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enable/disable wireless network cards as needed

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by skatzen

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Does anyone know of reliable software that can automatically disable the wireless network card in a laptop when you are docked and enable it when you need it?

11 replies

by toivo talikka

You can create a new hardware profice in Control Panel - System - Hardware - Hardware Profiles. Copy your existing profile and then select the new profile and click Properties. Mark the new profile to be used when your computer is docked.

When the new profile is in use, you need to remove the wireless card from the configuration or disable the wireless connection by right clicking it in the Network Connections. Hopefully the choice will be then then stored with the profile, I have never tried it.

And now the simple method: usually laptops have a function key to disable the wireless and Bluetooth. In Dell laptops I have seen you have to press the blue Fn key and one of the actual function keys to toggle the wireless on and off. If all else fails, Read The ... Manual (RTFM).

by skatzen

I'm looking for a software answer so the users don't need to think about it.

by cg it

don't know of any software application which can intuitively know to turn off a network card based upon the state of the network card e.g. if a cable is plugged in to the RJ-45 port the wireless is automatically turned off, when unplugged the wireless is automatically turned on.

Great idea though.

by mrmattlane

THere are quite a few bits of software out that IBMs Dell and Toshiba have there own software.

IBM is called THinkVantage access connections.

I have tried a few generic ones
boingo (rubbish)
netswitcher (did not disable the wireless when wired).

If you just want to switch between 2 profiles wired and wireless I have found that Connection Manager Lite by BVRP works extreemly well. Once configured when unplugging the network cable it automatically connects to the wireless profile. THen when plugging back in the network cable it automatically disables the wirelss card and enables the LAN.

by sases

Check out Wireless AutoSwitch, it does what you are looking for here.

http://www.wirelessautoswitch.com

Wireless AutoSwitch runs as a service and will automatically disable your wireless card when you connect to a LAN (hard wire) connection, and re-enable the wireless card when there is no LAN connection.

by bobbysays

http://www.wlanbook.com/bridgechecker/

BridgeChecker is a windows utility that can automatically disable/enable wireless interfaces. Whenever your computer is connected to an Ethernet port and the link state is good, the utility can automatically turns off the IEEE 802.11 wireless network interface. This conserves IP address allocation, reduces security risks, resolves dual interface routing issues, and prolongs battery life.

by bobbysays

http://www.wlanbook.com/bridgechecker/

BridgeChecker is a windows utility that can automatically disable/enable wireless interfaces. Whenever your computer is connected to an Ethernet port and the link state is good, the utility can automatically turns off the IEEE 802.11 wireless network interface. This conserves IP address allocation, reduces security risks, resolves dual interface routing issues, and prolongs battery life.

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