Wireless Help

RC159

Senior member
Sep 27, 2000
682
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Im new to this wireless stuff. Heres my problem. I've got a Dell inspiron 9300 notebook and a Dell wireless router. Sometimes the notebook picks up another wireless router in the neigborhood. Is there any way to configure the notebook to not find the other router? I can go in and disconnect from it but it always comes back. I have been able to get on the internet with the other router, does that mean the other person is using the same provider as me? Thanks inadvance for answering my questions.
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
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What software are you using to configure your wireless connection? You need to setup your router as the preferred router somehow. The other person most likely is not using the same router as you. They just have not encrypted their connection and I'm guessing you have not done so with your router either. You should look into using at least WEP encryption or something stronger.
 

RC159

Senior member
Sep 27, 2000
682
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I am using winXP software(Intel wireless connection agent is checked on the Network connection window, when I highlight it and click on properties it does not do anything), the other router is a linksys, both routers are unsecured, I have tried to secure my router using WEP, WEP is checked but still says wireless connection is unsecured.
 

scottws

Senior member
Oct 29, 2002
468
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Originally posted by: RC159
I am using winXP software(Intel wireless connection agent is checked on the Network connection window, when I highlight it and click on properties it does not do anything), the other router is a linksys, both routers are unsecured, I have tried to secure my router using WEP, WEP is checked but still says wireless connection is unsecured.
Open the Windows utility that lets you configure the wireless connections. Select the connection that you don't want to connect to. Go to that connection's properties and look for an option that says "Automatically connect to this netork." Make sure that's unchecked.

I think that is how it works, but it's been awhile since I used the Windows utility.

As for wireless encryption. I concur with amdskip. You should really take steps to secure your wireless network. Whether using WEP 64-bit, WEP 128-bit, WPA-TKIP, or WPA-AES (also called WPA2), both your router/firmware and all of your wireless devices/drivers need to support the protocol you want to use. You should use the strongest encryption that all of your wireless devices support. The encryption settings have to be set both in the router's configuration utility and in the wireless adapter configuration, and everything has to match exactly (encryption method, shared key).

If you need detailed help on securing your wireless network, PM me and I'll be glad to help you out.

Edit: Just looked at my setup by remoting in to my home system. I use Motorola's wireless utility. It is very similar to the regular Windows XP utility. It has "Available Networks" and "Preferred Networks" sections. Under "Preferred Networks" it says "Automatically connect to available networks in the order listed below." I show the same connection in both windows, with no other connections (no other wireless networks nearby). Now it looks like I can push a Remove button under the Preferred Networks section, and then it won't automatically connect to my network anymore.

To get to the Windows XP wireless utility, you do this:
Start
Control Panel
Network and Internet Connections
Network Connections
Right-click the wireless connection
Select View Available Wireless Networks

For me, this gives me a message stating that Windows can't configure the connection since another utility is managing the connection.