Curious WiFi problem

[puggit]

I've disabled the SSID broadcast on my linksys router, as per good practice.

Now Windows XP (sp2) will always connect to my neighbours unsecured WiFi as it's in my list of networks () but is below my network in terms of priority.

My laptop will only connect to my network if it can't reach next door's or if I remove it from my list of networks

[agent006]

Click advanced settings on the WLAN chooser page, click the wireless networks tab, and there is a Preferred Networks section at the bottom. Yours and your neighbours should be on there, so click to move up or down in the list for priority.

Or just keep using his and cancel your ADSL.

[jamieboy]

Can't exactly help with this, but disabling SSID broadcast to enhance security is a bit of a myth, I think.

The SSID is transmitted in five (AFAIK) different types of wireless transactions, and disabling it from beaconing still leaves it active on the other four. I'm not an expert, but I think with a combination of something like netstumbler and ethereal, it wouldn't take long to find the SSID.

It's better to make sure people can't get onto your network once they've found it (e.g. enable WPA) than to try and stop them finding it in the first place.

Of course, it gives you a tiny bit more security, but I'd question whether that security outweighs the hassles it can cause.

Not an expert, though, and I'd be happy for someone to tell me why I'm wrong!