A question for those IT inclined. Has anyone had their PC

[mmonk]

jump from the wireless network they were on onto a different network (and this is without shutting down the computer or messing with or accessing network settings)? If so, what is going on and what is the cure? If not, what is going on? Should I be worried about anything?

[meegbear]

1. I believe this would happen if ...

connection A is dropped and the PC finds connection B. It sounds like connection B is either unsecure or you've logged onto it before and the machine found it.

It can happen.

[mmonk]

3. B would be unsecure in this case.

This has only started in the last two weeks but I've been logging into my network with a netgear wireless router for approximately a year. Previous years, I had a router that is like what my pc has been switching to (except it was secure). Thanks for the input.

[dionysus]

2. sometimes, if the computer can see multiple networks, if you lose your connection to the network

you're currently on, it will try to conenct to one oft he other networks it can "see". This used to happen in my office when i lost my wireless signal; it would auto-connect to the next network it could find. i'm sure there is a setting for that somewhere.

I'm more of a programmer than a hardware\network guy, but i wouldn't be too worried about it.

[mmonk]

4. Yes, mine sees multiples. Thanks.

[NJmaverick]

5. It does happen from time to time, if there are two strong wireless networks

It can also happen if you end up with two networks with the same name. If you are using a linksys router, I suggest renaming it from the default name to anything else. The new routers come with random names. The older ones used the same names and having to wireless networks with the same name confuses the hell out of computers.

[mmonk]

7. I have a netgear router. It jumped to a linksys.

Mine is in my house. It jumped to one outside my house. Thanks.

[NJmaverick]

9. One thing you might try to eliminate the problem

is make sure your wireless card's drivers are up to date and the software controlling your wireless connection are also up to date.

[mmonk]

11. Thanks for that.

I'll check.

[TCJ70]

6. Been a while since I did anything on a PC but...

...you should be able to change your network settings to only maintain a connection to that one wireless signal.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. A neighbor didn't password protect their wireless network. (125-200 feet away)

Or you're in a free wireless hot spot.

If you're on a neighbor's network, and they know what they're doing, they potentially have access to your computer files. However, if they're stupid enough to leave their network unprotected they probably won't even know you're there.

[sailor65]

10. You will only auto-connect

if you have connected to the new network manually at least once (Which often happens accidentally).

Fire up your PC, deliberately connect to the new network, and then manually disconnect using the "Disconnect" function (Button or menu). This will take the new network off your auto-connect list and your PC will then only ever connect to it if you manually do so.

Peace.....

[DCBob]

12. Normal if you lose connection to your primary...

Windows keeps a list of wireless you have connected to in the past and by default will automatically connect to the next one in the list if you lose connectivity to your primary. You can change the settings to not do that if you don't like it.. In XP, go into your wireless connections/properties/wireless networks and you can edit the property of each of wireless networks to auto-connect or not.