Wireless-Excluding other networks

[Walt]

I have an HP laptop which sporadically fails to connect to my wireless
network, but seems to always "see" wireless networks from my neighbors. I've
gone through steps to ensure my router is working as advertised and with the
latest firmware.

I want to exclude the laptop from "seeing" any other wireless networks. Can
I make my wireless the only network that Vista can "see"?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

I have an HP laptop which sporadically fails to connect to my wireless
network, but seems to always "see" wireless networks from my neighbors.
I've
gone through steps to ensure my router is working as advertised and with
the
latest firmware.

I want to exclude the laptop from "seeing" any other wireless networks.
Can
I make my wireless the only network that Vista can "see"?

Are you broadcasting your network SSID? You really should do that since not
broadcasting the SSID is not a valid security measure and you can have
connectivity issues like you see. You also should use a unique SSID so you
can easily identify it.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726942.aspx

Beyond that you can enable/disable auto connect to non-preferred networks in
the properties of each network you have connected to. Open up "Network and
Sharing Center" then look at the "Manage wireless networks" over on the
left. You can highlight each wireless network you connect to and configure
auto connect in "Properties". If you connect to a new network Vista should
ask if you want to auto connect in the future or not.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Walt]

I do broadcast my SSID and I have security setup with a 12 character
password. I only connect to one wireless network. What I'd like to do is
have Vista not even see the wireless networks coming from my neighbors. Is
there a way do configure that in the Network setup?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

I do broadcast my SSID and I have security setup with a 12 character
password. I only connect to one wireless network. What I'd like to do is
have Vista not even see the wireless networks coming from my neighbors. Is
there a way do configure that in the Network setup?

No...

You need to disable auto connect on a network by network basis. Make sure
your network is configured so the "Automatically connect when this network
is within range" checkbox is CHECKED and the "Connect to a more preferred
network if available" checkbox is UNCHECKED.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb878035.aspx

If you have connected to a neighbors wireless network in the past you can
delete those networks in the preferred list. Open up "Network and Sharing
Center" then look at the "Manage wireless networks" over on the left. You
can highlight each wireless network you connected to and remove it if you
wish or reconfigure to auto connect or not, etc...etc...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...