HELP How to tell my laptop to use only 1 specific AP MAC address

At a Cafe they have 4 wifi APs (access points) with the same Network Name, as
seen on my laptop. The problem is that they are not 100% reliable and my
laptop locks on to the strongest RF signal even though its connection to the
internet may be down for short and long term. I don't control this public
network.

What is also bad is that I have to re-login with the browser every time the
wifi AP MAC address, router I'm connected to, fails.

$$$ My question is how do I tell my wifi card on my laptop to use only 1
specific AP MAC address and ignore the other 3 less reliable ones; remember
they all have the same network name. $$$

I use to do it on XP with the Intel Dell Wifi card software on my previous
laptop.

My current computer is
Vista SP1 build 6001, home premium
Dell Inspiron 1521 AMD Turion 64 x2 Mobile with Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN
Mini-Card

Thanks a lot in advance.

Mike.

Hi
You would have to do the same with Vista. I.e use the original Vendor
Utility.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"aardvark2zz" <aardvark2zz@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BAE3DAC6-708F-493B-B683-32B92B632965@microsoft.com...
> At a Cafe they have 4 wifi APs (access points) with the same Network Name,
> as
> seen on my laptop. The problem is that they are not 100% reliable and my
> laptop locks on to the strongest RF signal even though its connection to
> the
> internet may be down for short and long term. I don't control this public
> network.
>
> What is also bad is that I have to re-login with the browser every time
> the
> wifi AP MAC address, router I'm connected to, fails.
>
> $$$ My question is how do I tell my wifi card on my laptop to use only 1
> specific AP MAC address and ignore the other 3 less reliable ones;
> remember
> they all have the same network name. $$$
>
> I use to do it on XP with the Intel Dell Wifi card software on my previous
> laptop.
>
> My current computer is
> Vista SP1 build 6001, home premium
> Dell Inspiron 1521 AMD Turion 64 x2 Mobile with Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN
> Mini-Card
>
> Thanks a lot in advance.
>
> Mike.
>
>

Thanks for the reply,

I looked everywhere in the Dell wireless utility and no cigar ! :-(

Dell wifi monitor utility sees 4 identical network names with different AP
MAC addresses, but VISTA only sees the 1 common network name and doesn't
display any AP MAC addresses.

I tried many ways in VISTA to look for a place to force a specific AP MAC
address but no cigar.

Mike


"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> You would have to do the same with Vista. I.e use the original Vendor
> Utility.
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "aardvark2zz" <aardvark2zz@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BAE3DAC6-708F-493B-B683-32B92B632965@microsoft.com...
> > At a Cafe they have 4 wifi APs (access points) with the same Network Name,
> > as
> > seen on my laptop. The problem is that they are not 100% reliable and my
> > laptop locks on to the strongest RF signal even though its connection to
> > the
> > internet may be down for short and long term. I don't control this public
> > network.
> >
> > What is also bad is that I have to re-login with the browser every time
> > the
> > wifi AP MAC address, router I'm connected to, fails.
> >
> > $$$ My question is how do I tell my wifi card on my laptop to use only 1
> > specific AP MAC address and ignore the other 3 less reliable ones;
> > remember
> > they all have the same network name. $$$
> >
> > I use to do it on XP with the Intel Dell Wifi card software on my previous
> > laptop.
> >
> > My current computer is
> > Vista SP1 build 6001, home premium
> > Dell Inspiron 1521 AMD Turion 64 x2 Mobile with Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN
> > Mini-Card
> >
> > Thanks a lot in advance.
> >
> > Mike.
> >
> >
>
>