Competing Wireless Access

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Living in an apartment, I have many very close neighbors. After setting
up a wireless network, that went smoothly, I occasionally get knocked
offline. When I check for available networks to connect to, mine will
not be listed and others will be. I have a linksys and I'll see
connections available for Netgear, Belkian, and other private named
connections. After a few minutes (usually) my actual connection will be
available again and I can connect.

So my question is, can competing wireless routers cancel each other out
if they cover the same area with their signal or should you always be
able to connect to your router regardless of how many wireless access
points are located around you?

Thanks for any info,
John

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

"John Carbone" <johncarbone@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Sq7xd.28027$Yh2.12470632@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> Living in an apartment, I have many very close neighbors. After setting
> up a wireless network, that went smoothly, I occasionally get knocked
> offline. When I check for available networks to connect to, mine will not
> be listed and others will be. I have a linksys and I'll see connections
> available for Netgear, Belkian, and other private named connections. After
> a few minutes (usually) my actual connection will be available again and I
> can connect.
>
> So my question is, can competing wireless routers cancel each other out if
> they cover the same area with their signal or should you always be able to
> connect to your router regardless of how many wireless access points are
> located around you?


I'd get a program such as network stumbler - which is free I think, and see
what channel their wireless networks are running on and run on a different
channel. Most seem to run on 6 or 1, and the 3 networks near me are all on
channel 6 or 1, I'm running on channel 11 to reduce interference.

Daniel

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

John Carbone <johncarbone@nyc.rr.com> wrote:
> Living in an apartment, I have many very close neighbors. After setting
> up a wireless network, that went smoothly, I occasionally get knocked
> offline. When I check for available networks to connect to, mine will
> not be listed and others will be. I have a linksys and I'll see
> connections available for Netgear, Belkian, and other private named
> connections. After a few minutes (usually) my actual connection will be
> available again and I can connect.

I just recently noticed that there are three WAPs visible from my place.
All three are on channel six. Three different SSIDs. The other two have
WEP keys. I haven't noticed any connection or throughput problems. I
connect to "mine" quickly and easily.

I tried a connection to each of the others. One pops up a WEP key request
box. The other one just gives me a "failed to connect" box.
I've noticed the "failed to connect" box on some of the secured WAPs at
work. I don't know if that's caused by MAC filtering or not. I don't
think that it's signal strength causing the message.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5