Stupid question, using XP-SP2 without any third part utilities, how do you
tell what channel wireless bases are transmitting on? Often when setting up
a new base there are several in the area already, it would be good if I
could select a chanel that is not in use.

Thanks

In article <Ou1mat14FHA.3976@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl>, "Mal Osborne"
<malmensa@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>Stupid question, using XP-SP2 without any third part utilities, how do you
>tell what channel wireless bases are transmitting on? Often when setting up
>a new base there are several in the area already, it would be good if I
>could select a chanel that is not in use.
>
>Thanks

Quite a good question, actually. You can't tell what channels are in
use without third-party utilities.

I think that's a real shortcoming in XP's wireless networking
capabilities, and I've asked a networking person at Microsoft about
it. His reply indicated that they don't show channel numbers, by
design, because the same SSID can be available on multiple channels
from multiple access points that have been set up to allow roaming.
They seem to think that showing channel numbers would confuse users.

That problem certainly doesn't occur in a typical home or SOHO
network. When I set up a wireless network for a client, I need to see
what channels are in use so that I can pick the least-used one. I use
NetStumbler to get that information. Typically, most networks are on
channel 6, so I set it up to use 1 or 11.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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