Ghost in the WLAN

[andruoid]

I have a most interesting situation. A very strong wireless signal from a neighboring router (house location unknown). So strong in fact it should be in the room right next to me. I have 2 immediate neighbors, one to the north and one to the east of me (my house is on a corner). I can rule out the one on the east as she doesn't have a computer. Have a look at the screenshot below and you'll see how strong this signal is. To top it off, its wireless G. ...any ideas as its baffling me.

 

[Slug]

Directional and/or hi-gain antenna(s), perhaps? It's a Linksys so maybe it's running WRT firmware or similar with the xmit power cranked up?

 

[andruoid]

Directional and/or hi-gain antenna(s), perhaps? It's a Linksys so maybe it's running WRT firmware or similar with the xmit power cranked up?

I was thinking a directional antenna as well, I just happen to be in it's line of fire. After doing 3 other wireless surveys at different times of the day, 1 other similar extremely high signal at -10 comes in as well. This time its a Juniper running at 144M (odd speed).

 

[johnlgalt]

Any chance that you've got a Google rover taking pics in your neighborhood?

j/k - seriously, is this a desktop or a lapptop? If you can get a hold of a lappy I'd try in different areas of your house *and* yeard too....

 

[andruoid]

Any chance that you've got a Google rover taking pics in your neighborhood?

j/k - seriously, is this a desktop or a lapptop? If you can get a hold of a lappy I'd try in different areas of your house *and* yeard too....

LOL, it might be the men in white coats about to make a move.

Yes, the capture is from a laptop, the 2nd floor shows the same result, basement does not (even thought the basement is half in/out of the ground).

 

[johnlgalt]

freaky. Could it be some sort of really weird echo that you're seeing? Or does your municipality have some sort of extremely overpowered WiMAX?

 

[andruoid]

freaky. Could it be some sort of really weird echo that you're seeing? Or does your municipality have some sort of extremely overpowered WiMAX?

I'm getting 2 or 3 different similar signals now. Coming from unique MAC addys and vendor names. When in my study on the 3rd floor I see 24+ signals from my laptop running inSSIDer. Most have -70 to -90 signal quality, 2 some times 3 have -10.

I should throw in my Asus N13 USB wifi stick which has a dual antenna to see if I can reach further.

 

[johnlgalt]

Have you used *another* laptop with inSSIDer, like a friends, preferably of a differnet make and model? Somehing does not add up - not with that ridiculous signal strength. Althoug the fact that it has actual MAC addresses is even more disconcerting, b/c it cannot be echos, nor ghosts, and it cannot be mis-interpreted EMI either. Which means someone is running a Sh*t ton of WiFI brodacasting cameras and spying on you!

 

[andruoid]

Have you used *another* laptop with inSSIDer, like a friends, preferably of a differnet make and model? Somehing does not add up - not with that ridiculous signal strength. Althoug the fact that it has actual MAC addresses is even more disconcerting, b/c it cannot be echos, nor ghosts, and it cannot be mis-interpreted EMI either. Which means someone is running a Sh*t ton of WiFI brodacasting cameras and spying on you!

They can spy on me studying for my CCNA, it may very well put them to sleep.

I may try my bro-in-laws laptop tonight to compare the results.

Also, just tried my usb wifi stick, #1, inSSIDer can't seem to read from it (even with the onboard wifi disabled) and #2, the signals that the standard windows wireless connections show are not as strong. I know the usb wifi is rated at 300Mb but, the antenna is smaller compared to the built-in.