Wireless Network question

[zoobernut]

I have a wireless network in my house and I was wondering if there was a way to get a list of all the computers wirelessly connected to it at any given moment. I looked around and could not find a way. I have a linksys router. Also once you get the list of all computers connected to the network is there a way from my computer to manually disconnect any of them?

Thanks

[Snowknight26]

If you use Vista there is.. check the map under Network and Sharing Center, though to disconnect them you'd probably need access to the router and/or use custom firmware.

[Cephius]

Yes and Yes. In your linksys routers, under the Status tab -> Local Network -> click "DHCP clients table" (might vary depending on model but look for that button) this will list all the IP addresses assigned by the router and their computer/device name, if they exist. If someone is connecting that shouldn't be, you have a few options. First, secure your router (change the default password) and your wireless (use encryption). Make sure you encrypt with WPA, not WEP as it is easily cracked. Another option is to use MAC filtering, which will let you define which computers can access your network by entering their unique MAC address. You set this within your router as well.

[zoobernut]

Thanks for the replies. I am using xp not vista. I used to use WEP but my GF's laptop is incredibly old and for some reason it will not connect to the network if it has encryption on it. I will check out the other possibilities like MAC filter or WPA. I think her laptop runs windows98 still. I just noticed the other day that there was a strange computer showing up in the network under shared files but it is password protected. I figured that was someone stealing my internet and wanted to stop them.

[Zigma]

just password protect your wifi on the router.

[zoobernut]

thats what I did last night and it did kick the person off that was using my internet but now my other laptop will not connect. I have to look at all the options and figure it out.

[Cephius]

thats what I did last night and it did kick the person off that was using my internet but now my other laptop will not connect. I have to look at all the options and figure it out.

When connecting your laptop realize there are two codes that are used when defining wireless security - a pass phrase, which is usually a word you enter that you remember, and a hexadecimal number that your router generates which is the network key. They are designed to be interchangeable (router generates the key based on the phrase) but some older laptops just won't work unless you enter the key itself. Try that.