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Archiver > TMG > 2004-12 > 1102177448


From: Karla Huebner <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] OT: wireless network
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 11:24:08 -0500
References: <6.2.0.14.0.20041203180424.0491a908@pop.compuserve.com><AJEHLOMPAIPACPKGLOJJMENCHOAA.bruce.evans@sympatico.ca>
In-Reply-To: <AJEHLOMPAIPACPKGLOJJMENCHOAA.bruce.evans@sympatico.ca>


A couple of people have mentioned to me that infrared is line-of-sight,
which is true--my parents used to use it to print, and the printer and
laptop had to be properly aligned in order to work. However, something is
definitely triggering the infrared controller, and has only been doing so
for the past few days.

I tried unplugging the laptop, but the icon remained, so the apartment
wiring shouldn't be the issue. My antivirus software is up-to-date and a
full scan last night indicated no viruses. The laptop itself was bought new
directly from Fujitsu about a year and a half ago and until now I hadn't
realized it even had an infrared device. I have disabled the device in its
Properties and set it not to accept incoming files. As I noted in my
original e-mail, this hasn't stopped the infrared activity icon from
showing whenever I have the laptop on in my bedroom. Furthermore, the
bedroom is on the building corner, with only floor and ceiling connecting
it to other apartments. The one window faces a brick wall, a fire escape,
and some tree branches.

It's quite a mystery, but I'm suspecting it is not worth worrying about.
Perhaps "Kristen" is a visiting space alien without a physical body. ;)

Thanks again to the several people who responded on or off-line about this!

Karla

At 09:00 AM 12/4/2004, you wrote:
>
>I doubt it's from your neighbor. Infra-red is a line of sight transmission.
>Most wireless networds are WiFi and a few are Bluetooth. If your laptop is
>attached to the electricity system, it's possibly the neighbor is using a
>system using the apartment wiring, it could come over. The other two
>possibilities are that you have a virus or, if you have an offlease or
>refurbished laptop that some program was left on it.
>
>Bruce
>
>==============================================
>Bruce Evans, M.D.
>Family Physician and Technical Writer


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