Cannot Disable SSID on BEFW11S4 Ver 4 with WPA Pre-Share KEY

Problem: When I disable Broadcast SSID my laptop cannot find the
network. As long as

broadcast SSID is enabled it works OK.

Router COnfig: Linksys BEFW11S4 Version 4 Firmware 1.52.02 (most
currennt)
Wireless: Enabled

BASIC WIRELES SETUP TAB
SSID: I created a unique ID
Wireless Channel: 11
Wireless SSID Broadcast: Disabled

WIRELESS SECURITY TAB
Wireless Security: Enabled
Security Mode: WPA Pre-Shared Key
Group Key Renewal: 3600

WIRELESS NETWORK ACCESS TAD
Wireless Network Access: Allow all (I plan to enable MAC filtering once
I get this to work)

ADVANCED WIRELESS SETTINGS TAB
Basic rate: 1-2-4-11 Mbps
Control TX Rate: 1-2-4-11 Mbps
Preamble Type: Long preamble
Authentication: Auto )Default)
Antenna Selection: Diversity (Default)
Beacon INterval: 50
DTIM INterval: 1
Fragmentation Interval: 2346
RTS THreshold: 2432


Laptop
Windows XP SP2

Linksys WPC11 Version 4 NIC
Driver Version : 5.158.1001.2003

You might want to check out these links -- from what I have seen,
turning off the SSID and MAC filtering don't give you much
protection at all -- it is easy to clone the MAC address for anyone
trying to get in to your network. Have a look at the following
(especially the first one) watch the wrap in the urls:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...0.mspx?pf=true
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._03july28.mspx

mikey


"Bryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Problem: When I disable Broadcast SSID my laptop cannot find the
> network. As long as
>
> broadcast SSID is enabled it works OK.
>
> Router COnfig: Linksys BEFW11S4 Version 4 Firmware 1.52.02 (most
> currennt)
> Wireless: Enabled
>
> BASIC WIRELES SETUP TAB
> SSID: I created a unique ID
> Wireless Channel: 11
> Wireless SSID Broadcast: Disabled
>
> WIRELESS SECURITY TAB
> Wireless Security: Enabled
> Security Mode: WPA Pre-Shared Key
> Group Key Renewal: 3600
>
> WIRELESS NETWORK ACCESS TAD
> Wireless Network Access: Allow all (I plan to enable MAC filtering once
> I get this to work)
>
> ADVANCED WIRELESS SETTINGS TAB
> Basic rate: 1-2-4-11 Mbps
> Control TX Rate: 1-2-4-11 Mbps
> Preamble Type: Long preamble
> Authentication: Auto )Default)
> Antenna Selection: Diversity (Default)
> Beacon INterval: 50
> DTIM INterval: 1
> Fragmentation Interval: 2346
> RTS THreshold: 2432
>
>
> Laptop
> Windows XP SP2
>
> Linksys WPC11 Version 4 NIC
> Driver Version : 5.158.1001.2003
>

On 2 Jul 2005 20:12:21 -0700, "Bryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Problem: When I disable Broadcast SSID my laptop cannot find the
>network. As long as
>broadcast SSID is enabled it works OK.
(...)
>Laptop
>Windows XP SP2
>
>Linksys WPC11 Version 4 NIC
>Driver Version : 5.158.1001.2003

Well, what did you expect? If you hide from the world, the world
cannot see you.

The solution is to setup a "profile" with the correct SSID
preinstalled in the profile on the WPC11 side. The BEFW11S4v4 is
setup correctly. You can do this in either Windoze Wireless Zero
Config (WZC) or in the Linksys config utility. Specify that this
"profile" (or whatever it's called) is the preferred connection and it
should work.

You can select between the two config utilities with:
Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Properties
-> Wireless Networks -> "Use Windoze to configure my wireless..."

My guess(tm) is that you're using XP SP2 WZC and can't find a place to
insert the SSID. That's because MS never considered the possibility
that someone would hide the SSID. So, what you have to do is turn the
SSID broadcast on, let WZC find it, connect, save the configuration,
set the SSID as the preferred network, and then turn the SSID
broadcast back on. It's somewhat easier with the Linksys config
utility where you can just type in the SSID.

