Interesting signal

On my laptop I'm getting an ad hoc connection to a 54mbps signal. It
shows an IP address but when I use Netstumbler it shows me different
MACs at different times. Now I I'm pretty remote relative to signals
around here. All APs are in town 14 miles away through hills. No
line of site. Only thing is the ski resort which I can see from town
and here. Only other thing would be cell towers.

I get a consistent IP of 169.254.48.67. Tried a reverse lookup but
nothing comes back to this IP.

Occasionally Boingo connects and sometimes it asks for network key.

Any suggestions as to what this might be?



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 15:10:45 -0800, in alt.internet.wireless , 'Captain'
Kirk DeHaan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I get a consistent IP of 169.254.48.67. Tried a reverse lookup but
>nothing comes back to this IP.

169.254.x.x means "oh dear, I could not find a DHCP server, so I'm going to
assign myself a dummy address".

That address is in a block designated "private nonroutable" meaning it can
only be used inside lans. Windows type computers pick addresses in that
range if they can't find a DHCP server to connect to. With this address,
you can't talk to the internet.


Mark McIntyre


----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
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Do the the "different" MAC addresses change every time you try to connect to
them?
If so, I have come accross a simalar problem myself, and have not seen any
other postings other than this one that relates to it since I have
experenced it, so I can only assume a type of "Phantom" or "ghost" signal
that the internal card picks up?

I have had a signal at the highest signal poss in Netstumbler as I was
driving about, the signal did not chage at all, it was "seen" as a Linksys,
and had WEP enabled, when (foolishly) tring to connect to it, it would
dissapear, only to reapear as a different MAC address, would dissapear and
reapear at different times even when not trying to connect to it.

I also noted that some of my networks that I had in my network list were
showing up as access points when out and about (mac addresses were
different), again these were not "real" Nodes. Again, trying to connect to
some of them and they would disapear, only reapearing with a differnt MAC,
BUT...some connected. I think that they are infact connecting to them
selves! No IP would be assigned, changing the IP address to Public IP's
still wouldnt do anything, no shares are available to a non existing
computer/connection!


Removing all the items in the network list is not the key here, as even with
an empty list, occaisonally I still "see" an access point or an adhoc
signal, the give away for false signals are that the signal does not change
when you move about. Signals that I have seen are "0" and "100" non of the
other phantoms have been anything else.

This has happend to me when uisng the following cards, and OS (swaping the
cards upon a "phantom signal" the "phantom" would not be seen, re-inserting
the first card, and no "phantom" is seen.)

Belkin54G PCMCIA... XP-Home
DWL-610 (dlink) PCMCIA... XP-Home

Your IP address if assigned by DHCP would be obtained via an Access point
with a DHCP server switched on.
I good rule of thumb is if it starts with 169.254. then the chances are that
the network connection are down (esp if router is used with the assigned
public IP's)

A IP address other than the 169.254 would sudjest a positive network
connection eg
192.168. (though some small networks work quite happy with the default IP
169.254.*.* without a DHCP server.)

If not related, sorry... but it was good to get that off my chest anyways!
Alan


PS
Has anyone else had this happen to them? If so, do you know what this is
called?

"'Captain' Kirk DeHaan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On my laptop I'm getting an ad hoc connection to a 54mbps signal. It
> shows an IP address but when I use Netstumbler it shows me different
> MACs at different times. Now I I'm pretty remote relative to signals
> around here. All APs are in town 14 miles away through hills. No
> line of site. Only thing is the ski resort which I can see from town
> and here. Only other thing would be cell towers.
>
> I get a consistent IP of 169.254.48.67. Tried a reverse lookup but
> nothing comes back to this IP.
>
> Occasionally Boingo connects and sometimes it asks for network key.
>
> Any suggestions as to what this might be?
>
>
>
> Kirk
>
> "Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly
>
> www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
> www.stormyacres.com

