Re: Wireless Tower Conflict

Randall wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have been successfully running my desktop on a wireless internet
> connection with a Belkin 802.11b wireless card on a windows XP platform on an
> emachines T3312 for some time now. I live in a small apartment building where
> the manager provides service via an unsecured linksys router that we can tap
> into. The other day I lost connectivity and can rarely access it now. Someone
> in a neighboring building setup a secured linksys system, and the signal
> strength of their's is overriding ours'. When I open the Wireless Network
> Connections window, our router no longer even appears on the list. I either
> see the new secured "linksys" or another unsecured "Linksys" (w/cap letter)
> with a weaker signal strength. And I am not able to access either.
>
> In my preferences , my preferred network name has disappeared. I have
> deleted all other names that appeared in the list, and I have kept the
> "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" box unchecked.
>
> I also have Belkin's own software, and unlike the Windows software, I can
> see my router listed. So I have both different BSSID addresses listed - or
> rather, all 3. My router is listed in Belkin's Monitor Utility, but when I
> attempt to connect, it usually reverts to the stronger signal from the
> secured linksys router and I am shut out.
>
> I called Belkin support. They told me the problem is a Linksys tower that is
> emmitting too strong a signal. I was instructed to call linksys and have
> Linksys reduce the signal strength in the Tower causing the conflict. That I
> did, but Linksys defended themselves and informed me that the problem lies in
> my unsecured router. Of course, only the building manager has access to the
> router and he is not about to make it a secured line.
>
> What am I to do here? If there were software or some way I could specify
> which BSSID I was interested in connecting to, this would block out the other
> 2 routers. But does Windows XP allow such specific addressing? I already have
> the TCP/IP address, subnet and gateway set to Linksys factory specs. What
> more can I do?
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> Randall

You were probably told that it was a Linksys router -- not tower -- that
was causing the problem. Linksys -- the company -- has nothing to do
with this. Your issue comes from your neighbors who have installed
their own routers (and have failed to change their SSIDs from the
default "Linksys"). If you can figure out who the new router belongs
to, you might be able to call and ask them to reduce the signal
strength, but even if the neighbor was willing to do so, this is beyond
the capability of most stock Linksys routers and most casual users.


In the US, wireless routers for 802.11(b)or(g) may be set to use one of
11 channels, but really there are only 3 non-overlapping channels, 1, 6,
and 11. Most people leave the router set to the default, which
typically is channel 6. Ask your landlord to change the setting of his
router to channel 1 or channel 11 (assuming that it is 6; if its already
at 11, ask to change to 1, and vice versa). If it was at 6 and changing
to 1 doesn't help, try 11. Changing the channel on the router will NOT
require any change for the users (unlike changing from an unsecured to a
secured connection). As you've discovered, wireless network adapters
search for all available networks (on all channels).

Unfortunately, some "pre-N" wireless routers cause interference on all
of the b/g channels. If this is what your new neighbor has, you may be
out of luck. See this review:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wirel...evealed_part2/
particularly page 4, which says that the pre-n devices default to
occupying 2 of the 3 non-overlapping b/g channels.
--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

Lem

Thanks Lem,

They actually did say "tower", otherwise they would not have directed me to
contact linksys, as I next asked the represetative at belkin for a phone
contact.

Yes, both routers are using channel 6. What puzzles me is that the linksys
connection has been completely wiped off of the Wireless Connections Network
window. Even if it were emitting a smaller signal, the router still should
show up. I am getting a list of about 8 or so other router name connections
(all secured) from around the neighborhood. Why not my building's?? And yet
my building's linksys router still shows up in Belkin's Monitor Utility. But
since the other secured linksys router emits a stronger signal, I am bumped
off and unable to connect.

What exactly causes the Windows Wireless Connections (monitor) to latch
onto a router? That is really what I need. I have all the others sitting at
bay through Windows' sofware. With Belkin's software, I am unable to perform
that operation.

