Re: Can Host Try Connecting Even With No SSID?

On 01/03/2009 11:06, mavigozler wrote:
LR<lrme@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in alt.internet.wireless:

On 01/03/2009 10:35, me here wrote:
mavigozler wrote:

Some columnist at PCWorld recommended "increasing the security" of
the wireless router against unwanted connections by removing the
option of broadcasting the SSID.

But that means on my host running WinVistaHomePrem, I have to type in
the SSID and network key/passphrase every time, which for me is an
annoyance.

Isn't there a way of getting my host to persist in connecting with
"Unnamed Network" which has the strongest signal of all available
wireless networks? Or is this just the price I have to pay for
"extra security"?
That doesn't sound right to me.

I don't broadcast my ssid, but that does not require the passphrase to
be rekeyed every time - under xp and Ubuntu.

All you should have to do is key in the known ssid name and the
passphrase once and the PC should retain that information.
XP which is fully updated and Vista have a checkbox in network
properties called "connect even if the network is not broadcasting" and
this must be checked.

With my Vista interface, once a successful connection is made giving the
SSID and the key/passphrase authentication, the user is presented with TWO
checkboxes:

"Save this network"

and the "Start this connection automatically"

In saving the network, it saves it to a list of all successfully connected
networks.

But here is the bizarre thing: when Vista sees an available wireless
network broadcasting its SSID, say it's "MyWirelessNet" and it is in the
list, it connect and even adds a new listing entry "MyWirelessNet 2" and
it increments each time, despite it being the same network!!

And the same goes for each time I manually connect by giving the SSID and
passphrase...it creates a new entry in the wireless networks successfully
connected table.

I am at a loss to know how Vista arrives at this.

What Vista should be doing is connecting to the network, finding it as the
name in the previously connected networks, and NOT presenting me with an
interface asking me to "Save this network" when it has already been saved.

This seems to be a Vista flaw, among tens of thousands.

Have you checked the box I referred to?
Some wireless adapters will not work properly with Vista's method of handling hidden SSID's.
"Currently there are several widely-distributed WLAN drivers which either do not support or do not work properly with the Vista method of dealing with non-broadcast SSIDs, including the Intel 3945ABG and the Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapters.

The Intel 3945ABG adapter is very widely distributed in current laptop models. The latest Intel driver provides improvement but does not address all issues with hidden SSIDs encountered when roaming or resuming from hibernation.

Broadcom does not show any unnamed networks, and they are not planning to fix this. One of the reasons, besides being low priority for them, is also to push customers to stop hiding the SSID, which creates a problem instead of solving it."
<http://blogs.technet.com/networking/archive/2008/02/08/non-broadcast-wireless-ssids-why-hidden-wireless-networks-are-a-bad-idea.aspx>

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: wireless router password security
    ... trying to connect to someone else's network. ... Disabling SSID makes it more difficult for someone to connect to my wireless router. ... APSTA. ... Turn off SSID broadcasting, change the default channel to a very specific one, disconnect from the router, fire up NetStumbler and you'll see a No-SSID network on exactly this channel. ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Can Host Try Connecting Even With No SSID?
    ... option of broadcasting the SSID. ... "Unnamed Network" which has the strongest signal of all available ... properties called "connect even if the network is not broadcasting" ... What Vista should be doing is connecting to the network, ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Attaching Axim To Network
    ... Broadcasting the network SSID and change the default SSID to something unique...There is no good ... Use a Hex representation of the WEP key on the Axim... ...
    (microsoft.public.pocketpc)
  • Re: Can Host Try Connecting Even With No SSID?
    ... option of broadcasting the SSID. ... "Unnamed Network" which has the strongest signal of all available ... once a successful connection is made giving the ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: External Wifi Antenna
    ... connect the Ethernet cable to the RJ-45 connector on your PC or network card. ... a crossover cable may be needed if you are not connecting through a hub or router. ... I've not done much if lately and away from home but it used to be that often all you needed to do was pick a SSID and try it. ... Some of the marinas used to tell you the SSID and that was all you needed. ...
    (rec.boats.electronics)