Re: Can Host Try Connecting Even With No SSID?

LR <lrme@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in alt.internet.wireless:

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-w
ireless-ssids-why-hidden-wireless-networks-are-a-bad-idea.aspx>

Now you can understand why I posted my problem to here....to learn about
the very things you are telling me in your response.

My notebook is the HP Pavilion dv9500t which comes the the Intel Wireless
WiFi Link 4965AGN. You listed a bunch of exceptions and I suppose I would
guess that my wireless adapter is part of them.

From you and others, I have heard enough to believe that stopping the
broadcast of the SSID is not really a security enhancement and fully an
annoyance.

Thanks.

.

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 ... 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)