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JazzCatDRP · Mar 11, 2005, 08:26 PM

I've been noticing lately that sometimes my wireless connection slows down immensely. I'm wondering if someone's stealing my wireless. Is there a software program out there that will show the number of users using Wifi?

ghporter · Mar 12, 2005, 07:13 AM

A program to let you know who's connected to your network? I'd need to know what your hardware is. What access point/base station/wireless router you're using is particularly important.

You might also want to make sure that what you're seeing as a slowdown in your wireless network is not simply your ISP slowing down. Sometimes your download speeds will drop quite a bit, and it can all be caused by Internet traffic congestion or your ISP being very busy.

JazzCatDRP · Mar 12, 2005, 12:58 PM

I'm using a WRT54G Linksys router. Good point on the ISP slowing down. You'll have to forgive me...I'm very new to this wireless thing and am a bit paranoid.

Wiskedjak · Mar 12, 2005, 12:59 PM

Do you have a password on the wireless signal?

JazzCatDRP · Mar 12, 2005, 01:23 PM

Yeah, I have a password, and all the security measures going, but I live in an apartment complex and like I said, am a bit paranoid. Someone stealing wifi is really the last of my worries. I have file sharing on, and I don't want someone to get access to my computer. Do I really have much to worry about?

chabig · Mar 12, 2005, 01:30 PM

If your wireless signal is password protected you're probably safe. Even with file sharing on, I don't think you're at risk. It still takes a username and password to get into your machine.

Any slowing down of your internet connection is probably due to upstream traffic.

Chris

JazzCatDRP · Mar 12, 2005, 02:13 PM

Thanks for all the help

Cadaver · Mar 15, 2005, 11:25 PM

While we're on this subject, does anyone know if there is a little app that will allow an administrator to see how many machines (and their names) are connected to an AirPort (i.e., Apple hardware) network?

My long-since replaced Linksys router had a function where it would bring up a table of all the connected machines, their IP address and their names (if available).

Is there an app that can give me the same info for an Apple AirPort network?

tooki · Mar 16, 2005, 08:17 PM

I'd sooner check to see if you're getting wireless interference. See if changing the wireless frequency helps. For example, at my place, I fare best with channel 10.

tooki

Wiskedjak · Mar 16, 2005, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by tooki:
I'd sooner check to see if you're getting wireless interference. See if changing the wireless frequency helps. For example, at my place, I fare best with channel 10.

tooki

Nice tool for doing that: AP Grapher

Insaneous · 05:32 PM

Originally posted by JazzCatDRP:
I've been noticing lately that sometimes my wireless connection slows down immensely. I'm wondering if someone's stealing my wireless. Is there a software program out there that will show the number of users using Wifi?

I would suggest using Network Utility, select the Netstat tab, select the radio button for "Display routing table information." Click the Netstat button. You will be able to see all the IP addresses currently logged on to your network. When you see any number in the xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx format, it will be a computer or device. If it is a wireless device there will be an "en1" label to the right. Additionally, if you are comfortable in terminal you can monitor the websites that specific computers are visiting.

By the way, I agree with the other posts about securing with a WEP or similar encryption method.

Matt

[removed huge pasted-in self-promotion sig. --tooki]

Macpilot · Mar 28, 2005, 01:29 AM

Originally posted by tooki:
I'd sooner check to see if you're getting wireless interference. See if changing the wireless frequency helps. For example, at my place, I fare best with channel 10.

tooki

This is what I did to solve my wireless problem. I too thought it might be the ISP service slowing down to just my house, or somebody stealing my signal, but it turned out to be major interference that was eliminated using the Channel selection. Also, if range is an issue, adjust the Multi-Cast rate. This is adjusted with the Airport Admin Utility.

Good luck!

ginoledesma · Mar 28, 2005, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by Insaneous:
I would suggest using Network Utility, select the Netstat tab, select the radio button for "Display routing table information." ..

Wouldn't netstat just tell you what connections _your_ computer has? Last I checked, it wasn't able to show someone else's connection on the network.

Most WAP/routers have a facility to show which computers are connected to it (your network), although technically speaking, it only shows the list of computers that have used your DHCP server (most WAPs are configured as such). There isn't a feature I know of that shows which computers are using it as a router per se.

Insaneous · Mar 28, 2005, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by ginoledesma:
Wouldn't netstat just tell you what connections _your_ computer has? Last I checked, it wasn't able to show someone else's connection on the network.

Yes and no. Netstat doesn't give a computer name, but it does show the ip addresses on the subnet. If you are able to access the other computers on the subnet and view their ip addresses, you can determine which computers are currently online.

If you know that there are only 2 computers on your network, and 3 ip addresses show up, you would know thot someone else has connected to your network.