Mac Airport Question

[The Renaissance Man]

There's an open wireless signal near my house which I can access, or could...

Dunno why, but the little bars on the Airport symbol at the top of the screen registers a signal, but I cannae access the net no mo'.

Ideas?

Thanks in advance

Chris

[Jim]

The owner of the signal probably added a password to the network. Looks like you're going to have to find another signal.

[The Renaissance Man]

Yeah, but then wouldn't something come up looking for the password?

[thayr]

I've got a Mac also. Sometimes I pick up WiFi signals coming from other people. I think if they have it password protected you are prompted to enter the password as soon as you select that airport connection from the menu. If you get signal bars but no net you could try getting closer to the signal... other than that I'm not sure.

I've actually spent many combined hours walking through fields trying to get a better signal. Ah, the joys of wireless internet. When I grow tired of pacing the fields I usually try to find a Starbucks or coffee shop type place that offers wireless internet access.

[scot]

The bars represent a network connection: i.e. you are connected to his house hold network and any computers therein.

The bars do not represent an internet (world wide network) connection: i.e. his household network is not connected to the internet. His computer is probably not connected to the internet.

If you needed a password, you would get no bars -- just a password prompt.

Call your neighbor and ask him to connect to the internet again.

man, that's a long answer.

[gav]

Essentialy you have the right answer to the problem. Whoever is putting out the signal is not online.
But on a Mac the bars represent the wifi signal strength and are there regardless of whether the network is password protected or not.

[The Renaissance Man]

Looks like I'd done it to myself with Little Snitch, a prgrm to tell you when another prgrm is trying to send content you might not want sent.

All fixed now.