Vista - physical Router address

I live in a congested area. On one glorious morning my fiddling around with
the wifi card allowed me to discover that I was able to access a 54g Wifi
(lynksys) Internet connection. My experience with high speed was null so you
could imagine my delight. Prior to this I was using "Netzero" which is like
being homeless. My Question is-
How can I look up the physical Router address that is providing me access?
Its important to me because I could be sniped off easily for many reasons and
to share the cost with a good neighbor is the moral thing to do. One
exception is, if it’s the Hotel near-by.

-I’m not perfect-
-Dan

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:42:00 -0800, Dan <Dan@xxxxxx> wrote:
Dan,

The legal and moral implications aside, identifying the owner of an open WiFi
connection may be a matter of detective work.

The most obvious detective procedure would be triangulation. Get a directional
antenna, and see which direction the signal is strongest. Use an objective
signal analysis tool, like NetStumbler.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/06/analyse-your-wifi-environment.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...vironment.html

With a portable computer and a directional antenna, move around the
neighbourhood, and see what happens to the directional nature of the signal, as
you move.
<http://www.netstumbler.org/showthread.php?t=986>
http://www.netstumbler.org/showthread.php?t=986

NetStumbler will also show the SSID, plus a graph identifying when the access
point is online. See if there's a pattern, possibly identifying a business. If
it's a hotel nearby, the SSID should be a recognisable name.

If you should identify the owner of the access point in question, approach them
discretely. Not everybody will welcome having a stranger approach them with
questions about their WiFi setup.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

You forgot to advise him to first call the Department of Homeland Security
and tell them that there will be a nutcase walking around the business
district with a directional antenna pointing True North and other
directions.


"Chuck [MVP]" <none@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8kqco39227pop0jg2ln3ub2ne4sb0hsmmc@xxxxxx

Chuck, you swept them aside so easily but I think they are worth exploring.
What are the *moral implications* of pinging your service provider? I kind
of started worrying. What if there are MORAL IMPLICATIONS of the advice I
gave to Dan? Shall I pay a visit to church to find out perhaps God may be
involved and should have been consulted? Perhaps I should read some moral
philosophers, like Spinoza? Would it suffice, Chuck?

The potential legal implications,.... this is real serious. If you are not
afraid to sell scummy craps like NetStumbler then why should Dan be afraid
of finding out who the source is? After all it is a broadcast, isn't it?
Nobody is charged when some high frequency radiation stumbles into your
butt.

Oh, Chuck, you are a comedian. You are really entertaining. You must be
prowling the forums to find out how posters could be funneled to your
enlightening websites. I should be keeping a watchful eye on you. People
make Hollywood movies about people like you. I better keep a record. One day
it may be a bestseller.

"Chuck [MVP]" <none@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8kqco39227pop0jg2ln3ub2ne4sb0hsmmc@xxxxxx

Chuck, this is the last volley. After that you can go to sleep.

You forgot to mention some CLINICAL implications of your DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA
solution. I can picture Dan walking down his congested downtown area with
your unidirectional antenna mounted on a small helmet looking like a little
green man from Andromeda and somebody calling an ambulance.
I think you grossly underestimate the issue.

"Chuck [MVP]" <none@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8kqco39227pop0jg2ln3ub2ne4sb0hsmmc@xxxxxx

If you aren’t the Don Rickles of the lot your a close second.
He is one of my hero's.
Thanks for the Gut buster.
-Dan

--
Dan’s World
Another Bozo On the bus


"AlexB" wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:57:28 -0500, "AlexB" <alexb@xxxxxx> wrote:
Alex,

There are other forums, where the legal and moral issues of WiFi "leeching" are
discussed, sometimes at great length. Maybe you should try one out.
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wsecurity>
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wsecurity

OTOH, if you're going to smoke and post, you really should share what you smoke,
so we can all share your incisive wit.

And don't use the old excuse "I couldn't figure out how to reply to the OP ...".
That's really lame.

So sleep well.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

You should first consider the fact that you had swept the "moral" issues
aside before you began paddling your directional antenna approach.

Don't tell me your putdowns. It is your OBLIGATION to give anyone an advice
in GOOD faith. It is also your right to offer an alternative, your crummy
device. But you must have told him that there is a simple way to do it and
this way is PINGING.

I also noticed yesterday that you play with other posters them putting their
trust in you. Instead of researching the issue if you do not know how to
respond and honestly saying so you play dishonest games. As I said I will
keep an eye on you.

I will also report you to Microsoft. Your behavior is disgusting.

"Chuck [MVP]" <none@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ffldo3lfrfgf5eid9g6j0493t1rinubbg1@xxxxxx

Appreciate it.

Good luck. I hope that advice will work. It is doable.

"Dan" <Dan@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7AD60EDD-FDD2-4D7F-BB58-76E7C2BF902F@xxxxxx

I have no router in my home.
I did not want to make a Federal case out of this (literally). I thought
maybe there was a legal way, for honest reasons, to find the physical address
of the router That is providing me free wifi. I now see how this can also be
used for other then good intentions. So I will let it go and use my first
instinct listed below. Really…thanks.

Besides, I do not think any information displayed in my network properties
or by “pinging� will enable me to obtain the exact physical address of where
the router is located.
True or false?

I have pinged before but that is just to verify a valid connection as a
matter of eliminating a factor in a problem I was having with the connection.
tell me if im wrong.

I was thinking that… 1. I get a noticeable better connection on the north
wall of my home (a steady 36Mbps speed) compared to the constant switching
11,18,24 and 36Mbps from the south side). 2.Could I just put this laptop on
the passenger seat of jeep and drive down my street watching for an increase
(Location of router) the same way I get an increase in my home. Without
wearing a Green Gazo helmet of course, i.e., Homeland Security.

Dan

--
Dan’s World Inc.™
Another Bozo On the bus


"Dan" wrote: