Mates computer keeps using my connection

Kol · 9 May 2006 at 12:24

Hi there,

I wonder if any of you gurus can lend me some advice. Basically, both me and my mate have separate internet connections, but also have a wireless network.

Whenever he is connected to the wireless network, it uses my connection (which is, naturally, connected to my wireless router). This, however, is not ideal. I don't particularly want him sharing my connection, but Windows decides to even though he is directly connected to the internet through his own NIC.

Any ideas how we can make it use the internet connection of his own, and only do local processes through the wireless?

spirit · 9 May 2006 at 12:40

put mac filtering/wep on your wireless network??

In terms of windows settings there is a way to select it so that it uses wired connections rather than wireless - my laptop does it beats me how i did it though (long time ago & i have a sneaking suspicion something might actually be wrong with it and thats why its doing this) maybe someone on here will know

xirokx · 9 May 2006 at 12:40

are you using wireless network adaptors to connect to the net? if no how do you both connect to the wireless network?

he is using your connection as windows is picking up on your connection before it picks his up....

I believe you need to setup his wireless network to connect to his wireless router 1st and not yours....

What type of security do you have setup on the router? WEP , WPA ??? If none you could setup WPA if you are using XP pro or WEP if u are using XP Home and assign a key to your network which means he has to enter a key before being allowed on your network....However that said he still needs to reconfigure his network settings to connect to his router instead of yours...

Good Luck...

Kol · 9 May 2006 at 13:30

OK, cheers for your help guys... first, I want to allow him access to my wireless so we can share resources.

He connects directly to his internet connection via cat5, he then has a wireless NIC so he can connect to my wireless network to share resources. The problem is, as you say, windows is recognising the wireless card in his PC as the primary connection and thus utilising it.

I know I could simply just connect to the internet connection directly via cat5 to my laptop and use the wireless for sharing resources via the router, but it's a waste. It's not the big of a problem though, I don't mind if there isn't a simpler solution.

the only problem is, that when he is connected to the wireless (with my internet connection connected or not) it won't allow him to utilise his own connection and will continue to attempt to connect via the router even when the WAN is enabled. So if I disable the WAN, he cannot use the internet at all and has to disable his wireless to gain a connection. Awkward to explain, but simple in effect.

csmager · 9 May 2006 at 13:59

The router will give him a DHCP address including default gateway and DNS server.

Set him a static IP and leave the default gateway and DNS server entries blank. This will most certainly break internet access via your router, but file & printer sharing will not be affected.

The PC should use any other connection with a valid gateway instead (i.e. his own internet connection), but whether or not this works will remain to be seen!

Kol · 9 May 2006 at 14:13

csmager said:
The router will give him a DHCP address including default gateway and DNS server.

Set him a static IP and leave the default gateway and DNS server entries blank. This will most certainly break internet access via your router, but file & printer sharing will not be affected.

The PC should use any other connection with a valid gateway instead (i.e. his own internet connection), but whether or not this works will remain to be seen!

Aha! Nice one. I was thinking about this idea a minute ago. Cheers mate, will report back when he returns home so I can access his machine to test.

Ta!

lokkers · 9 May 2006 at 14:40

csmager said:
The router will give him a DHCP address including default gateway and DNS server.

Set him a static IP and leave the default gateway and DNS server entries blank. This will most certainly break internet access via your router, but file & printer sharing will not be affected.

The PC should use any other connection with a valid gateway instead (i.e. his own internet connection), but whether or not this works will remain to be seen!

If that doesnt work, try setting the default gateway for the wireless connection to his router IP (rather than leaving it blank)

tolien · 9 May 2006 at 14:44

You could try the connection preferences...
Network Connections, Advanced, top box.

At a guess, shoving the one that's providing an internet connection at the top should fix it.

AndyC · 9 May 2006 at 18:26

tolien said:
You could try the connection preferences...
Network Connections, Advanced, top box.

At a guess, shoving the one that's providing an internet connection at the top should fix it.

Darn beat me to it,

just reading up on that last night for one of my exams about setting the adaptor order.

Kol · 9 May 2006 at 21:27

OK - it appears that by setting a static IP and leaving the gateway for his wireless card blank, that it used his own connection rather than mine.

I have tried your adivce too Tolien, and it appears to be fine now. Ta!