unknown network devices

Using the Broadband Netwok Utility to monitor my base
station I see a bunch of network devices that I don't
recognize.
I use a WEP security key. Are these devices actually using
my base station? Or can they just see it?
If they are using it, how can that happen? How can they
find my WEP key? How often do I need to change it?
When I travel with my laptop I can often see other
networks. When they've installed security I can see but
not connect. Would they then see me even if I'm not
connected?

Thanks for any help. All the documentation I could find is
about problems connecting devices I want connected. I'm
looking for the opposite.

Thanks again.
Dorith

They shouldn't be, if you're using your own assigned WEP. If you're in
close proximity to neighbors, and using the default MSHOME workgroup name,
someone close could be using the same name and they might be appearing -
though unable to access your LAN because of your encryption code. Try
changing the Workgroup name to something unique for yourself on the base
station and your computers.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

"Dorith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:240801c418a4$5d420f10$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Using the Broadband Netwok Utility to monitor my base
> station I see a bunch of network devices that I don't
> recognize.
> I use a WEP security key. Are these devices actually using
> my base station? Or can they just see it?
> If they are using it, how can that happen? How can they
> find my WEP key? How often do I need to change it?
> When I travel with my laptop I can often see other
> networks. When they've installed security I can see but
> not connect. Would they then see me even if I'm not
> connected?
>
> Thanks for any help. All the documentation I could find is
> about problems connecting devices I want connected. I'm
> looking for the opposite.
>
> Thanks again.
> Dorith

I think Chris means your SSID (Wireless Station Name that is
broadcast) name and not the workgroup name that your computers belong
to which are two different things. The workgroup name which is what
all computers are your LAN use whether wired or wireless has nothing
to do with the wireless functions. It does not have to be the same as
the SSID. The important thing here is to always change all defaults.
For example, change the workgroup name that all your computers belong
to - use something like dorith2436 and change the SSID to something
OTHER than MSHOME, for example redsox04. If you do this and use WEP,
you probably will never see anything other than your own computers.

On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 03:19:29 -0800, "Dorith"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Using the Broadband Netwok Utility to monitor my base
>station I see a bunch of network devices that I don't
>recognize.
>I use a WEP security key. Are these devices actually using
>my base station? Or can they just see it?
>If they are using it, how can that happen? How can they
>find my WEP key? How often do I need to change it?
>When I travel with my laptop I can often see other
>networks. When they've installed security I can see but
>not connect. Would they then see me even if I'm not
>connected?
>
>Thanks for any help. All the documentation I could find is
>about problems connecting devices I want connected. I'm
>looking for the opposite.
>
>Thanks again.
>Dorith

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)

Precisely, Barb. Thanks for the straight and narrow explanation. You
really think Boston is going to beat the Evil Empire this year? 8-)
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

"Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I think Chris means your SSID (Wireless Station Name that is
> broadcast) name and not the workgroup name that your computers belong
> to which are two different things. The workgroup name which is what
> all computers are your LAN use whether wired or wireless has nothing
> to do with the wireless functions. It does not have to be the same as
> the SSID. The important thing here is to always change all defaults.
> For example, change the workgroup name that all your computers belong
> to - use something like dorith2436 and change the SSID to something
> OTHER than MSHOME, for example redsox04. If you do this and use WEP,
> you probably will never see anything other than your own computers.
>
> On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 03:19:29 -0800, "Dorith"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Using the Broadband Netwok Utility to monitor my base
>>station I see a bunch of network devices that I don't
>>recognize.
>>I use a WEP security key. Are these devices actually using
>>my base station? Or can they just see it?
>>If they are using it, how can that happen? How can they
>>find my WEP key? How often do I need to change it?
>>When I travel with my laptop I can often see other
>>networks. When they've installed security I can see but
>>not connect. Would they then see me even if I'm not
>>connected?
>>
>>Thanks for any help. All the documentation I could find is
>>about problems connecting devices I want connected. I'm
>>looking for the opposite.
>>
>>Thanks again.
>>Dorith
>
> --
> Barb Bowman
> Expert Zone Columnist
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> MS-MVP (Windows)

yes

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 06:41:02 -0800, "Chris H." <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Precisely, Barb. Thanks for the straight and narrow explanation. You
>really think Boston is going to beat the Evil Empire this year? 8-)

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)