Questions tagged [wireless-networking]
Also known as WiFi. This tag should be used when asking home WiFi networking questions or connecting your personal computer to a public network. Questions about enterprise or corporate wireless networks are off topic.
14,968
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How can I get the same SSID for multiple access points?
I need to upgrade my existing wireless infrastructure and this time I want 2 access points to cover my house, since I get blind spots no matter what with a single AP. I have physical cabling to my ...
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What does the "Fi" in "Wi-Fi" mean?
I just got into a heated discussion about Wi-Fi. What does the Fi in Wi-Fi mean? I would have thought potentially "frequency interface" since all network adapters are classified as interfaces. However ...
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Why does my microwave kill the Wi-Fi?
Every time I start the microwave in the kitchen, our home Wi-Fi stops working and all devices lose connection with our router! The kitchen and the Wi-Fi router are in opposite ends of the apartment ...
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Does it make sense to keep different SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks?
My router can have different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5 GHz and I'm not sure if it's better to have the same SSID or not.
Initially I put the same network but I got confused when the MacBook Pro displayed ...
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How to find a router at an unknown location in a house?
I want to install a WLAN repeater in my father’s holiday house which he rents out to other people.
My father is a digital neanderthal and doesn’t know where his router is, therefore I cannot ...
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166
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What is a "Magic Packet" for waking a computer?
My wireless adapter (Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260) has two settings in Device Manager which I cannot explain.
Wake on Magic Packet
Wake on Pattern Match
After a bit of research, I found this ...
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159
votes
10
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Is it really possible for most enthusiasts to crack people's Wi-Fi networks?
Can most enthusiastic users (even if they are not professionals) use well-known techniques to break through the average home router's security?
Some basic security options are:
strong network ...
- 1,439
140
votes
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How does Windows know whether it has internet access or if a Wi-Fi connection requires in-browser authentication?
In Windows 7, the notification area networking icon will show an error indicator if there is no internet access , and the error icon goes away once there is a successful connection to the internet . ...
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137
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SSID with very similar name, is this an attempt of hacking?
I noticed that another SSID pops up in my WiFi with the same name as mine (quite personal so could've only been intentionally copied) but a couple of the letters are capitalized. Their version has no ...
- 1,117
130
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Is it better to use a crowded 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channel 1, 6, 11 or "unused" 3, 4, 8, or 9?
I understand that 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channels overlap, and that the most popular non-overlapping set of channels in the US is 1, 6, and 11. Generally, my signal strength on channels 1, 6, and 11 are much ...
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119
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Make Windows 7 ignore WiFi when ethernet is available
When I dock my Windows 7 laptop, I want it to prefer the wired ethernet connection over WiFi.
This is a pretty straightforward thing to do on my Mac - I just reorder my network preferences, and it "...
- 1,357
105
votes
11
answers
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Display list of computers on a LAN in Linux
I'm a web dev who is trying to get a better handle on security. I'm trying to figure out a way (on Linux/Debian based distros) to list all computers on the same LAN my netbook is on. I tried "arp -n" ...
- 2,395
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Paranoid Parent: "WiFi safe for baby?" [closed]
I am most likely being an overprotective parent but since the birth of our newborn, my wife and I have been wondering about credible studies dealing with Wi-Fi and health concerns. I love my Wi-Fi, it'...
72
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Do two computers connected on the same Wi-Fi have the same IP address?
Do two computers connected on the same Wi-Fi have the same IP address (for example, my dad's computer and my computer, at home)?
If so, how does the outside world distinguishes one computer with the ...
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How to launch a command on network connection/disconnection?
I have a wifi connection that requires to authenticate using a web form once the wireless link is established.
I know how to automate the authentication with a script that uses curl/curlIE.
But how ...
- 1,252
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votes
3
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How do I diagnose and visualize high ping times to wifi router?
I'm seeing erratic and sometimes very long ping times to my wifi router that's just one hop away. Pinging 192.168.1.1 sometimes gives stretches of 400-800ms latencies.
There are plenty of things to ...
- 1,125
65
votes
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How do I set my wireless network to be private instead of public?
Trying to maintain good security settings on my laptop, I want my home network to be interpreted as private and the university network at school to be interpreted as public. However, my home network ...
