If I disable broadcasting of the SSID on my wireless network, how do I get my other comp to recognize it??

[blurredvision]

I followed some of the security suggestions on ezlan.net, one of those being to disable the broadcast of your wireless network's SSID. I did so, and think it to be one of the first steps in wireless security. However, being the wireless noob that I am, I don't understand how my second comp will recognize the network. I am using WinXP, and when looking at the available networks, it shows none at all, and it obviously does not connect to the network. How do I get my wireless USB adapter to look for my specific SSID??

I hope I explained my problem clear enough. Please ask me any questions.

 

[InlineFive]

In the software to configure the wireless adapter there should be a field to enter a SSID. Enter the network SSID here and it should recognize your AP.

-Por

 

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Originally posted by: PorBleemo
In the software to configure the wireless adapter there should be a field to enter a SSID. Enter the network SSID here and it should recognize your AP.

-Por

Well, I purchased the Linksys USB wireless adapter. I use WinXP, and it specifically states in the instructions that with XP users, all configuring is done within windows. However, I do not see any options to input the SSID. It won't even let me think about installing the included software on my XP box, it closes the install program as soon as you open it!

EDIT: I try to add a new wireless network, enter the correct SSID, but it will not 'see' it.

 

[JackMDS]

Regardless of the Linksys Manual!

May be this can Help.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Regardless of the Linksys Manual!

May be this can Help.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Those instructions help me none at all. I noticed it said to disable all MAC filtering, so I did. I reboot the wireless router, along with my comp with the USB wireless adapter. For some reason, every now and then, the comp wants to add it's own SSID network titled "WLAN". What is that all about?

If I re-enable SSID broadcast, it works perfectly. Hmmmm, what am I doing wrong?

EDIT: Just so everyone knows, my SSID shows in the "Preferred Networks" box in the WinXP wireless configuration screen, but will not show in the "Available Networks" box.

EDIT2: Also, the wireless router and comp with wireless adapter are about 6 feet from each other, so signal is not an issue. It shows as an excellent signal when working with SSID broadcast on. I also have the network set to channel 11, and have no WEP or WPA enabled.

 

[JackMDS]

WLAN id the default SSID that is used by the Manufactures.
What your Router SSID is?

The SSID of the Router and the client has to be the same.

The SSID of the card should be in the drivers config or a special util that comes with the card drivers.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
WLAN id the default SSID that is used by the Manufactures.
What your Router SSID is?

Thanks for the explanation of WLAN being the common default. But why would WinXP put this in the "Available Networks" box momentarily, then not allow me to connect to it? I have changed my SSID from the default of "linksys" to my first and last name, all lowercase and no spaces.

The SSID of the Router and the client has to be the same.

I understand this already.

The SSID of the card should be in the drivers config or a special util that comes with the card drivers.

I have explained before that with the 11b USB wireless adapter from Linksys will not allow me to install the software that comes packaged with it. It will only install on 98SE/ME/2000 only. It forces me to use the built-in XP tool to configure my wireless network. It's seems pretty simple to use, I just can't get it to work.

I do not have WEP or WPA turned on. I am on channel 11 in the 2.4Ghz range. When broadcasting my SSID, my USB adapter picks it up and works flawlessly. When not broadcasting the SSID, the adapter doesn't seem to 'see' the wireless network, even though I have inputted the SSID correctly. I have MAC filtering turned off, and have no port forwarding. I'm working with a vanilla setup here, that's the reason I can't seem to figure out what's wrong. Thus, it's probably something simple .

 

[IsOs]

Go to the properties of the Wireless Adapter, click wireless network, under preferred network, click add. Fill in the correct SSID and WEP key, if you are using one.

 

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Originally posted by: IsOs
Go to the properties of the Wireless Adapter, click wireless network, under preferred network, click add. Fill in the correct SSID and WEP key, if you are using one.

I've already done this! It shows in the preferred networks list, but never shows as an available network until I enable SSID broadcast. Once I turn off broadcasting, I lose the network.

 

[MrChad]

I had the same issue last week setting up a D-Link wireless network. I was unable to connect to the D-Link 514 router unless I enabled SSID broadcasting. As a compromise, I set it up with WEP and MAC address filtering and left broadcasting turned on.

 

[InlineFive]

Did your Linksys card come with special software you can use? In my honest opinion I think the integrated Windows WiFi Management software is really bad.

-Por

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I've seen a number of folks that have had to disable the XP wireless configuration utility in order to get their wireless to function at all.

 

[TTM77]

I too want to turn off the boardcast of my SSID. But once I turn that off, the wireless thing doesn't work anymore until I turn it back on. Kinda sucks.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
Did your Linksys card come with special software you can use? In my honest opinion I think the integrated Windows WiFi Management software is really bad.

-Por

Please refer to 2 of my previous posts in this thread for your answer. In WinXP, the software that came with the USB adapter will not even attempt to install. It's not made for WinXP, 98SE/ME/2000 only. With my Linksys USB adapter, it expects you to use WinXP's built-in config. Therefore, I am stuck with WinXP's config, unless there is another program out there that will let me config this thing.