Cannot connect after SSID broadcast is disabled

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

forget about disabling SSID. it provides no additional security and just
screws things up. disabling SSID is also contrary to 802.11.

jtm

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Mark <54g@linksysuser.com> wrote:
>Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
>disable the SSID broadcast. When I disable it, my computers cannot connect

Yeah, WinXP has this problem. However, there's essentially no
security in disabling SSID broadcasts (as it's transmitted in the
clear all the time), and disabling it may in fact cause you problems
(you won't see interfering networks) in addition to your inability to
connect.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Mark <54g@linksysuser.com> wrote in
news:Xns957FBE1CE38C1confusedlinksysuser@130.81.64.196:

> Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like
> to disable the SSID broadcast. When I disable it, my computers cannot
> connect to the network because they do not see it on the network list.
> When I go to advanced options, I see that my network with the key
> stored but the computers still wont connect automatically, they can
> only cannect to available networks, and those are the ones with
> enabled SSID broadcasting. I have windows xp w/ SP2. Do I have to use
> a third party program to force my adapters to connect to a network
> they dont see? I'd really rather windows do it, if I just knew how.
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Mark
>

No, you should have to do that. You can down load the driver for the card
and install it using Device Manager on XP. You can configure the card
with Device Manager too.

I myself like to disable the Wireless Zero Configuration Service on XP. I
just find that it causes problems like the one you're having too many
times. I don't use the card's utility to do anything not even to show
signal strength. It is not installed. You can show the signal strength by
enabling the *show network connection* on the NIC's Properties off of LAN
connections screen. The network icon will show in the job trey and when
you mouse over the icon, it will show the signal strength.

You can try it and see if it helps your situation.

Duane  

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:41:18 GMT, Mark spoketh

>Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
>disable the SSID broadcast. When I disable it, my computers cannot connect
>to the network because they do not see it on the network list. When I go to
>advanced options, I see that my network with the key stored but the
>computers still wont connect automatically, they can only cannect to
>available networks, and those are the ones with enabled SSID broadcasting.
>I have windows xp w/ SP2. Do I have to use a third party program to force
>my adapters to connect to a network they dont see? I'd really rather
>windows do it, if I just knew how. Thanks for any suggestions.
>
>Mark


I have never had any problems using the Windows Wireless Zero
COnfiguration service to connect to my WLAN even with SSID broadcasts
disabled. I have configured the connection as a "preferred network", and
disallowed connection to any non-preferred networks. Make sure the
"connect automatically when in range" is checked in the connection-tab
on the preferred network config screen (select the preferred network and
click the properties tab.)



Lars M. Hansen
http://www.hansenonline.net
(replace 'badnews' with 'news' in e-mail address)

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Lars M. Hansen <badnews@hansenonline.net> wrote:
>I have never had any problems using the Windows Wireless Zero
>COnfiguration service to connect to my WLAN even with SSID broadcasts
>disabled. I have configured the connection as a "preferred network", and
>disallowed connection to any non-preferred networks. Make sure the
>"connect automatically when in range" is checked in the connection-tab
>on the preferred network config screen (select the preferred network and
>click the properties tab.)

I'm not finding this option (WinXPsp1), can you be more specific?

Thanks!

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:15:55 -0400, William P.N. Smith spoketh

>Lars M. Hansen <badnews@hansenonline.net> wrote:
>>I have never had any problems using the Windows Wireless Zero
>>COnfiguration service to connect to my WLAN even with SSID broadcasts
>>disabled. I have configured the connection as a "preferred network", and
>>disallowed connection to any non-preferred networks. Make sure the
>>"connect automatically when in range" is checked in the connection-tab
>>on the preferred network config screen (select the preferred network and
>>click the properties tab.)
>
>I'm not finding this option (WinXPsp1), can you be more specific?
>
>Thanks!

Sorry, I got SP2 on all my wireless clients. From what I can see from
screenshots from SP1
(http://www.hansenonline.net/images/wireless-networks.JP... and
http://www.hansenonline.net/images/wireless-assoc.JPG), the connection
tab is not available on XPSP1. A lot of things changed WRT wireless
networking in SP2...and all for the better.


