Avoiding picking up neighbor's wireless internet connection

You should go to System Preferences > Network > Airport and click on the "Advanced..." button. You should be able to then remove your neighbor's wireless network from the list. I assume (My wireless is the only one around where I live) that it will join the topmost network that is avaliable.

I've tried this recommended solution but the outside network keeps popping up and my airport express attempts to log in. I lose my local network and have to go through a hard reset. Any other ideas?

Are you sure you are taking your neighbor's network off the preferred networks ? That is the only thing I can think of that is making you connect to your neighbor's

As another poster suggests, you need to look in the "Advanced" section of the Network Preference pane. When you open the Network pane, you will see a list of your Network Port Configurations. Select Airport, then click the "Advanced..." button at the bottom-right.

The dialogue sheet that appears should start out with the "Airport" tab selected. Here, there is a list of every network you have joined. Simply select a network, then click the "-" sign below the list to remove it (you must first have opened the padlock in the main network pane, if it was locked).

You can also drag wireless networks into a desired order, but this probably will not stop your Macbook from sometimes connecting to the other network. It would be best to remove it entirely.

E

Folks: I've tried removing the offending network via both system preference Still pick up the offending network again a few minutes/hours later and when I'm not looking, my airport extreme moves to the other guy. Can't log on because it has WEP security. But my local network is gone and I have to initiate a hard reset and reconfiguration. Happens 3-4 times a day. Any other ideas?

Unfortunately not. If you know who the other wifi belongs to you could ask them to turn off their SSID broadcasting, that would then make it so you would have to manually input its SSID in order for it to try and connect, and also help make their network a little more secure. Unfortunately there is no way that you can tell your machine to never connect to a particular network (at least not that I am aware of.) I guess the better question is why is your computer trying to use it if it is already connected to yours, or why can you not simply select your home network by clicking on the wifi signal icon in the task bar and selecting it. Unfortunately I cannot think of anything helpful for you right now.

Sorry,
E

In the Network Preferences there is a drop down list with two options. Connect to wireless networks automatically (by default) or connect only to preferred networks. Is yours set to connect automatically or not?

https://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/resnet/Images/mac-preferred.jpg

Joey: My network preferences for airport does not have the screen you mentioned. It is set up for automatic but doesn't have the "connect only to preferred option. I've looked for this screen in network preferences as well as in the setup screens for the Airport Extreme. I'm running Airport 5.3.1.

mike

Eppi39, I can't remember what my Network Preferences pane looked like in Tiger, but it had to be fairly similar to the one in Leopard. <G> If you can't permanently delete your neighbor's wireless from your preferred list, have you tried doing as Evan mentioned? Drag your own network to the top of the list in the Network Preferences > Advanced pane; that should make your MacBook connect to that network before trying the others.

If you've already tried that, my apologies. In that case, I'd suggest calling Apple tech support to see if they have any suggestions. Going to an Apple Store might not be as effective, since they wouldn't be able to see the networks in question from there.

Good luck!

Yes, I did try all the suggested alternatives. I guess its to tech support I go.

Have you tried moving your wireless router? It may be that you are getting a stronger signal from your neighbours system. If you're too close to your router the RF signal can actually drop - the Fresnel football.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone

If you figure out a way, please let us know because I have the same problem. For some reason, My MacBook grabs my neighbor's non-secure wireless before it tries my secure wireless

Am now working with Apple tech support. Per their suggestion, we're trying different channels. So far not working. I'll let you know if we find something that works.

I have a similar problem with my iMac G5 wireless. It picks up the commercial user's network next door and kicks me off line whenever I'm not using the computer. I also deleted their network using advanced settings, etc. The only thing that stops it is that I have networked my wireless G5 to my other (hardwired) G5 and changed my power saving settings to keep my hard drive from being turned off and it then stays on. I have DSL.

If that didn't work, I was going to call Verizon and get my channel switched to another one. They always default to channel 6 here. I was assuming that would probably work, too. Now, I can see the other network, but it doesn't knock me off line or try to join it.

Good Luck!

-Linda

Please explain hardwired g5 vs wireless g5, thanks