Conneting to WiFi with disabled SSID broadcast

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Conneting to WiFi with disabled SSID broadcast

Hi,

Any one know why I am unable to connect to my WiFI network where I have disabled broadcasting the SSID on the router? When I enable broadcasting SSID it connects fine using the exact same settings on the laptop.

My WiFi router is a Linksys WRT54G and I am running WEP security (because I also have an old PC which does not have any better security).

I only have this issue with my MacBook Pro. My iPhone and other laptops connects fine.

Message was edited by: Carl J Gade

Macbook Pro 15" - 2008, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 4GB ram

Posted on Nov 20, 2010 2:50 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 20, 2010 3:07 AM in response to Carl J Gade

Not broadcasting your SSID does not provide any additional security. Anyone that knows how to break into a network can do it even if the SSID is hidden.

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Answer 2

Carl J Gade Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2010 3:53 AM in response to Retired Engineer

Thank you for your reply. I am aware of this issue. However, my philosophy is that there is always a % who know this, less % know that and even less % know all. So by tightening in on everything you will always reduce risk by a certain %. Not much, but a little always help and it is the best I can get at the moment.

So I still would like to keep my SSID hidden and my MacBook Pro should be able to connect to a WiFi network with a non broadcasted SSID using WEP security.

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Answer 3

Nov 20, 2010 7:58 AM in response to Carl J Gade

Carl.
Have you set up a specific location for the hidden network or are you relying on the Mac finding the network when location is set to auto. In my experience (I have a hidden SSID and WPA2 personal) it's been most reliable when I have a specific location created to join the network.
In system prefs>network, use the drop down at the top of the prefs pane to edit locations, and add a new one called home (or similar) then give it your network SSID and password etc.
Then when out and about, set your location to auto and when in, swap it to home (or similar).
I have however noticed that my MBP can occasionally develop amnesia and not find the hidden network, even when set to the location. Toggling between auto and home most times remedies this. Hope this helps.

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Answer 4

Carl J Gade Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2010 12:48 PM in response to Paul Davy1

Thanks for your reply Paul.

I have created the location in the network preferences and the same settings starts working as soon as I start broadcasting the SSID again.

Not 100% sure if this is what you referred to, but when I ticked the box that says "Ask to join new networks" it actually auto connected to my hidden WEP SSID. So I guess it forgets to connect to known hidden networks with WEP security. I did not need to have this option ticked when using WPA security.

Minor bug I guess, so thanks for making me check this again Paul.

Carl

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