Randall

"Lem" wrote:

> Randall wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have been successfully running my desktop on a wireless internet
> > connection with a Belkin 802.11b wireless card on a windows XP platform on an
> > emachines T3312 for some time now. I live in a small apartment building where
> > the manager provides service via an unsecured linksys router that we can tap
> > into. The other day I lost connectivity and can rarely access it now. Someone
> > in a neighboring building setup a secured linksys system, and the signal
> > strength of their's is overriding ours'. When I open the Wireless Network
> > Connections window, our router no longer even appears on the list. I either
> > see the new secured "linksys" or another unsecured "Linksys" (w/cap letter)
> > with a weaker signal strength. And I am not able to access either.
> >
> > In my preferences , my preferred network name has disappeared. I have
> > deleted all other names that appeared in the list, and I have kept the
> > "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" box unchecked.
> >
> > I also have Belkin's own software, and unlike the Windows software, I can
> > see my router listed. So I have both different BSSID addresses listed - or
> > rather, all 3. My router is listed in Belkin's Monitor Utility, but when I
> > attempt to connect, it usually reverts to the stronger signal from the
> > secured linksys router and I am shut out.
> >
> > I called Belkin support. They told me the problem is a Linksys tower that is
> > emmitting too strong a signal. I was instructed to call linksys and have
> > Linksys reduce the signal strength in the Tower causing the conflict. That I
> > did, but Linksys defended themselves and informed me that the problem lies in
> > my unsecured router. Of course, only the building manager has access to the
> > router and he is not about to make it a secured line.
> >
> > What am I to do here? If there were software or some way I could specify
> > which BSSID I was interested in connecting to, this would block out the other
> > 2 routers. But does Windows XP allow such specific addressing? I already have
> > the TCP/IP address, subnet and gateway set to Linksys factory specs. What
> > more can I do?
> >
> > Thank you for your time.
> >
> > Randall
>
> You were probably told that it was a Linksys router -- not tower -- that
> was causing the problem. Linksys -- the company -- has nothing to do
> with this. Your issue comes from your neighbors who have installed
> their own routers (and have failed to change their SSIDs from the
> default "Linksys"). If you can figure out who the new router belongs
> to, you might be able to call and ask them to reduce the signal
> strength, but even if the neighbor was willing to do so, this is beyond
> the capability of most stock Linksys routers and most casual users.
>
>
> In the US, wireless routers for 802.11(b)or(g) may be set to use one of
> 11 channels, but really there are only 3 non-overlapping channels, 1, 6,
> and 11. Most people leave the router set to the default, which
> typically is channel 6. Ask your landlord to change the setting of his
> router to channel 1 or channel 11 (assuming that it is 6; if its already
> at 11, ask to change to 1, and vice versa). If it was at 6 and changing
> to 1 doesn't help, try 11. Changing the channel on the router will NOT
> require any change for the users (unlike changing from an unsecured to a
> secured connection). As you've discovered, wireless network adapters
> search for all available networks (on all channels).
>
> Unfortunately, some "pre-N" wireless routers cause interference on all
> of the b/g channels. If this is what your new neighbor has, you may be
> out of luck. See this review:
> http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wirel...evealed_part2/
> particularly page 4, which says that the pre-n devices default to
> occupying 2 of the 3 non-overlapping b/g channels.
> --
> Lem MS MVP -- Networking
>
> To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
>

