Slackware / HostAP / iwconfig settings question

Mickx27 · 04-03-2005

Using HostAP drivers with Slackware, how can I specify the AP I want to associate with when there is multiple APs around my area (overpowering mine)?

I have tried specifying the SSID but when I attempt to renew an IP address, my SSID settings change to my neighbors AP.
I set the SSID by typing [# iwconfig wlan0 ssid MYNETWORKSSID]
Then when I bring up my wireless interface and type [#dhcpcd wlan0]
The SSID changes to [ssid: MYNEIGHBORSSID] automatically.

I know I can use WEP, change channels, or add some other security features that would help my situation but that’s not what I am after here. I would like to find a way to specify the AP by BSSID or something so that even if I am in an environment with multiple APs wide open, I can still connect to the one I wanted. (Signal strength providing)

The one thing I find weird here is that even if I specify the correct SSID, it changes. I guess what happens is that the signal might be low on my AP and the neighbors is higher then mind so it defaults to the more powerful signal. I would think that if you specify the SSID and that AP is unreachable or has a very low signal strengh, then no connection would be made. I find it crappy that it defaults to the first signal it finds regardless of the SSID settings.

Details:
I am running Slackware 10.1 with HostAP drivers installed.
DHCP is enabled on both APs using the same channel but they do have different SSIDs

Again I am not interested in changing any settings on my AP for this test but to only find out if there might be some option I can use to control this from the client side instead.

Thank You

Mickx27 · 04-03-2005

Here is another scenario:
My friend’s house has multiple APs in the general area. 99% of the APs in the area are wide open with DHCP enabled and all use the same channel. Only difference is the SSIDs.
When attempting to access my friends AP (my friend is with me) from down the street with a Yagi directional antenna. I specify the SSID and channel number used by his AP. But when I try to obtain an IP address from his AP my SSID changes to someone else’s in the area and I get there IP info instead of my friends. (The SSID normally changes to a default SSID of someone's AP)

I am also looking in my linux directory (maybe /etc/pcmica) for a config file I can edit to avoid someone else’s network from changing my defined settings of my cards drivers.

Dutch · 04-03-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickx27

Using HostAP drivers with Slackware, how can I specify the AP I want to associate with when there is multiple APs around my area (overpowering mine)?

I have tried specifying the SSID but when I attempt to renew an IP address, my SSID settings change to my neighbors AP.
I set the SSID by typing [# iwconfig wlan0 ssid MYNETWORKSSID]
Then when I bring up my wireless interface and type [#dhcpcd wlan0]
The SSID changes to [ssid: MYNEIGHBORSSID] automatically.

I know I can use WEP, change channels, or add some other security features that would help my situation but that’s not what I am after here. I would like to find a way to specify the AP by BSSID or something so that even if I am in an environment with multiple APs wide open, I can still connect to the one I wanted. (Signal strength providing)

The one thing I find weird here is that even if I specify the correct SSID, it changes. I guess what happens is that the signal might be low on my AP and the neighbors is higher then mind so it defaults to the more powerful signal. I would think that if you specify the SSID and that AP is unreachable or has a very low signal strengh, then no connection would be made. I find it crappy that it defaults to the first signal it finds regardless of the SSID settings.

Details:
I am running Slackware 10.1 with HostAP drivers installed.
DHCP is enabled on both APs using the same channel but they do have different SSIDs

Again I am not interested in changing any settings on my AP for this test but to only find out if there might be some option I can use to control this from the client side instead.

Thank You

This normally only happen if you used default SSID's or same SSID's. What is your SSID, and what is your neighbours SSID ?

Dutch

Mickx27 · 04-03-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch

This normally only happen if you used default SSID's or same SSID's. What is your SSID, and what is your neighbours SSID ?

Dutch

My SSID name changes often but for simplicity sake, lets call it "Dutch"

And you are correct, the neighbours is a "default" name.

So my AP is using a non-default name and the neighbors is using the default name.

chuck2 · 04-04-2005

slap me if im wrong, but you could just add all the stuff you want in your wireless.conf
eg;

*)
INFO="my ap"
ESSID="yerssidhere"
CHANNEL="6"
MODE="Managed"
IWCONFIG="ap mac_address_of_router"
KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
;;

04-03-2005	#1 (permalink)
Mickx27 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 5	Slackware / HostAP / iwconfig settings question Using HostAP drivers with Slackware, how can I specify the AP I want to associate with when there is multiple APs around my area (overpowering mine)? I have tried specifying the SSID but when I attempt to renew an IP address, my SSID settings change to my neighbors AP. I set the SSID by typing [# iwconfig wlan0 ssid MYNETWORKSSID] Then when I bring up my wireless interface and type [#dhcpcd wlan0] The SSID changes to [ssid: MYNEIGHBORSSID] automatically. I know I can use WEP, change channels, or add some other security features that would help my situation but that’s not what I am after here. I would like to find a way to specify the AP by BSSID or something so that even if I am in an environment with multiple APs wide open, I can still connect to the one I wanted. (Signal strength providing) The one thing I find weird here is that even if I specify the correct SSID, it changes. I guess what happens is that the signal might be low on my AP and the neighbors is higher then mind so it defaults to the more powerful signal. I would think that if you specify the SSID and that AP is unreachable or has a very low signal strengh, then no connection would be made. I find it crappy that it defaults to the first signal it finds regardless of the SSID settings. Details: I am running Slackware 10.1 with HostAP drivers installed. DHCP is enabled on both APs using the same channel but they do have different SSIDs Again I am not interested in changing any settings on my AP for this test but to only find out if there might be some option I can use to control this from the client side instead. Thank You Last edited by Mickx27 : 04-03-2005 at 01:44 PM.

04-03-2005	#2 (permalink)
Mickx27 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 5	Here is another scenario: My friend’s house has multiple APs in the general area. 99% of the APs in the area are wide open with DHCP enabled and all use the same channel. Only difference is the SSIDs. When attempting to access my friends AP (my friend is with me) from down the street with a Yagi directional antenna. I specify the SSID and channel number used by his AP. But when I try to obtain an IP address from his AP my SSID changes to someone else’s in the area and I get there IP info instead of my friends. (The SSID normally changes to a default SSID of someone's AP) I am also looking in my linux directory (maybe /etc/pcmica) for a config file I can edit to avoid someone else’s network from changing my defined settings of my cards drivers. Last edited by Mickx27 : 04-03-2005 at 01:58 PM.

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04-04-2005	#5 (permalink)
chuck2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 103	slap me if im wrong, but you could just add all the stuff you want in your wireless.conf eg; *) INFO="my ap" ESSID="yerssidhere" CHANNEL="6" MODE="Managed" IWCONFIG="ap mac_address_of_router" KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" KEY="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" ;;