Network access

longforgotten

I have a laptop that I use at my mothers where she has wifi, BT hub. I do not have wifi at home but I'm with BT also. I have to plug in the internet lead to my laptop when I'm at home.


I was watching bbc iplayer at home, lost the picture, and started to play around to check what's wrong. I clicked on what seems to be a network logo on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and up comes about three choices, one being BT hub, one being 'shandy' , then BT wifI- with- FON. Now that last one has a yellow triangular warning sign on it.


What is this all about ? Can I get wifi access off someone else's computer or worse still can they get access off mine !

flashg67

I may be way off base here,, but what you're seeing is the local wireless networks that the wireless card in your laptop can 'see'.


In my street, I can pick up about 8 networks. There will be more information if you hover your mouse over the network name and it will say something like 'security type WPA-2' or similar - this means the network user has secured their network so you can't connect unless you know the password.

The one called 'BT hub' - well I suspect the wireless on your own BT hub (I'm assuming you have your own router/hub at home?) is switched on, and you are seeing your own wireless network! You can connect to this if you have the password (on the bottom of the router??), rather than use your wired connection and it will be secure, unless you give your password out to your neighbours. They can be hacked in theory but it is extremely unlikely.

The BT wi-fi with Fon is a BT network that uses a small part of all BT subscribers wireless to create a network that others can access if they're away from their home - it's free for BT users I think, and non BT customers can pay for access - I've used it once when my own broadband (Plusnet) went down.

Try clicking on the BT hub connection and it should ask you for a password to connect?

googler

Did you try just waiting for the picture to come back? Or closing iPlayer then opening it again?

It's very rare in our house to get through a whole iPlayer programme without at least one hiccup.

longforgotten

Yes, we watched the program fine afterwards. Though at Mums I can watch a program have a problem, at home it plays up more.


I do not have wifi at home only at Mums.


I agree I must be picking up other peoples network connections and I did not click on anything. I was just concerned because it made me thick how safe is it to be using wifi


The BT hub that showed up at home had different letters after it than the one that shows up when I'm at Mums, so I'm guessing it was someone else BT hub.


Will just bash on then.........

Mobeer

BT Fon is a system whereby owners of a BT Home Hub agree (by opting in) to freely share their broadband in exchange for being able to use other people's broadband when travelling. You can probably see wifi available from opted-in BT users.

https://www.btfon.com/