Lars M. Hansen
http://www.hansenonline.net
(replace 'badnews' with 'news' in e-mail address)

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Mark <54g@linksysuser.com> wrote in message news:<Xns957FBE1CE38C1confusedlinksysuser@130.81.64.196>...
> Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
> disable the SSID broadcast. When I disable it, my computers cannot connect
> to the network because they do not see it on the network list. When I go to
> advanced options, I see that my network with the key stored but the
> computers still wont connect automatically, they can only cannect to
> available networks, and those are the ones with enabled SSID broadcasting.
> I have windows xp w/ SP2. Do I have to use a third party program to force
> my adapters to connect to a network they dont see? I'd really rather
> windows do it, if I just knew how. Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Mark
You have WPA enabled. You have MAC filtering. Disableing SSID
broadcast was a stop gap measure, nothing more. Leave it enabled and
don't trouble yourself, it isn't like someone is going to DF you and
lob a mortar round on your head.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:41:18 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , Mark
<54g@linksysuser.com> wrote:

>Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
>disable the SSID broadcast.

good idea.

>When I disable it, my computers cannot connect
>to the network because they do not see it on the network list. When I go to
>advanced options, I see that my network with the key stored but the
>computers still wont connect automatically, they can only cannect to
>available networks, and those are the ones with enabled SSID broadcasting.

You need to manually enter the SSID into the connection information - since
the SSID isn't broadcast, you can't leave Windows to find a matching
network to connect to. I forget where to enter the SSID, but its pretty
obvious.


--
Mark McIntyre
CLC FAQ <http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html&gt;
CLC readme: <http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt&gt;


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Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Don't disable the SSID broadcast to improve security. It doesn't. It will,
however, make it more difficult for another person setting up an AP to see
your AP and avoid the channel you are using.

--
Bob Alston

bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
"Mark McIntyre" <markmcintyre@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:bsmom0pkrdqfhoek8tj2kf1rfvcnes1el1@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:41:18 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , Mark
> <54g@linksysuser.com> wrote:
>
>>Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
>>disable the SSID broadcast.
>
> good idea.
>
>>When I disable it, my computers cannot connect
>>to the network because they do not see it on the network list. When I go
>>to
>>advanced options, I see that my network with the key stored but the
>>computers still wont connect automatically, they can only cannect to
>>available networks, and those are the ones with enabled SSID broadcasting.
>
> You need to manually enter the SSID into the connection information -
> since
> the SSID isn't broadcast, you can't leave Windows to find a matching
> network to connect to. I forget where to enter the SSID, but its pretty
> obvious.
>
>
> --
> Mark McIntyre
> CLC FAQ <http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html&gt;
> CLC readme: <http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt&gt;
>
>
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> News==----
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> Newsgroups
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Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

I agree with everyone. Turn the SSID back on. I have my net set up
like yours but without SSID on, my computers disconnected from the net
several times a day. I turned SSID back on and I've had no problems
with it since.

I turned it off initially to "hide" it but it is so low power, whoever
is trying to access would have to be sitting in my driveway-kinda'
obvious then.



Mark wrote:
> Hello, I have WPA enabled with MAC address filtering, however I'd like to
> disable the SSID broadcast. When I disable it, my computers cannot connect
> to the network because they do not see it on the network list. When I go to
> advanced options, I see that my network with the key stored but the
> computers still wont connect automatically, they can only cannect to
> available networks, and those are the ones with enabled SSID broadcasting.
> I have windows xp w/ SP2. Do I have to use a third party program to force
> my adapters to connect to a network they dont see? I'd really rather
> windows do it, if I just knew how. Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Mark

There seems to be no security effect in turning off the SSID broadcast and the disadvantage of networks using the same channel, but I still like the idea of all wireless broadcasting being shut off when its not used in my home. In my case WinXP works fine with broadcast of SSID on my Linksys router turned off, but I have not got it working on the FreeBSD system on my laptop.

bJoeRn