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64
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3
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Does a wireless-N (802.11n) network have poor performance when in b/g "mixed" mode?
It seems to be an "old" wives tale that, when using a wireless-N router in "mixed mode" to support legacy 802.11b or 802.11g devices, the performance of 802.11n clients will suffer....
62
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USB to wireless to USB… Is it possible?
Is there any USB adapter that you can plug in your PC and will convert the USB output in wireless and then have a second USB adapter that will receive the wireless signal and reconvert it to USB input?...
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61
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2
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RSSI value of wifi connection - how to interpret?
In Mac OS X you can obtain the RSSI value of your by wifi connection by holding Alt and clicking on the Wifi-indicator icon.
My questions are:
What range of values can RSSI take?
What RSSI ranges ...
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59
votes
7
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If there are 13 Wifi channels, can I only use 13 Wifi devices on the same room?
As wikipedia reference, 802.11 standards (which defines Wi-fi networks) tell us that wireless networks works with 13 different channels on OFDM (depending on the release, a, b, g or n). From this I ...
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If my Wi-Fi speed is 64 Mbit/s why do I get nowhere near it?
I was transferring a file from one computer to another. When my two computers were far from the router I was getting 1 megabyte per second, but when I had my laptop next to the router I was ...
user3109
58
votes
5
answers
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Is looking for Wi-Fi access points purely passive?
Say I carry a Wi-Fi enabled phone or laptop through an area where there are WAPs. Assuming that I don't actively try to connect to them or otherwise interact with them, is it possible for the owner ...
- 1,007
55
votes
10
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Disable WLan if Wired/Cable Network is available
The question says it all. All i want is that my W-Lan connection should be disabled whenever a wired connection is available.
What would be the easiest way to do that in Ubuntu/Gnome?
In all guides (...
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votes
3
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What is the difference between 2.4G and 5G wireless?
I just got a new "dual band" wireless router. The sales rep didn't really understand the difference between the "2.4G" and "5G" (as stated in the marketing material) wireless networks that the router ...
- 1,457
51
votes
7
answers
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Merging two incoming broadband lines for faster Internet
We have a broadband line coming into our building which delivers around 8-10Mbps, which is okay but not great. Fiber is available in our area (30-100Mbps) but it's not available where we are just yet. ...
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49
votes
3
answers
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Does a virtual machine count as a separate device to the ISP?
The Internet package that I'm using allows up to two devices to be connected to the Internet at one time. One of those slots is taken up by the host computer and the other by someone else's device not ...
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47
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6
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How does Windows 7 decide which route to take if 2 connections to an internet source exist? (e.g. a Wireless and an Ethernet one to a router)
How does Windows 7 decide which route to take if 2 connections to the Internet exist? (e.g. wireless versus wired)
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Can you explain how to understand what the 'iwconfig' command displays in Ubuntu-9.04?
I'm having trouble making my wireless connection work, and I realized I don't really know how to use the tools I have, in this case, the iwconfig command in Ubuntu-9.04.
Here is what I get when I run ...
- 1,351
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Why is the range of a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot shorter than that of a router?
There is something I would like to understand.
A Wi-Fi router has a range of 30-40 meters (100-130 feet).
A mobile hotspot (access point) generated by a smartphone has a range of +- 10 meters (30 ...
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44
votes
5
answers
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Tablet and Wi-Fi AP can't agree on a channel. Which device is violating the 802.11n standard?
Yesterday I received a Fire 7 (9th Gen) Tablet. According to the official datasheet, it supports dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi. To my surprise, the SSID of my 5GHz Wi-Fi router didn't show up. After talking ...
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3
answers
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How can I set WiFi connection order in Windows 10?
I have multiple WiFi networks available, and would like to set the order of preference in which they should connect; i.e. each network's priority. This used to be fairly simple in previous versions of ...
- 1,057
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What's the maximum actual bit rate of an 802.11g connection?
Using a wired connection, I get a 38 Mbit/s download speed. When I switch to wireless one (Linksys WRT54GL router with Tomato firmware), the speed drops to 23 Mbit/s even if the distance between the ...
- 1,011
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votes
4
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How does Google Chromecast connect to secured wifi?
