[LightWaver-67]

Not sure if the question makes sense, but ever since switching to wireless, I've had this issue.

I go into the AirPort Admin Utility and setup my Network. I have my AirPort Extreme Basestation (APEB) connected to my DSL Modem and my G$ and my girlfriend's iBook are using AirPort cards.

I setup a network (have done this NUMEROUS times now) and try different settings... currently using the 40-bit encryption and only users with the specified MAC Addresses are allowed to join this "Network" I set-up.

It works fine... THAT'S not the problem. The problem is, I cannot get rid of this "Wireless" network in the airport pull-down menu.



It exists there and it always has. The problem is... I set-up BOTH our computers to connect by default to the network I created... BUT... if I log out or if the custom-network goes-away (for whatever reason)... or even if I just CHOOSE to switch to it... that "Wireless" network is available to us without ANY verification or authentication.

I can surf, use mail, use iChat... all without needing ANY sort of password. Then why bother creating a secure network...? Okay... scratch that question... I know WHY... but how can I keep OTHER people from tapping-in to my wireless internet connection...? I wish I could make that option disappear.

I mean, I don't THINK anyone in my adjacent units are using wireless... but you never know. I'm not providing free DSL to my neighbors...!!!

So is this behaviour normal...? Or can I somehow DISABLE that network choice...?

Thanx... sorry if this is a dumb question.

[LightWaver-67]

Nevermind... the answer was so obvious, I feel so stupid.

I called Apple, they asked me to power-down the BaseStation... I did... my network that I created disappeared, but the "Wireless" one didn't. I could still connect...

* DING *

OF COURSE...! I was picking-up someone ELSE'S wireless network...!!! It turns-out, it is my downstairs neighbor and he just assumed that no one near him was also wireless. His network was the one showing-up as "Wireless".

DUH!

I told him we were able to connect to his network and hopefully, he wasn't upset that we may have been using HIS service intermitantly. He wasn't concerned and he will be setting his up to only see HIS MAC Address in the near future.

Wish I used my brain before wasting time on the phone w/ Apple and wasting forum space here... heheheh...

[aaanorton]

This is the reason I always name my network "Unavailable".

[LightWaver-67]

Hehehe... I guess anything intimidating would be a good deterent:

"Log Out"

"Disconnect"

"Make Inactive"

not a bad idea... but I don't need to since the only ones that can access my network are the two MAC Addresses I specified, and even those are requiring a password and the network is encrypted at 40-Bits.

That's good-enough to keep a neighbor from getting free internet access.

[danbrew]

heh heh - i always label mine "ChildPornHotline" - that oughta keep most people from surfing. Or maybe not... ??

[danbrew]

Originally posted by danbrew:
heh heh - i always label mine "ChildPornHotline" - that oughta keep most people from surfing. Or maybe not... ??

On a somewhat related note - I drove around my subdivision last night with my PB and Macstumbler. Found about 40 wireless networks (big subdivision). 75% of them are open.

[chabig]

I drive about 18 miles to work through the city. Once I drove the entire route with MacStumbler turned on. I found 88 networks, 50 of which were open. It's really amazing.

Chris

[Love Calm Quiet]

My neighbor's is called "default" - and that took a while for me to even investigate to find out what that "new setting" was.

I'm think of renaming my network "Erase HD"

[romeosc]

My neighbors comes up"lyksys" and again it took me a while since I have a linsys router and an Apple Base station to realize it wasn't my router. I wondered how my wired router became wireless!

His PC doesn't show up but I can connect to internet through his.

[Stingrey]

Different results here although I have the same problem... I have ONE Mac that sees all of the other open networks and refuses to see the one it is supposed to connect to for some reason, until I click that drop down list and see all BUT mine and am forced to click on "Other..." and type in the uid and pwd EVERY time. What can I try to stop this from happening? I've got the "always join specified network" set up with a network name and password, using wep though so not sure that pwd will even work from the network settings in the control panel... After I connect, it is great, works fine, and appears set up just like my other 'puters like the 17" pb that I am on now, which sees the network on reboot, from awake after a sleep, or from log in after being logged out. EVERY one of those situations causes my Sage iMac to stumble though on reboot and NOT see the connection. I've nuked the keychain entries, restarted (a'la windows) with and without "by default log into" settings present, etc. Any other ideas? I'm stumped (or stupid, one of the two!)

Rey :)

[aaanorton]

Try changing Join Specific Network to Automatic. You may be asked for the p'word the 1st time, but should be good after that.

[Stingrey]

That's just it... When I set it to automatic, my non-public network is not even seen without my typing in the info exactly. I *think* I have set the base station to make it public and then try joining automatically and then switching back to non-public or whatever, I'll try again but again, I believe I tried this already and am still not having that problem with the g4, so thinking that the iMac has some issue. Has the latest version of airport, will check firmware tomorrow, but beyond that I'm stumped. Any other ideas?

Rey :)

[Parky]

I spent a weeks vacation in San Francisco using an open Wireless network in a building next to my B&B.

I hope they did not mind!!

Ian