Network Locations

Question

Just recently I have been noticing that sometimes, the "Network Location" in This PC, which is located underneath your "Devices and Drives" drop down tab contains network location(s) at times and would then disappear after a time. I just then today, went into the Network tab on the left hand side and among the connected network devices to my PC that are normal, such as printer and router. But, there was also another device which was a phone, and it showed up at as "full_a6_device". After awhile while I was checking it, it disappeared. Before it disappeared, I check the property only the MAC address showed, but it did not match my Samsung S8's wifi-MAC address nor my mom's S6 wifi-MAC address. I have not added any network locations in the past and need clarification as to what is going on.

Answer 1

Yes, that's totally normal when you have WiFi.

Your computer's WiFi adapter has an antenna, just like a radio, and that antenna can detect all the WiFi signals strong enough to reach it, just like a radio antenna. In fact, you can see all the WiFi signals that your WiFi adapter can detect. Just click once on the WiFi icon in the notification area - that's the lower right corner of your screen.

One thing you'll notice if you do this is that most people know enough to password-protect their WiFi signal. But there's always somebody who doesn't, and when somebody doesn't protect their WiFi signal, their network is available to you just like any other device that's on your network, and that's what you're seeing as a network location.

Answer 2

Hi Long541

That could be any networked device in your household, like a Kindle . . etc.

You can block that device from accessing your WiFi on your router settings

In the back or bottom of your Router is a sticker with a UserName, Password and IP address (something like 192.002.005.001) printed on it

Note those down

Go to your PC and open a Web Browser

In the address type the IP address and hit Enter

That will bring up your routers configuration page

Somewhere on that page you will find WLAN settings

There on one of the pages, you will find a list of connected devices, wait until that device shows up, then you can add it to the blocked devices list . . .

Before you can change that, you will need to enter the UserName and Password you noted down from that sticker on the router

That's It!