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 02:37:59 -0000, "Alan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Do the the "different" MAC addresses change every time you try to connect to
>them?
>If so, I have come accross a simalar problem myself, and have not seen any
>other postings other than this one that relates to it since I have
>experenced it, so I can only assume a type of "Phantom" or "ghost" signal
>that the internal card picks up?
>
>I have had a signal at the highest signal poss in Netstumbler as I was
>driving about, the signal did not chage at all, it was "seen" as a Linksys,
>and had WEP enabled, when (foolishly) tring to connect to it, it would
>dissapear, only to reapear as a different MAC address, would dissapear and
>reapear at different times even when not trying to connect to it.
>
>I also noted that some of my networks that I had in my network list were
>showing up as access points when out and about (mac addresses were
>different), again these were not "real" Nodes. Again, trying to connect to
>some of them and they would disapear, only reapearing with a differnt MAC,
>BUT...some connected. I think that they are infact connecting to them
>selves! No IP would be assigned, changing the IP address to Public IP's
>still wouldnt do anything, no shares are available to a non existing
>computer/connection!
>
>
>Removing all the items in the network list is not the key here, as even with
>an empty list, occaisonally I still "see" an access point or an adhoc
>signal, the give away for false signals are that the signal does not change
>when you move about. Signals that I have seen are "0" and "100" non of the
>other phantoms have been anything else.
>
>This has happend to me when uisng the following cards, and OS (swaping the
>cards upon a "phantom signal" the "phantom" would not be seen, re-inserting
>the first card, and no "phantom" is seen.)
>
>Belkin54G PCMCIA... XP-Home
>DWL-610 (dlink) PCMCIA... XP-Home
>
>Your IP address if assigned by DHCP would be obtained via an Access point
>with a DHCP server switched on.
>I good rule of thumb is if it starts with 169.254. then the chances are that
>the network connection are down (esp if router is used with the assigned
>public IP's)
>
>A IP address other than the 169.254 would sudjest a positive network
>connection eg
>192.168. (though some small networks work quite happy with the default IP
>169.254.*.* without a DHCP server.)
>
>If not related, sorry... but it was good to get that off my chest anyways!
>Alan

This describes my situation almost exactly. I have a Linksys WPC54G
card. I was wondering if I was "talking to myself".

The only thing that has stopped this is to set to only accept AP
connections.


>
>
>PS
>Has anyone else had this happen to them? If so, do you know what this is
>called?
>
>"'Captain' Kirk DeHaan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> On my laptop I'm getting an ad hoc connection to a 54mbps signal. It
>> shows an IP address but when I use Netstumbler it shows me different
>> MACs at different times. Now I I'm pretty remote relative to signals
>> around here. All APs are in town 14 miles away through hills. No
>> line of site. Only thing is the ski resort which I can see from town
>> and here. Only other thing would be cell towers.
>>
>> I get a consistent IP of 169.254.48.67. Tried a reverse lookup but
>> nothing comes back to this IP.
>>
>> Occasionally Boingo connects and sometimes it asks for network key.
>>
>> Any suggestions as to what this might be?
>>
>>
>>
>> Kirk
>>
>> "Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly
>>
>> www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
>> www.stormyacres.com
>


Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

Does anyone know what causes this strange wifi behavior?
Alan

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 14:28:19 -0000, "Alan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Does anyone know what causes this strange wifi behavior?
>Alan
>

What is also interesting is it has the same SSID every time. Üdx



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

"Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c0lba4$8ls$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Does anyone know what causes this strange wifi behavior?
> Alan
>
>

I suspect you are having intermodulation or "birdie" problems. The best bet
would be for you to find a member of your local Amateur Radio club (go to
www.arrl.org to find your nearest club). Contact the "RFI Point of Contact
(RFI stands for Radio Frequency Interference) and ask them for advice. Your
receiver may be seeing the output from a second stage amplifier or the
output of a mixed set of signals. Some Wireless devices are far from clean
when it comes to extraneous signals being emitted. Your local Ham operator
that you contact will be able to help you. We use similar detective
techniques with our Packet Radio systems (Ham radio narrow and wide band
data links over HF, VHF and UHF radio) and with the Ham Radio satellite
communications systems we use; they have uplinks in the 1.2, 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
ranges and downlinks in the 28Mhz, 148 MHz, 440 MHz, and 1.2 GHz ranges, and
mixing all of those signals up in a small space means we have to use
Diplexers, Duplexers, signal combiners and narrow band RF filters. I am not
suggesting that you will have to do any of this, as sometimes relocating the
offending transceiver a few feet will do the trick. I had a brain-busting
problem one time with a 1.2 GHz 10 watt transmitter feeding signals into a
4-gang helical right hand polarized antenna. That was the uplink to one of
the many Amateur Radio satellites in orbit. The down link from the
satellite was in the 450Mhz range, and the downlink receiver I built would
mix the IF signals of the first stage amplifier with the outgoing 1.2 GHz
signal and produce a spurious signal on the front end of my 148 MHz
receiver. I went crazy trying to fix that problem until one of the older,
wiser heads in the local club suggested that I move the receiving
pre-amplifier for 1.2 GHz which was mounted on the actual antennas itself,
to a location about 20 feet down the communications tower in my back yard.
Voila! Fixed the problem.

