Level 1

8 points

Can't reconnect to hidden WPA2 network

I have been piloting a mobile application for my hospital's information system and have been frustrated by the iPhone and iPod touch's inability to remember the network from day to day. The SSID is hidden and it is WPA2 encrypted for security. Some days I can log in; most days I can't. We have not found this to happen with Blackberry's, Samsungs or portable computers. Unless Apple fixes this problem (which clearly appears limited to iPhones and Touches), it is highly likely that our hospital will strongly discourage the several hundred physicians from purchasing iPhones or using the iPod Touch for their next PDA. I have not been able to find a workaround. I can tell the network is there - using WIFI Finder documents the network signal, but the devices don't connect.

I suspect this issue will become even more acute as more business networks provide mobile access.

iPod Touch, Windows XP Pro

Posted on May 28, 2009 9:00 AM

69 replies

c-drive

Level 1

0 points

Jun 17, 2009 12:11 PM in response to HowardNad

As far as I can tell, this issue appears when the hidden SSID is broadcast by multiple access points (IE, there are multiple MAC addys associated with the same network). This is why it's happening mostly with corporate networks.

I'm going to flush network settings on my ipod and see if it's resolved.

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Jun 17, 2009 1:22 PM in response to HowardNad

Howard:

Testing today.
Will let you know.
My guy in NY said beta 5 did not fix this, so I don't have high hopes.
But even if that's the case, Apple are working on this.

Scott

Jun 18, 2009 10:41 AM in response to A A P L

Scott, it hasn't been much of a problem (at least for me), only happened twice and knowing the solution makes it a no-brainer. My 2G iPod Touch did popup in the middle of going to a web page yesterday and asked me if I wanted to connect to a network, identifying my "hidden" network by name (click OK). Can't recall that happening before.....

I know, why have it hidden. No good reason, I guess.
Thanks again!

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Jun 18, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Motorcycle Michael

It looks like other factors are involved.
WPA2 and hidden SSIDs appear to be the big ones.
My Apple setups with hidden and WPA2 work OK, so it's not 100% easy to replicate.
Working with Apple on this...chugging along!

Jun 19, 2009 9:30 AM in response to A A P L

Set WPA2 w/SSID to see what happens (had no password before as you might've guessed).
Thank you, Scott, chug on!

Jun 19, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Motorcycle Michael

Addendum: iPod asked for network on launch of safari, ID'd my (hidden) network, asked for (and got) password, then said it couldn't connect (dismiss) and connected anyway. All good...

HowardNad Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 21, 2009 6:53 PM in response to Motorcycle Michael

Michael:

While you can reconnect by retyping your password each time, this is not a good solution for my hospital, which plans to allow physician access to the information system but wants to maintain restricted access to the network. They plan to set up the doctors' smartphones to connect so the docs won't know the password but the device will automatically connect when inside the hospital. If either they had to give out the password to those with iPhones or iPod Touches or those doctors needed to enter the password every time they wanted to connect, it would be neither secure nor satisfactory. I suspect other enterprises could find the same hassle, making it impossible to use iPhones in those settings when other brands work flawlessly. That's why it's important to resolve this problem.

Howard

Jun 22, 2009 10:24 AM in response to HowardNad

Hi Howard!
(Netgear wireless router, iPod 2nd gen.)
My problem was with a lost network; I didn't have any security set (and no password), my iPod simply lost its network until I reentered network name. Since then I've setup WPA2 but I haven't had to enter the password a single time since. (Router has access list with iPod and notebook by MAC address.) I've now updated to the 3.0 software, still no need to enter password, it hasn't lost the network yet (still SSID w/WPA2), and not a single glitch.

Perhaps setting up an access list on your router would eliminate need to enter password?

luvlabs

Level 4

3,620 points

Jun 22, 2009 12:25 PM in response to HowardNad

Howard,

You might want to drop this on your IT department: http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Enterprise_DeploymentGuide.pdf

It really would be better to approach your situation as an enterprise solution rather than trying to solve an individual log in to your system. These systems are far more secure than what we run around the house.

Version 3.0 allows a more automated log in procedure for secure networks like the hospitals. Just a side note - people who already used this system in 2.2.1 are screaming bloody murder as it doesn't appear to be backward compatible with their existing procedures.

HowardNad Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 22, 2009 12:59 PM in response to luvlabs

Thank you for the information. I'll pass it on to our IT department and see if that helps setting up connections.

Howard

HowardNad Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2009 6:21 AM in response to luvlabs

Is there a similar document for OS 2.2.1? This document is for OS 3.0 and I'm not sure I'm ready to jump to OS 3.0 yet. Even though the setup is changed, perhaps they could use the older process and have it work.

If/when I upgrade to 3.0, will my saved network SSID/password combinations be lost and require reentering? I connect to a number of encrypted networks and would prefer to not have to re-acquire all of those passwords.

luvlabs

Level 4

3,620 points

Jun 23, 2009 7:58 AM in response to HowardNad

There should be an earlier document out there for enterprise deployment. There is a whole section devoted to iPhone enterprise deployment: http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/

The touch, at least for Wifi, is the same as the iPhone.

When you upgrade to 3.0, you will not lose any of your network settings. Although a number of people have noticed flakey network connections after the upgrade. However, I noticed that if I did a reset network connections and logged back in using "Other network", the problems vanished.

HowardNad Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2009 9:04 AM in response to luvlabs

When you logged back in as "Other Network", did you need to re-enter the password? My worry is that I can't remember all of the passwords for the networks I use (because the Touch remembers them for me),

Jul 2, 2009 10:46 AM in response to HowardNad

Well 3.0 lost my (hidden, WPA2) network again, first time since upgrading to 3.0 on 6/20.
BTW: The upgrade was all but transparent - lost nothing, gained all 3.0 functionality.
I'm going to leave WPA2 and un-hide the network, see how long selected network stays this time.

Jul 8, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Motorcycle Michael

Having the same issue here 😟

SSID has to be hidden not for security reasons, simply so it does not show up to other employees (wifi is not allowed in our location, but has been allowed for a group of contractors over an ADSL link)
WPA2 on a Linksys WAP54G, only 2 wireless AP's in the building and they both have different SSID's.

More annoyingly tested the AP with 2 iPhone 3G handsets. both running 3.0. One remembers the other does not. Tested buy connecting both iPhones at the same time, switch of wifi on the iphones then back on, one connects the other does not.

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Can't reconnect to hidden WPA2 network