WIFI Hidden SSID Problem

Question

WIFI Hidden SSID Problem

Morning all. Ive found a few threads on this but nothing helpful really. If I allow my home networks SSID to be broadcasted, it connects within seconds with full signal but if I hide the SSID, it wont connect. Ive got the phone on my MAC access control list but obviously it connects when the SSID is shown so I don't believe this is the problem. Anybody resolved this issue or know of a resolution?

Many thanks in advance

Advent, Windows XP

Posted on Nov 13, 2009 12:34 AM

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Answer 1

Dave Hutch

Level 4

1,497 points

Nov 13, 2009 1:08 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

Are you setting the Network up using the "other" option and then manually typing in the Netowrk name (SSID) or using the same settings you entered when the SSID wasn't hidden?

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Answer 2

Nov 13, 2009 2:20 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

I believe I just turned the SSID visibility off on the router so it would be using the settings for when it was visible, i.e. automatically found the network, I did not enter the details manually. Does entering it manually when SSID is visible/non-visible make a difference or act different?

Cheers for the help

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Nov 13, 2009 2:37 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

You have to enter all the settings manually in "other". Otherwise, your phone will not see the network.

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Answer 4

Nov 13, 2009 3:12 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

So if I allow the SSID to be broadcast to begin with and go to the WIFI settings, it sees my network and if I click on it, it will connect, what you are saying is even though it sees the network, click Other and enter the details manually, then turn SSID off and it should still connect? I think ive tried entering it manually when the SSID was hidden to begin with which it didnt like

Many thanks

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Nov 13, 2009 3:55 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

The SSID is a sequence of alphanumeric characters (letters or numbers). SSIDs have a maximum length of 32 characters. You have to set this up manually, using "other", in your wifi settings if you want your phone to connect when you turn broadcasting of the SSID to off on your router. The phone will see the wifi signal, but won't connect if it doesn't know the SSID, that's why you have to set everything up manually in "other".

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Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Nov 13, 2009 3:59 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

You should be aware of the fact that if you're really interested in security of your wireless setup, SSID hiding is an anemic measure. If you're concerned about security, WPA or WPA2 encryption with a strong key is the only realistic option.

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Answer 7

Nov 13, 2009 4:13 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

Does the SSID have to be visible to begin with or can I set it up now as you have described so that once I get home, it "should" automatically connect as my SSID is currently off on my home router? I also have WPA2 encryption enabled for the connection. Are there any descent decurity apps available to protect data, phishing, fraud, firewall, hacking, antivirus etc?

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Answer 8

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Nov 13, 2009 4:54 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

If you set everything up manually & correctly under "other", it should connect fine. Regarding other measures, there are appliances you connect to your LAN, but the one's that work are rather expensive and are really designed for commercial use. I'm not aware of a "cheap" appliance that realy works. Like I said, use a strong encryption key.

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2009 5:36 AM in response to Mitchell Peplow

Just to clarify then. When i input the settings manually, do I need to be in range of the network as the only option is to join the network, not save the connection settings or does it save them automatically upon entering them? If thats the case, why does the iPhone not show you saved connections?

Regards

Mitch

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