HTH, YMMV, AFAIK, M2CW, LSMFT

Dave - Amateur Radio Operator N4CVX

Hi

I am not aware of any transmitting stations within my local visinity, pirate
or otherwise.
Apart from a CB user about 700yards as the crow flys from me.

As the "phantom" signals are steady, it would indicate to me that its not
indicative to a CB'ers waffle habbits, and more indicative to the 3 hours
worth of Amateur waffle, before passing the mic [packet radio/teleprinter
or whatever you get up to]... so thats out... ( lol)

And the "signals" are either at full strength (not even tutching the
transmiting ant to the reciving ant gets anywhere near full strength!) or
zero, which is more of a clue to what may be happening.

Is it internally generated within the PCMCIA device, a non-critical error
which tricks the software in giving true statements when it should be false.
or along the lines of summat like that?

Glad you sorted your problem

Alan


"CWO4 Dave Mann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:c0lba4$8ls$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Does anyone know what causes this strange wifi behavior?
> > Alan
> >
> >
>
> I suspect you are having intermodulation or "birdie" problems. The best
bet
> would be for you to find a member of your local Amateur Radio club (go to
> www.arrl.org to find your nearest club). Contact the "RFI Point of
Contact
> (RFI stands for Radio Frequency Interference) and ask them for advice.
Your
> receiver may be seeing the output from a second stage amplifier or the
> output of a mixed set of signals. Some Wireless devices are far from
clean
> when it comes to extraneous signals being emitted. Your local Ham
operator
> that you contact will be able to help you. We use similar detective
> techniques with our Packet Radio systems (Ham radio narrow and wide band
> data links over HF, VHF and UHF radio) and with the Ham Radio satellite
> communications systems we use; they have uplinks in the 1.2, 2.4 and 5.6
GHz
> ranges and downlinks in the 28Mhz, 148 MHz, 440 MHz, and 1.2 GHz ranges,
and
> mixing all of those signals up in a small space means we have to use
> Diplexers, Duplexers, signal combiners and narrow band RF filters. I am
not
> suggesting that you will have to do any of this, as sometimes relocating
the
> offending transceiver a few feet will do the trick. I had a brain-busting
> problem one time with a 1.2 GHz 10 watt transmitter feeding signals into a
> 4-gang helical right hand polarized antenna. That was the uplink to one
of
> the many Amateur Radio satellites in orbit. The down link from the
> satellite was in the 450Mhz range, and the downlink receiver I built would
> mix the IF signals of the first stage amplifier with the outgoing 1.2 GHz
> signal and produce a spurious signal on the front end of my 148 MHz
> receiver. I went crazy trying to fix that problem until one of the older,
> wiser heads in the local club suggested that I move the receiving
> pre-amplifier for 1.2 GHz which was mounted on the actual antennas itself,
> to a location about 20 feet down the communications tower in my back yard.
> Voila! Fixed the problem.
>
> HTH, YMMV, AFAIK, M2CW, LSMFT
>
> Dave - Amateur Radio Operator N4CVX
>
>

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 15:10:45 -0800, 'Captain' Kirk DeHaan
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On my laptop I'm getting an ad hoc connection to a 54mbps signal. It
>shows an IP address but when I use Netstumbler it shows me different
>MACs at different times. Now I I'm pretty remote relative to signals
>around here. All APs are in town 14 miles away through hills. No
>line of site. Only thing is the ski resort which I can see from town
>and here. Only other thing would be cell towers.
>
>I get a consistent IP of 169.254.48.67. Tried a reverse lookup but
>nothing comes back to this IP.
>
>Occasionally Boingo connects and sometimes it asks for network key.
>
>Any suggestions as to what this might be?
>
>
>
>Kirk
>
>"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly
>
>www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
>www.stormyacres.com


A follow up on my "interesting signal". I was using a Linksys PC b/g
card and originally had no luck connecting to the local hotspots.
Come to find out the card they were using was strictly b and
apparently the Linksys card did not switch to the b mode. Even when
manually switched to b mode it did not work.

Trying an Orinoco b card worked just fine. Took the b/g card back and
got a Linksys b card. Nada, zip, nothing. Appears Linksys has
problems.

I went and got a Netgear b/g card and it didn't work. I then tried a
Netgear b card a voila'. I now have a wireless connection. It
appears the card they are using in their hotspots will not connect to
a b/g card period. Irregardless Linksys has some issues to be
resolved.

And as to the phantom ad hoc signal I was receiving? It's gone now.
I suspect it was inherent to the Linksys card(s). That's the only
explanation I can come up with.



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com