[twocoasttb]

I installed an Airport Extreme wireless base station and connect to it from my iBook. I'm not using the base station as my DHCP server; but rather my SonicWall gateway/firewall. The "Distribute IP addresses" checkbox is unchecked in the AirPort Admin utility.

There is another wireless network active in my area which also is running a DHCP server. On startup, my laptop quite often (but not always) chooses this other network's DHCP server and subsequently gets an address that isn't appropriate for my network.

I *could* use a fixed IP address and make a "home" location, but I'm wondering if there isn't a way to tell the iBook "Prefer this DHCP server over here." Any suggestions?

[Scarpa]

Can't you tell Airport only to use your access point in Internet Connect?

The problem with getting DHCP from another access point goes beyond just getting the wrong address.. you're actually on a completely different network at that point.

[si_lance]

so you're basically using the base station as a "wireless access point", but if I'm not mistaken you should be able to assign an SSID that your card will look for instead of the "wide open" other wireless network you seem to be stumbling into. You may also want to consider WEP if the other network is that close. Good luck.

[weremichael]

If I am understanding you correctly, you are trying to access your ABS but your ibook wants to connect to the neighbors wifi. This could be the result of your neighbors wifi having a stronger signal and you have the "join the network with best signal" button on in the network pane of the system preferences (at least that is where it is in os X.2.x

In that same pane, you can always make the ibook use your ABS by clicking "join a specific network."

Are you opposed to locking your ibook to one wifi network because you use multiple wifi networks (work, Borders, etc.)?

I too like the idea of you using WEP. You really don't want anyone to "accidently" using your connection.


Michael