Connect to a fixed router

[HipHoper]

Yello All !!!

I wondered if there's a way to make sure that an Xp computer will always connect to a specific router out of a list of router ?
From my previous even if I delete all the routers that xp founds via it's built in "wizard", And make the one that i want the default, It change in the course of time....
Maybe external utility ?

Thank YOU ! (And you, and you.....And you too !!!)

[NooNoo]

Wired or wireless?

If wired, do they have different IP addresses, if so, then just put in the gateway, the IP address of the router in the XP tcp/ip properties.

Wireless, you can change which one it goes for first by moving it up the list.

[HipHoper]

Well...It's wifi...But I found in some cases that moving it up the list and even deleteing all the other options are not always remembered for long by the xp computer....

Did you experience stability with this issue in an area with multiple wifi's ?

[NooNoo]

If you use the connection software provided by the wireless nic manufacturer, that tends to be more stable.

[slgrieb]

Are you concerned about the computer connecting to unsecured WLANS? You could assign the router an unusual IP address such as 192.168.250.250, and assign a compatible address to the computer's wireless NIC. That wouldn't always force a connection to your preferred router, but it would most likely prevent connections to open WLAN's.

[HipHoper]

Well....It's this electronic shop near my home that always tries to connect to the nearest internet cafe to surf the net instead of paying for ISP....

I'll consider using the software that came with the wifi card, But it's Edimax which is cheap and come with crippled software....

Thank you for the tips.

[NooNoo]

So you are trying to prevent this electronics shop from connecting to an unprotected wifi network at the internet cafe?

[HipHoper]

No, He complains that he disconnects from his "preferred" chaep internet, Which is the unsecured wifi lan of the internet cafe near his place, And he wants to make sure he always connect to that specific wifi lan.....

[NooNoo]

Do you know which one is interfering? Can the internet cafe change the channel? You will get drops because the wifi is unsecured and another secured network is on the same channel (with a possibly stronger signal).

[HipHoper]

Since it's a big city, There are like at least 7-8 accesible networks which 2-3 of them is unsecured. So what I understand from you, Is that the combination of non-secured and signal that changes in it's strength due to other networks might be the problem.
I guess that the coffe shop won't change their router settings from him. Not that he surfs their internet for free, He doesn't even buy his coffe from them.....LOL
Thanks for the insights Noo.

[NooNoo]

If you can use a directional antenna, you might be able to minimise the dropouts, but you won't be able to stop them... simply a taxi driving past could upset it.

[slgrieb]

Ah, now its all clear! Sorry, if this guy were on fire I wouldn't pee on him.