XPost: comp.mobile.android, alt.internet.wireless
From: catwheezel@operamail.com
On 2016-02-02, Alice J. wrote:
> Whiskers wrote in message
> slrnnaurul.39g.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net:
>
>> If you read the part of your own post that you snipped in responding
>> to mine, you'll see that you specified everyone use the same SSID and
>> the same associated MAC. That isn't the same as everyone choosing
>> their own SSID and some random MAC number to associate with it. You
>> suggested the WiFi equivalent of all the slaves shouting 'I am
>> Spartacus'.
>
> I am confused.
>
> If what Jeff said is true (and Jeff is usually right on the money), we
> may as well consider the SSID and MAC address that Google gets from us
> to be permanent and unchangeable because it is the SSID and MAC
> address of the router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi NIC that Google gets.
No. You can change the SSID of your WiFi access point any time you
like; you'll just have to create a new connection in each of the devices
you want to access your access point.
You can change the MAC associated with that SSID any time you like and
the devices connecting to your access point won't care at all; they'll
just look for the same SSID as before, find it, and log in (assuming the
password is the same as before). It makes no difference whether you
re-program the router or put in a different one.
SSIDs aren't unique or fixed. MACs are meant to be both but might not be.
>> It's dead easy to change the MAC number of the WiFi network card
>> associated with a given SSID; change the WiFi network card in the
>> router, or use a software router and 'clone' the MAC, or just change
>> the router. I've had the same SSID for years on a sequence of cheap
>> ADSL modem/routers.
>
> I am confused.
>
> Jeff said it wouldn't be easy to change the SSID and MAC address of
> the router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi NIC without changing the default
> operating system of the router itself.
Depends on the router. Some can have their OS changed, most
consumer-type models can't. But how hard is it to pop into a chainstore
or pawn shop and buy another router? That gets you a different MAC for
your WiFi access point - all you have to do is set it up to work with
your ISP and give it the SSID and password that your devices expect.
If you really want to, you can use a PC or laptop as a router - with as
many WiFi access points as you care to provide network cards for, and
clone or spoof all the MACs too if you want. If you know how, of course
it's easy. If you haven't a clue, then it's not so easy.
I've never encountered a router that can't have its SSID changed to
whatever you like whenever you feel like it. It surprises me that so
few people seem to bother to change it from the factory setting;
presumably they don't know and think it's normal to have to re-configure
all their WiFi gadgets every time the router is replaced, rather than
just change the router settings to match what the devices expect. These
are the people who get someone else to change the router for them, find
that Word document they saved last night, put that icon back where it
should be, and panic when Microsoft Update changes the look of
something.
But it is convenient to be able to log in to a relative's WiFi just by
finding the 'password' printed on the back of the router, when said
relative doesn't know what you're talking about. (I did turn the router
so that the password was no longer visible through the window ...).
The same people probably think they have to use their current ISP's
email service too, and notify all their contacts every time they change.
Or refuse to change for fear of losing their contacts.
Like the people who don't keep the same number when they get a new
mobile phone or change service provider.
At least not many people still think you need a different email address
for each physical location you send emails from or that you have to be
at that place to read the replies.
>> there are free apps for Android phones that will show the details of
>> all the access points within range
>
> 1. Wifi Analyzer, by farproc
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer
That's the one I generally use.
> 2. WiFi SNR, by Javali Inc.
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.javali.wifisnr
>
> 3. inSSIDer, by MetaGeek
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metageek.inSSIDer
>
> 4. FRITZ!App WLAN, by AVM GmbH
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.avm.android.wlanapp
--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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