<SOLVED>Can't Connect To Chosen WI-FI Network

[joechimp]

I am having trouble connecting to a chosen Wi-Fi connection. I never had this problem before.

I am at a place that has several connections to choose from. In the past I chose the connection and clicked connect. Then it connected to that network. Now it seems  it switches from that connection and connects to another connection that has less of a signal and even if I disconnect and try to re-connect to the other network, it goes right back to the weaker signal.

I never paid that much attention to all the inner workings of networking, it always just worked. Well, shame on me   because now I am at a loss.

Is there a way to eliminate the bad connection and just choose the good one. I have seen nothing in the configuration that lets me choose that option.

It's a real pain in the neck. I would appreciate any help with this.
I know that it probably is something simple and I will feel like a jerk but nonetheless, I need the help.

Thanks in advance, Joe

[Joble]

If you remove the entry for the weaker signal in wpa_supplicant.conf it should not connect to it any more, unless you configure it again in the network manager.

You'll probably have to run service network restart after editing the file.

Make sure you save a backup, if you mess it up it will be messed up.

Good Luck.

[joechimp]

Thanks for responding so quickly Joble.

Ok, I need a bit more info if you could. Please bare with me. Or is that bear.

I digress.

Let me give you a bit more info, if I may. The connections are actually at a local library. They have 3 different open connections. One with one bar of signal one with 2 bars and the main signal which is all bars. It has always allowed me to connect to the full bar one. To better understand this in the future could you explain to me why this happened. What caused this to jump to the other connection?

Next, was your suggestion a terminal command or was it in some UI. Apologies for my ignorance.

If you could just give an additional push in the right direction, I t would be greatly appreciated. Or maybe a good kick.

Thanks again. You are always helpful.
Joe

[Joble]

Do they all have the same ssid?  If so that trick won't work.  

Maybe you can reconfigure the connection without access point roaming?  You know, the four options, user manage, start on boot, monitor traffic and access point roaming?

I don't know if that will work either, never been in that situation.  My library has four access points but each one has a different ssid.

[joechimp]

It is a dilemma.

I had already done what you suggested(the four options) before the first post I made. That is why I asked for help, because at that point I was lost. It seems that this is kind of a strange problem. Like I said, I never had this happen before.

I will delve into it more and see what I can screw up or maybe get lucky and fix. I will be sure to post  my results if I have any success. Maybe it will help someone else in the future.

Thanks Joble for trying. If you don't have an answer I know I have my work cut out for me.
 

Thanks


One of the few things that would take me like 30 seconds to fix in Windows

[denoobifyme]

The signal strength meter is often inaccurate. Most wifi adaptors are programmed to seek the strongest actual signal. The meter is more of a visual for you rather than a firm indicator to the antenna of which signal is the strongest. If you run two different network monitors, you'll find discrepancies in measures of the same signal, sometimes of several percentage points. 53% and green bars, 39% and orange bars, both averages of fluctuating signal strengths.

Also, speed/throughput aren't directly proportional to signal strength. They all affect each other. Maybe the stronger signal consistently has too many people trying to use it (because it's a stronger signal), so your wifi puts you on a weaker signal with less traffic.

There's a slim possibility that someone in your neighborhood wants you to connect to that particular access point and has convinced your computer to ignore other signals even if they're stronger. Your own paranoia will indicate how much attention to pay to this possibility.

Finally, it's bear with me or bear a burden. Bare with me is inviting the person to join you in getting naked.

[joechimp]

Getting naked is better than messing with wi-fi, but that's for another thread.

Thank you for your input. The place I am having this problem is the public library. I have never had the problem there before. They have 3 open connections. The main one for the public and 2 more on their upper floors for library personnel. Most libraries encrypt the staff wi-fi but this one doesn't.

There should be a way to just take the other connections out of the mix but I gather there is not.

The slow connection that it kept me on was very slow and disconnected over and over again. So the accuracy of the meter was not what I gauged my observations on.

So the neighborhood thing doesn't apply here.

I appreciate your thoughts. I guess I will keep trying.
Joe

[denoobifyme]

Just a reminder: the library may not encrypt their staff connection, but they probably still don't want you regarding it as a public access point. Rather than encrypting it, they may have put in firewall settings to exclude the public computers specifically, to keep their staff connection faster. In most places, it's still illegal to log onto an unsecured network without the administrator's permission, regardless of how poor their security is, the same way it's illegal for you to walk into a stranger's house just because their door is open.

I believe in network configuration or add a new connection, you can tick a box that says "Force this connection." You have to dig for it, if it's there, and you probably shouldn't dig for it on a computer you don't own or have sysadmin/root permissions for.

Even though it's selfish of the library to keep two channels for staff and only one for everyone else, they could file charges if you try to change that.

[joechimp]

We are getting a little off track  denoobifyme.

Let me explain in more detail. I should have done a better job of it.

Here we go.
 I go to the public library with my own laptop. I have gone there many times. The main wi fi connection the public is supposed to use(designated to me by the library staff), was the one with full bars, which I have used on multiple occasions there with no problem. The other staff connections that were weaker(because they are based on upper floors of the library) were also always listed but I was the one to always make the choice.
On this last occasion, I chose the connection I always use and it jumped to the weaker one and connected. I was never able to change this even after disconnecting and trying to connect to the normal connection. It just switched back to the weaker signal.
Upon asking the library personnel about this, they asked their tech and I was told nothing had changed with the library so it had to be on my end.

I hope I was able to explain myself a little better this time.
I do thank you for your interest and your suggestions. I will look for "force this connection" that might be the answer.

[smcs_steve]

I am having trouble connecting to a chosen Wi-Fi connection. I never had this problem before.
I am at a place that has several connections to choose from. In the past I chose the connection and clicked connect. Then it connected to that network. Now it seems  it switches from that connection and connects to another connection that has less of a signal and even if I disconnect and try to re-connect to the other network, it goes right back to the weaker signal.

joechimp,
I'm traveling with 2009.1 and I've run across similar problems in a couple of hotels which are setup exclusively for MS Windows.  I've fudged some edits/deletions in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d  to work around the problem.  If there are duplicate routers setup on the same SSID then you will see individual config files for each identified by the MAC address of the router.  Try delete all files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d    (I renamed original folder and created another using the original name)
Then when you setup/associate with your desired connection point, try deleting the original  config file - named as the SSID, and continue to user the file named as the MAC address.
I hope you get my drift.  I am working under some duress here ... I'm balanced on a fruit box as I type, using the temporary neighbors ummmm... free internet!
Well got to go... I think the dogs are sussed to me!
>Furphy

(edit spelling errors)

[joechimp]

Thanks furphy. I will try that out and see if I can get it to work.

If I understand it right , it should work. Next time I am at that Library I will do it.
Thanks.

Don't forget your rabies shot.

[denoobifyme]

I should really stick to the Sandbox.

[joechimp]

I should really stick to the Sandbox.

You are helping out . No problem with that.

[coffeetime]

It doesn't matter what the wifi icon meter says [half green/red]. Can you go online? Is the speed satisfying? If so, don't bother...just enjoy..

[joechimp]

Well, that is the problem. I can get online but it drops me over and over. The speed is slow as well.
Not that big a deal but I don't like problems I can't solve. Even with help.

If I could do all I want, I would do just that. Enjoy it and not say anything.
I am there right now and was able to get on and stay connected. Hope I can finish this post before I am dropped again. The library tech is coming in shortly and they said they would have him come over and talk to me about it.

Of course as soon as he sees I am using Linux he will blame that.