 
meh, I always agreed that you have your neighbor over for a few beers and work out a solution.

😉

Not that's its technical, but it is the ideal solution.
 
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