I think people are connecting to our wireless network

brophs

We have Eircom Broadband (3mb, not that it matters, I guess). We use WEP protection.

I've noticed our speeds have been a bit slow recently, so I decided to check if anyone else was connecting. I have a Netopia 2247, and when I go into Expert Mode<Statistics<LAN, under the heading Devices on LAN it shows our Desktop, my laptop and two other devices named 'Imperator-PC' and 'Masa-PC' respectively.

We also have a PS3 (connected wirelessly), though I don't see that listed under 'Devices on Lan'. Does anyone know why?

Is there an explanation for this, as I'm not the most tech-savvy, or does it seem that someone is logging on?

If so, should I call Eircom when they open tomorrow, or is there something I should do?

hightower1

Get ready for a hell of a lot of people saying "its your own fault for using wep".

jor el

I presume 'Imperator-PC' and 'Masa-PC' are not in your house, and these are unknown to you?

WEP encryption may as well be no encryption at all, especially if you still have the default eircom password set. Switch that to WPA-PSK right now, as it's very likely that someone is using your connection.

brophs

Thanks guys.

I am (admittedly) clueless but after being told what type of security I needed, I changed it over to WPA , and there are now only the two computers that should be connected on there.

So far so good.

Is there anything else I should do, or is this WPA protection enough?

brophs

brophs wrote: »

Thanks guys.

I am (admittedly) clueless but after being told what type of security I needed, I changed it over to WPA , and there are now only the two computers that should be connected on there.

So far so good.

Is there anything else I should do, or is this WPA protection enough?

Did you change the passphrase as well as changing the encryption? If so then you should be fine.

brophs

Karsini wrote: »

Did you change the passphrase as well as changing the encryption? If so then you should be fine.

I did. I just changed it to a completely random string of characters.

Hopefully that will do it.

brophs

brophs wrote: »

I did. I just changed it to a completely random string of characters.

Hopefully that will do it.

Even better, that's how to do it! Prevents a dictionary attack.

jack888

brophs wrote: »

We also have a PS3 (connected wirelessly), though I don't see that listed under 'Devices on Lan'. Does anyone know why?

My xbox doesnt show up as a device either. I think its because the Eircom router is set up to give gaming consoles a public internet address as security doesnt matter and this will help speeds.

jack888

jack888 wrote: »

My xbox doesnt show up as a device either. I think its because the Eircom router is set up to give gaming consoles a public internet address as security doesnt matter and this will help speeds.

I think the reason is that it reads the computer name from its network file sharing service. As a console doesn't have a computer name it doesn't have a name to show up. My Nokia N95 doesn't show up either.

teddy b123

iPhones show up

MunsterCycling

Emm... was it turned on?

goat2

brophs wrote: »

We have Eircom Broadband (3mb, not that it matters, I guess). We use WEP protection.

I've noticed our speeds have been a bit slow recently, so I decided to check if anyone else was connecting. I have a Netopia 2247, and when I go into Expert Mode<Statistics<LAN, under the heading Devices on LAN it shows our Desktop, my laptop and two other devices named 'Imperator-PC' and 'Masa-PC' respectively.

We also have a PS3 (connected wirelessly), though I don't see that listed under 'Devices on Lan'. Does anyone know why?

Is there an explanation for this, as I'm not the most tech-savvy, or does it seem that someone is logging on?

If so, should I call Eircom when they open tomorrow, or is there something I should do?

i also have wireless broadband
just asking
how far away from the house can the connection be picked up
i had never thought of this in the past

MunsterCycling

Depends on the location of the modem and the material your house is made from, I can get 45m away from our timber frame house and still get signal, also depends on the quality of the wireless antennae

shoegirl

I'm surprised anybody can get a reliable connection with a 2247, I can't stay connected any more than 25 feet away. There is a pub near me where you can sometimes get the wifi from the pub next door - again it is not reliable.

watty

goat2 wrote: »

i also have wireless broadband
just asking
how far away from the house can the connection be picked up
i had never thought of this in the past

Maybe up to 1km if the other person uses a dish.

Above 500m to 1km, the standard WiFi timings won't work. 8km WiFi based links use modified software at both ends.

Dardania

An alternative to upping your secuirty level (try go to wpa2 if all your devices support it), is to do something like this guy:

http://www.ex-parrot.com/pete/upside-down-ternet.html

jay93

goat2 wrote: »

i also have wireless broadband
just asking
how far away from the house can the connection be picked up
i had never thought of this in the past

well my neighbours utv connection is about 10m away if even and i get full singal off it so tbh you can pick up on wifi a good bit away and yes i had permission to use it at the timme me voadafone DSL was uselss

jay93

jay93 wrote: »

well my neighbours utv connection is about 10m away if even and i get full singal off it so tbh you can pick up on wifi a good bit away and yes i had permission to use it at the timme me voadafone DSL was uselss

What do you mean by "10m"? 10 minutes away?

watty

meters. They are about 10% bigger than a yard. about 33ft

jay93

Deleted User wrote: »

What do you mean by "10m"? 10 minutes away?

i mean meters lol as watty said!! any further than the distance i am from the house and the signal drops even if i go into my back garden the wireless would go.luckily i got my eircom back in after my awful service from vodafone so back up and running !!:D:D

watty

watty wrote: »

meters. They are about 10% bigger than a yard. about 33ft

Oh,

*Slaps head in embarrassment lol*