7 replies to this topic

[Hum]

Is there a 3rd-party alternate to the Windows 7 network dectection and connection ?

I ran into an odd situation where there are actually 2 public signals at a business.

The one that Win 7 detects and connects to, is only about 46% signal strength.

I was running a wireless signal strength detection program, and discovered that there is another signal at the same location, but it is somehow hidden from Windows.

This second signal is running at 100% !

I'd like to be able to connect to it, naturally.

Both are supposed to be unsecured/Open.

Thanks for any helpful advice.

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[Hum]

Hmm ... nevermind -- after restarting the 3rd-pary detection, the 100% signal is gone.

It must be a fluke.

[+sc302]

One has the ssid hidden. Once you find out what it is you can manually set it up in windows. No connection utility will find out what it is.

[Hum]

^ The SSID was plainly visible in the 3rd-party detection -- I blotted out the name for privacy, in the screen shot.

Only one of the signals shows up in the normal Windows network list.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

things that make you go Hum.....

[+remixedcat]

Also some may be repeaters of the other one or other access points in the same network.... hotels got this goin on.... the same SSID but different APs. take a look at this:



this is how the Hotel I stayed at last had thiers setup

[+BudMan]

I would get a better tool - or maybe tweak that one to show you the MAC of the signal its seeing? Guess it could be just fluke in the software showing you same device?

The native scanner is not very detailed -- but there are many better options out there that can give you much more detail, logs of what it sees, etc.

Looks like the remixed cat is showing is a branded copy of inssider - but you can grab it direct from them for free.http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

[Hum]

I figured out that 'WirelessNetView' is a flakey program.

It did this with other networks -- duplicated a 2nd signal that does not exist -- at 100% strength.

When I walked across the street, it was still showing strong signals that should have gone weak, and disappeared.

Only by shutting down and restarting that program, did it then show a true picture of the Network signals.

It simply is a buggy program.

I'll look for a better Net detector sometime.