Setting up Wireless AP for a hotel conference

Here's an interesting situation. We have a conference at a local
hotel. In the main ballroom we are setting up a wireless (802.11b,
Linksys AP) LAN. Even though we have changed the SSID of our AP and
all the clients have been configured to use this SSID, we
occassionally get connected to the hotel's wireless access point. In
fact, sometimes our PC's initially connect to our AP, then
automatically switch over to the hotel AP.

Is seems that our PC's are picking up whichever AP is broadcasting the
strongest signal - even though they are configued to use a specific
AP's SSID. All workstations are Toshiba Tecra 9100's running Windows
2000 Pro (SP3).

Can anyone offer any advice on how we can ONLY connect to our AP in
this "multiple AP" environment?

Thanks!!

(E-Mail Removed) (JohnyBeGood) wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed) om:

> Here's an interesting situation. We have a conference at a local
> hotel. In the main ballroom we are setting up a wireless (802.11b,
> Linksys AP) LAN. Even though we have changed the SSID of our AP and
> all the clients have been configured to use this SSID, we
> occassionally get connected to the hotel's wireless access point. In
> fact, sometimes our PC's initially connect to our AP, then
> automatically switch over to the hotel AP.
>
> Is seems that our PC's are picking up whichever AP is broadcasting the
> strongest signal - even though they are configued to use a specific
> AP's SSID. All workstations are Toshiba Tecra 9100's running Windows
> 2000 Pro (SP3).
>
> Can anyone offer any advice on how we can ONLY connect to our AP in
> this "multiple AP" environment?
>
> Thanks!!
>

You could try using a channel that is far on the scale from the hotel's
channel. For example, if they are using channel 6, try channel 1 or 11.

In message <(E-Mail Removed) >,
JohnyBeGood <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Can anyone offer any advice on how we can ONLY connect to our AP in
>this "multiple AP" environment?
I'd speculate that the only solution would be to knock up a makeshift
parabola reflector for your AP using cooking foil stuck onto card and
held in shape with some sellotape. Find out where the hotel's AP is
located and site your AP in line with the hotel's AP. Then put your
reflector on your AP's aerial facing into the conference hall in the
general direction of the delegates. You should be able to move the
reflector back and forth a little to get the right spread for all your
delegates.

Alternatively, drop an empty Pringle can over the hotel AP's aerial when
your delegates are in session :-)
--
Tony Morgan
Smile in the face of adversity - and adversity will probably
think you're taking the piss and kick the shit out of you.

On Tue, 9 Sep 2003, JohnyBeGood wrote:
> Here's an interesting situation. We have a conference at a local
> hotel. In the main ballroom we are setting up a wireless (802.11b,
> Linksys AP) LAN. Even though we have changed the SSID of our AP and
> all the clients have been configured to use this SSID, we
> occassionally get connected to the hotel's wireless access point. In
> fact, sometimes our PC's initially connect to our AP, then
> automatically switch over to the hotel AP.
>
> Is seems that our PC's are picking up whichever AP is broadcasting the
> strongest signal - even though they are configued to use a specific
> AP's SSID. All workstations are Toshiba Tecra 9100's running Windows
> 2000 Pro (SP3).
>
> Can anyone offer any advice on how we can ONLY connect to our AP in
> this "multiple AP" environment?

Ask the hotel about their access point placement. It's possible that they
might only have one that overpowers yours in some part of the room, and if so,
then place your access point in that part of the room.