Hidden SSID Help

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Level 1

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Hidden SSID Help

Hi,

Backstory:
I'm currently living at my college dorm, and since I have a dorm thats super old, I figgured that the WiFi would suck (it does). So, I have brought my APE to school with me, plugged into the ethernet jack in each room, and created my own network. However, I'm not acctually supposed to do this, so I have the SSID hidden so no random people can find it and then report a rogue access point, and have the admins come find my AirPort.

Problem:
I have a new MBP, and it is currently connecting to my WiFi network I set up. The SSID is hidden, and I am using WPA2 Personal. This works fine, until I switch networks (say for class when I use the schools network). Upon coming back to my room, I have to reenter my SSID, and Password, rather then my MBP automatically connecting it (I have it remembering the password, so really all I do is join other network, and then type in the SSID). I'd ideally like my MBP to automatically connect the my network whenever in range though, rather then typing the information in every time. Is this possible?

2.6 GHz 17'' Macbook Pro, 4GB SDRAM, 200 GB HD @ 7,200 rpm's, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iMac 24'', iMac 20'', iPhone, iPhone 3G

Posted on Sep 24, 2008 2:36 PM

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Answer 1

JustinWhite Author

Level 1

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Sep 25, 2008 9:09 AM in response to JustinWhite

Anyone? I've googled this for a while, and can't find any solution. Just some people with the same problem, but most are from like, 2004, or the recent ones were not using Leopard or the new Wireless N router which I am.

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Answer 2

JustinWhite Author

Level 1

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Sep 26, 2008 12:51 PM in response to JustinWhite

Bumping again. Still no progress on fixing this.

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Answer 3

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Sep 26, 2008 1:02 PM in response to JustinWhite

You should read " Myth vs. reality: Wireless SSIDs", specially the part which states "...the 802.11i specification amendment (which defines WPA2, discussed later) even states that a computer can refuse to communicate with an access point that doesn't broadcast its SSID..."

So according to the specifications it is OK to work in the manner you are experiencing.

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Answer 4

JustinWhite Author

Level 1

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Sep 26, 2008 1:13 PM in response to Duane

Right I understand that hidding my SSID isn't giving me added security. Thats not what I'm looking for. I'm hiding it so that the other people in my dorm don't see it when they connect to a wireless network. I understand that a sniffer will pick it up, but i really am not concerned about that. I just don't want for example, my RA who isn't good with computers to see it, then possible report it, and have people who know what they are doing find it.

But regardless of it being hidden or not, shouldn't my computer be able to automatically join it? It has no problem connecting to it if I type in the SSID. It's just it doesn't seem to remember it.

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Answer 5

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Sep 26, 2008 1:19 PM in response to JustinWhite

That is why I mentioned the part of the article which states

"...the 802.11i specification amendment (which defines WPA2, discussed later) even states that a computer can refuse to communicate with an access point that doesn't broadcast its SSID..."

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Answer 6

Oct 1, 2008 4:17 PM in response to JustinWhite

You may have to go to the System Prefs on the computer and rearrange the order in which the computer tries to get a wireless access point. The computer might be trying to access other access points before yours.

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Answer 7

Nov 18, 2008 9:41 PM in response to JustinWhite

I have had the same issue with my MB. After some research and looking at the syslog I found the error message below:

/usr/libexec/wps[1237]: Error: Device configured for PIN access, but no PIN set!

Another error associated with this issue is:

airportd[25]: Error: Apple80211Associate() failed -6

In both cases there is something wrong with your Airport keychains.

1) Open "Network Preferences"
2) Click on "Advanced"
3) Remove all the "Prefered Networks"
4) On Finder, click on "Go" -> "Utilities"
5) Open "Keychain Access"
6) Select "Login" and search for "Airport"
7) Remove all the entries
8) Select "System" and search for "Airport"
9) Remove all the entries
10) Restart your computer
11) Join the networks again

It's also good good to ensure you have the latest updates for your Airport and that your wireless router is running at the latest firmware available.

-Alberto

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