Is there any way to stop wi fi?

[ayabrea38]

I have a wireless router,but have the main house pc wired to it.Is there any way to temporarily stop the wi fi form working,apart from the obvious switch it off,because I want to stay on line with the wired pc but not let the kids use the wi fi upstairs all the time.
Please help!

[woofgang]

You make yourself the administrator of their computers and turn it off on the computer.

[grasscarp]

Wouldnt it be easier just to tell them when you dont want them using it and why?

[MarkRae]

Almost certainly. Obviously, it will depend what router you have, but most allow the wireless network to be stopped and started as required...

[woofgang]

Better answer is to change the router password and not tell them what it is then their computers can't connect.

[ayabrea38]

It is getting used in a wii and a ps3 so I cannot password them.The router is a very old one given to me by sky,a basic seeming sagem(about 5 years old with no buttons on it apart from on/off).Yes,if they did not try and sneak a use of the ps3 or wii whenever I have told them not to,the honest truth is I cannot trust them not to.A sorry state of affairs. :-(

[ayabrea38]

But I do like your answer woofgang,how do I go about changing the network key or SSID,I don't have an actual password to my knowledge.
Thanks

[MarkRae]

I'm not familiar with that particular device, but this might help:
http://support.en.bel...-of-my-sagem-modem%3F

[VHG]

You can access all routers via a web interface from your PC. You can then "logon" to the router and make changes to the serttings on the router.

So you could logon to the router and turn off the wi fi component (but leave the rest of the router functions working). Your wired PC can still use the router.

Then at a later time or date you can logon to the router and turn the wi fi on again.

So you have the ability to turn the wi fi on and off at will.

[ayabrea38]

Thanks MarkRae,that put me on the right track and now I can enable or disable WAP yay!!!
Thank you very,very much
Aya

[MarkRae]

You're welcome. However, if your immediate vicinity is anything like mine, there will be at least half a dozen completely unsecured wireless networks that they could jump on - it's really quite scary how little some people seem concerned about their online security...

[ChuckFickens]

apologies for a off topic post, but

I purposely ran a totally unsecured wireless network for about 6 months (fully separated from my main network with 1Mb/s allocated to it) just to see what happened.

Not a single person connected to it in that 6 months, I would have left it running permanently but I had a use for the wireless card it was being run on. If another mini PCI wireless card comes my way I'll set it up again. (obviously there is no security risk to me)

[ayabrea38]

Our neighbour has an unsecured network,but luckily they don't often have it on.I now have the method for putting the wi fi on and off under lock and key,I was amazed at how easy it is.
Why do so many people have unsecured wi fi?I didn't even know my router was wi fi until about 2 years ago(I have had it for about 5)and it was secured by my supplier automaticly
Maybe they are just generous souls ;-)
Thanks everyone
Aya

[woofgang]

All the networks round us are secure....they used not to be but as the stuff about securing has been in TV they gradually have all been locked. I think its the bit about the network owner being responsible for any illegal downloads that has finally got through to folk, also that thing the beeb did about network hijacking.