How do I connect to only MY wireless network?

DonD · Post by **DonD** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:47 pm

I'm using a Linksys router with my desktop connected directly and my laptop (e-machine 6805) connecting via wireless. I have encryption set up on the network and have no problems connecting to the network as soon as I boot up the laptop, with signal strength of very good or excellent depending on where I am in my house. I've named my network dond to be able to identify it.

Invariably, however, after some amount of time ranging from 5 to 40 minutes, the wireless will switch to another network that it's picking up (named default), with signal strength of 'low', and then I'll have trouble accessing the net. Sometimes I'l also get another network (linksys) with strength of 'good', and be able to surf with that.

I understand that these are probably my neighbors networks and I'm just picking up stray signals with my laptop.

Seeing as how I have my network set up with encryption, I'd like to only use that. It's also annoying when it connects to the network with low signal strength and then I can't load any web pages.

In my wireless settings I have only my own network 'dond' in the box for 'preferred networks', even though I can see the other 2 in 'available networks'.

So, how do I fix this?

- Don

WPD · Post by **WPD** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:22 pm

You could try switching the channel you are broadcasting from?

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:09 pm

I know I've seen this mentioned before...let me research...

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 5:26 pm

If you are using the windows wireless tool then try clicking on 'Advanced' under the Preferred Networks list and unchecking 'Automatically Connect to Non-Preferred Networks'. That usually does the trick.

DonD · Post by **DonD** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:17 am

malchior wrote:If you are using the windows wireless tool then try clicking on 'Advanced' under the Preferred Networks list and unchecking 'Automatically Connect to Non-Preferred Networks'. That usually does the trick.

I'll give it a try.

I tried switching channels, but that didn't seem to do anything.

- Don

DonD · Post by **DonD** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:10 am

Well, I think that worked. Thanks.

- Don

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:21 pm

malchior wrote:If you are using the windows wireless tool then try clicking on 'Advanced' under the Preferred Networks list and unchecking 'Automatically Connect to Non-Preferred Networks'. That usually does the trick.

I'm not stumbling across that checkbox -- where is it exactly? For the past couple of days my machine has been connecting sporadically to a an unknown, unprotected "linksys" entry that keeps insinuating itself into my network list.

Beer Goggles · Post by **Beer Goggles** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:31 pm

I guess you have XP.

Double-click the wireless icon on the far right portion of the Start bar -> View Wireless Netowrks -> Change Advanced Settings -> click the Wireless Networks tab -> Advanced.

On that tab, you could also highlight each Preferred Network -> Properties -> Connection tab -> check/uncheck Connect when this network is in range.