=?Utf-8?B?UmFuZGFsbA==?=

Randall wrote:
> Thanks Lem,
>
> They actually did say "tower", otherwise they would not have directed me to
> contact linksys, as I next asked the represetative at belkin for a phone
> contact.
>
> Yes, both routers are using channel 6. What puzzles me is that the linksys
> connection has been completely wiped off of the Wireless Connections Network
> window. Even if it were emitting a smaller signal, the router still should
> show up. I am getting a list of about 8 or so other router name connections
> (all secured) from around the neighborhood. Why not my building's?? And yet
> my building's linksys router still shows up in Belkin's Monitor Utility. But
> since the other secured linksys router emits a stronger signal, I am bumped
> off and unable to connect.
>
> What exactly causes the Windows Wireless Connections (monitor) to latch
> onto a router? That is really what I need. I have all the others sitting at
> bay through Windows' sofware. With Belkin's software, I am unable to perform
> that operation.
>
> Randall
>
> "Lem" wrote:
>
>
>>Randall wrote:
>>
>>>Hello,
>>>
>>>I have been successfully running my desktop on a wireless internet
>>>connection with a Belkin 802.11b wireless card on a windows XP platform on an
>>>emachines T3312 for some time now. I live in a small apartment building where
>>>the manager provides service via an unsecured linksys router that we can tap
>>>into. The other day I lost connectivity and can rarely access it now. Someone
>>>in a neighboring building setup a secured linksys system, and the signal
>>>strength of their's is overriding ours'. When I open the Wireless Network
>>>Connections window, our router no longer even appears on the list. I either
>>>see the new secured "linksys" or another unsecured "Linksys" (w/cap letter)
>>>with a weaker signal strength. And I am not able to access either.
>>>
>>>In my preferences , my preferred network name has disappeared. I have
>>>deleted all other names that appeared in the list, and I have kept the
>>>"Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" box unchecked.
>>>
>>>I also have Belkin's own software, and unlike the Windows software, I can
>>>see my router listed. So I have both different BSSID addresses listed - or
>>>rather, all 3. My router is listed in Belkin's Monitor Utility, but when I
>>>attempt to connect, it usually reverts to the stronger signal from the
>>>secured linksys router and I am shut out.
>>>
>>>I called Belkin support. They told me the problem is a Linksys tower that is
>>>emmitting too strong a signal. I was instructed to call linksys and have
>>>Linksys reduce the signal strength in the Tower causing the conflict. That I
>>>did, but Linksys defended themselves and informed me that the problem lies in
>>>my unsecured router. Of course, only the building manager has access to the
>>>router and he is not about to make it a secured line.
>>>
>>>What am I to do here? If there were software or some way I could specify
>>>which BSSID I was interested in connecting to, this would block out the other
>>>2 routers. But does Windows XP allow such specific addressing? I already have
>>>the TCP/IP address, subnet and gateway set to Linksys factory specs. What
>>>more can I do?
>>>
>>>Thank you for your time.
>>>
>>>Randall
>>
>>You were probably told that it was a Linksys router -- not tower -- that
>>was causing the problem. Linksys -- the company -- has nothing to do
>>with this. Your issue comes from your neighbors who have installed
>>their own routers (and have failed to change their SSIDs from the
>>default "Linksys"). If you can figure out who the new router belongs
>>to, you might be able to call and ask them to reduce the signal
>>strength, but even if the neighbor was willing to do so, this is beyond
>>the capability of most stock Linksys routers and most casual users.
>>
>>
>>In the US, wireless routers for 802.11(b)or(g) may be set to use one of
>>11 channels, but really there are only 3 non-overlapping channels, 1, 6,
>>and 11. Most people leave the router set to the default, which
>>typically is channel 6. Ask your landlord to change the setting of his
>>router to channel 1 or channel 11 (assuming that it is 6; if its already
>>at 11, ask to change to 1, and vice versa). If it was at 6 and changing
>>to 1 doesn't help, try 11. Changing the channel on the router will NOT
>>require any change for the users (unlike changing from an unsecured to a
>>secured connection). As you've discovered, wireless network adapters
>>search for all available networks (on all channels).
>>
>>Unfortunately, some "pre-N" wireless routers cause interference on all
>>of the b/g channels. If this is what your new neighbor has, you may be
>>out of luck. See this review:
>>http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wirel...evealed_part2/
>>particularly page 4, which says that the pre-n devices default to
>>occupying 2 of the 3 non-overlapping b/g channels.
>>--
>>Lem MS MVP -- Networking
>>
>>To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
>>

I don't know why a weak signal on a given wireless channel appears to be
suppressed using one monitor (WZC) but not on another (Belkin). If you
wanted to be compulsive, you could download something like NetStumbler
(which may or may not work accurately with your particular hardware),
and try to get a more quantitative look at what's going on. In the end,
however, the radio pollution in your neighborhood is out of your control.

In any case, I think your two best bets are to buy your landlord the
Buffalo router suggested by Jack (Jack's link is missing an egg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162134) and to
then ask him to set it to channel 1.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

Lem

Randall wrote:
>
> What exactly causes the Windows Wireless Connections (monitor) to
> latch onto a router? That is really what I need. I have all the
> others sitting at bay through Windows' sofware. With Belkin's
> software, I am unable to perform that operation.
>
> Randall
-------------------------
Windows' Wireless Zero Configuration will always try to connect to the
strongest signal.
To use your Belkin software properly, you'll have to disable the Wireless
Zero Configuration:

1. End any wireless zero configuration service in the task manager.
2. disable WZC:
settings>control panel>administrative tools>services>Wireless Zero
Configuration>set to manual

Use your (belkin) software to connect. (Delete any other wireless identities
from within the Belkin GUI and connect to your own network.)

I was able to use this system successfully with my D-Link software. I hope,
it works for you as well.

G.M.

Gordon May