Google Chromecast can be set up by going to the setup page on a supported device. But in technical terms, what is actually happening on your device that configures the Chromecast dongle? For instance,...
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What happens if my neighbour sets his wifi SSID the same as mine?
Most routers come with the same default SSID. Example: (Dlink, Linksys, etc..).
So what happens if I have a router with SSID "Dude", and my neighbour has a router with SSID "Dude".
Assume both ...
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41
votes
10
answers
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Ping works fine, but no Internet connection in browser
Without having changed any settings, I can't access the Internet anymore through my laptop running Windows 10. Every browser tells me the connection has timed out. I can connect to the router and ...
- 521
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votes
5
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Is there a cap on simultaneously active Wi-Fi Access points in a single area?
I'm writing an API for controlling an external device. Part of this API is having the device scan for Wi-Fi access points. The API will be implemented across many types of devices, with varying memory ...
- 611
40
votes
7
answers
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Temporarily disable WLAN internet access for children, but allow it for adults
We use a WLAN access point for internet access. I need the internet access to be turned off at 10pm for my children, but still be able to use it for myself.
Can I have 2 passwords? Or does anyone ...
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14
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Windows 10 Wi-Fi issue: "Can't connect to this network"
A little background - I have a Lenovo G50 which was running Windows 8.1 up until a few months back. Then came along the free upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft updated the laptop OS to Windows&...
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How to use Wireless and Wired Connection both at a same time in Windows 7?
I am using Windows 7.
Problem is while using internet in Wireless if i connect LAN cable to my laptop, it stop Wireless connection and Wired Connection gets active.
I am using Internet using ...
user1379055
38
votes
9
answers
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Can't connect to VPN on Windows 10
I have a desktop computer and a laptop computer on the same WiFi network. The desktop can connect to the VPN, but the laptop cannot.
VPN Connection specs:
Type: PPTP
Sign-in: User name and password
...
- 1,182
36
votes
4
answers
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Wireless headphones interfere with Wi-Fi signal on laptop
I have Medion MD 84299 wireless (not Bluetooth) headphones and they work totally fine.
The problem is that once I turn on the headphone’s base station, Wi-Fi signal on my laptop becomes poor and ...
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14
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Are routers limited to number of devices?
I'm going to buy a new router, but, I've just realised that for nearly all routers I've looked at (Belkin, Netgear, D-Link) don't state the maximum number of devices which can connect concurrently.
...
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Why do some WiFi routers block multicast packets going from wired to wireless?
I have worked with dozens of consumer grade WiFi routers, and they have been really hit-or-miss with this, though it seems to be getting better.
Example of issue:
A device that can be discovered ...
- 478
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3
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Laptop wireless networking options: 1x1 vs 2x2
I am currently customizing a Lenovo Thinkpad.
Under the section "Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters" there are two options.
Default: ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n
Upgraded: ThinkPad 2x2 a/b/g/n (+$10 AUD)
...
- 1,555
36
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3
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Can other people on an encrypted Wi-Fi AP see what you're doing?
If you connect to an open, unencrypted Wi-Fi access point, everything you do can be captured by other people within range.
If you connect to an encrypted point, then people nearby can intercept what ...
- 7,561
35
votes
13
answers
22k
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Neighbor stealing Wi-Fi
My Internet connection is slow and I am (almost) sure that the neighbor is stealing it. Whenever they are home, my Internet connection is slow. I logged in to my modem, but I am unable to find any ...
- 483
35
votes
8
answers
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How much Wi-Fi signal strength do I lose per foot of antenna cable?
I'm thinking of buying an antenna for a router so I can extend my Wi-Fi. I have seen a few products like TP-Link TL-ANT2405C Indoor Desktop Omni-directional Antenna:
The length of the wire is 130&...
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WiFi authentication times out
Since today I have this very annoying issue that the WiFi on my HP ProBook is not authenticating anymore. I haven't changed any settings and my mobile phone connects to the WiFi fine. Also trying ...
- 1,796
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2
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Do different positions of the antenna on a wireless router make any difference?
Often, the antenna of a wireless router can be moved in many directions. Does it make a difference as to which way it points? Should it point toward the device(s) using it? Should multiple antennas ...
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