Laptop worked without modem switched on

hilary1

Must have a gremlin today or something but I came in from shopping, switched on the laptop and got online.

It was so slow I hovered over the network connection at the bottom and it said the signal strength was 'very low'. So getting a bit fedup with waiting I ran upstairs to check the lights were flashing on the NTL modem only to find out it wasnt even switched on at the plug.

How did I get on the internet? This has never happened before.

albertross_2

are you attaching to someone elses wireless network?

theCapt

albertross wrote:

are you attaching to someone elses wireless network?

more than likely, try scanning for wireless networks, you maybe able to get free broadband from a neighbour.

hilary1

how do I scan for another network.

If it was as slow as earlier it would take an hour to post one post on here lol.

albertross_2

To make sure you only use your network try this:

Right click on your wireless network icon, view available wireless networks, change advanced settings, wireless networks, highlight your ssid, properties, connection. Make sure "connect when this network is in range" is ticked. Click OK, advanced, make sure Access point (Infrastrucure) networks only is selected, and automatically connect to non-preferred networks is unticked

Have you secured your network with encryption? Which router?

albertross_2

To scan for networks, double click on you wireless icon, near the clock, then view available networks.

Or download netstumbler.

http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

theCapt

tbh if the signal you are getting is causing your connection to the Internet to be really slow it probably isn't worth it, but it is possible to boost the signal of your receiver using a pringles tube but again probably still isn't worth it.

What is worth doing is using sercurity encryption on your WiFi connection, just think you can get a connection on someone elses network it is more than likely they could get access to yours.

hilary1

The only local person in my street likely to have the internet is next door. Maybe they've been using my broadband all this time and now decided to get their own. :rotfl: