Router Connection Identification

roker

Member
I gave my next door neighbour my wireless password in an emergency when his was off. Today I logged in to my router/hub and discovered that there are 11 device connected.

Counting them up it is possible by counting my Printer, Laptop, Desktop, Laptop, Phone, Tablet, Wife’s Tablet etc. It is impossible to identify them all, one is shown as Unknown, so I do not know if my neighbour is still linked in.

I was reading a magazine article which said to switch the items off in turn to identify them, which does not work they are still all showing. My understanding is that there is a lease period with connected device and therefore the magazine article is incorrect, they would still show. Can anyone please clarify this for me.
 

voyagerfan99

Master of Turning Things Off and Back On Again
Staff member
If you don't want them on your network, just change the SSID password and they won't be able to reconnect.
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
You can record the Mac address of every device you have connected and then cross reference what you see in the connected client list.

Alternatively you can change the password if you're worried about it. The lease you're referring to is only DHCP and not related to encryption or authentication.
 

roker

Member
So why do they still show when they are switched off? I was thinking of changing the password, but my printer wireless is so fickled.
As the Router assigned a IP address to each item, if it does not lease them on time, how does it know when they are redundant, or if guest stay, I will have an accumulate list as long as my arm
 

voyagerfan99

Master of Turning Things Off and Back On Again
Staff member
So why do they still show when they are switched off?
Because the DHCP lease lasts for X amount of time. If they were turned back on, they'd get that same IP address until the lease time runs out and the device asks for a new IP address.
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
In Windows, open Network and Sharing Center, click on your ethernet connect and hit details, you'll get a screen like this:
upload_2016-11-16_10-26-29.png

For android, open settings, scroll down pick "About Phone" then pick "Status". It is under Wi-Fi MAC address
 
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