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It sucks being in an apartment complex because there are always a bunch of unsecured networks floating around that the TV, or whatever, can connect to even if y

by skizm 19d ago

It sucks being in an apartment complex because there are always a bunch of unsecured networks floating around that the TV, or whatever, can connect to even if you don't manually do it.

drnick1 19d ago
One option is to physically remove the WiFi card. I saw an article about this a while back, and it was a surprisingly simple mod. On a related note, you should absolutely remove the cellular modem from your car as well.
- eldaisfish 19d ago
  removing the cellular modem from a car can have several unintended consequences. The geniuses at hyundai refuse to let you operate the heating in some of their electric cars without an internet connection. Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. I found out the hard way when i kept noticing that my hyundai EV was not heating the cabin in winter even though i turned the HAVC on. Turns out, as soon as you plug into the wall outlet, the compressor stops. There is no technical reason for this, other than enshittification.
  - drnick1 19d ago
    > Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. Noted. Thank you for reminding us not to buy a Hyundai EV.
  - DANmode 19d ago
    Wall outlets are usually in garages, which are indoor/outdoor areas, kept with lots of microbial growth. Maybe the engineers wanted to ensure your cabin wouldn’t induce health risks.
    - DANmode 19d ago
      The real answer is probably that the heater pulls sufficient amps to slow down their already abysmally slow charge (relative to competition), and they didn’t want to include the variance.
dylan604 19d ago
Would using an older wifi router that you have lying around as a anti-smart device network work? Fire it up with no WAN signal. It's just a radio broadcasting an SSID that you can connect a device to. Are the "smart" devices smart enough to know there is no WAN signal and keep searching for a different connection, or will it be tricked into not being able to connect to the internet?

by skizm 19d ago

It sucks being in an apartment complex because there are always a bunch of unsecured networks floating around that the TV, or whatever, can connect to even if you don't manually do it.

drnick1 19d ago

One option is to physically remove the WiFi card. I saw an article about this a while back, and it was a surprisingly simple mod. On a related note, you should absolutely remove the cellular modem from your car as well.

eldaisfish 19d ago
removing the cellular modem from a car can have several unintended consequences. The geniuses at hyundai refuse to let you operate the heating in some of their electric cars without an internet connection. Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. I found out the hard way when i kept noticing that my hyundai EV was not heating the cabin in winter even though i turned the HAVC on. Turns out, as soon as you plug into the wall outlet, the compressor stops. There is no technical reason for this, other than enshittification.
- drnick1 19d ago
  > Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. Noted. Thank you for reminding us not to buy a Hyundai EV.
- DANmode 19d ago
  Wall outlets are usually in garages, which are indoor/outdoor areas, kept with lots of microbial growth. Maybe the engineers wanted to ensure your cabin wouldn’t induce health risks.
  - DANmode 19d ago
    The real answer is probably that the heater pulls sufficient amps to slow down their already abysmally slow charge (relative to competition), and they didn’t want to include the variance.

dylan604 19d ago

Would using an older wifi router that you have lying around as a anti-smart device network work? Fire it up with no WAN signal. It's just a radio broadcasting an SSID that you can connect a device to. Are the "smart" devices smart enough to know there is no WAN signal and keep searching for a different connection, or will it be tricked into not being able to connect to the internet?