As for the usefulness of hiding the SSID, I use Kismet which displays
hidden SSID's. If I had the time, I would scribble a Windoze utility
that displays the SSID from association and re-association requests
and reply packets, and do my part to end this nonsense. Be thankful
that I'm too busy, too lazy, and too lousy a programmist to do that.

Incidentally, if nobody answers your question, please do NOT repost it
again the next day. It's a holiday weekend in the USA and many people
are too busy to deal with usenet. Also, thanks for supply detailed
hardware and software info.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

On 2-Jul-2005, "Bryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Problem: When I disable Broadcast SSID my laptop cannot find the
> network. As long as
>
> broadcast SSID is enabled it works OK.

<snipped>

If you're using the Windows Wireless Zero configuration utility to manage
your wireless connection, that is normal. Windows does not like it when SSID
broadcast is disabled. I've had my SSID broadcast disabled while
experimenting with the WZC and was able to get it to work, but as soon as I
rebooted, I could not get a connection. Still, like the previous posters
stated, there is no real protection in disabling the broadcast of your SSID.

--
Just Me, D

"Doug Jamal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>If you're using the Windows Wireless Zero configuration utility to manage
>your wireless connection, that is normal. Windows does not like it when SSID
>broadcast is disabled. I've had my SSID broadcast disabled while
>experimenting with the WZC and was able to get it to work, but as soon as I
>rebooted, I could not get a connection.

I am sure there is more to this than meets the eye.

I have two nearly identical installations, both using Draytek 2900
wifi routers. Same firmware. Both set up for WPA/PSK with SSID
disabled. These are good routers, not cheapo Belkin stuff.

I have an HP 4700 PDA (wm2003 with all the HP patches) and the two
network SSIDs are preconfigured in there - obviously they have to be
otherwise the PDA has zero chance of finding them

With one of them, the PDA connects faultlessly, instantly.

With the other one, it connects much less reliably. Most of the time,
it offers to connect to a network with a null name ("") and if I
ignore that prompt it generally, sometimes after a number of minutes,
connects to the real network.

Now, it could be that I do have a local network which has a null name
and which is interfering. However, Netstumbler (running on an XP
machine; Ministumbler or any similar program won't run on the HP PDA)
doesn't see any such network.

I think a lot of wifi software/firmware is simply crap, and we are
seeing the various bugs.

On 4-Jul-2005, Pete <(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> I am sure there is more to this than meets the eye.

I'm sure there is, too. Still, when SSID broadcast is disabled, there will
be times when you cannot connect wirelessly to your network, especially when
WZC is managing it.

> I have two nearly identical installations, both using Draytek 2900
> wifi routers. Same firmware. Both set up for WPA/PSK with SSID
> disabled. These are good routers, not cheapo Belkin stuff.

Very good hardware

> I have an HP 4700 PDA (wm2003 with all the HP patches) and the two
> network SSIDs are preconfigured in there - obviously they have to be
> otherwise the PDA has zero chance of finding them

:I>

> With one of them, the PDA connects faultlessly, instantly.
>
> With the other one, it connects much less reliably. Most of the time,
> it offers to connect to a network with a null name ("") and if I
> ignore that prompt it generally, sometimes after a number of minutes,
> connects to the real network.

Not an uncommon occurrence

> Now, it could be that I do have a local network which has a null name
> and which is interfering. However, Netstumbler (running on an XP
> machine; Ministumbler or any similar program won't run on the HP PDA)
> doesn't see any such network.

You could be right. I'll have to experiment with that.

> I think a lot of wifi software/firmware is simply crap, and we are
> seeing the various bugs.

You're kidding, right? (LOL) I refuse to believe that companies package
(and/or offer for download) buggy software with their product in an attempt
to keep up with the competition and/or consumer demand. (smile)

--
Just Me, D

On Sun, 03 Jul 2005 18:42:28 GMT, Doug Jamal spoketh

>
>On 2-Jul-2005, "Bryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Problem: When I disable Broadcast SSID my laptop cannot find the
>> network. As long as
>>
>> broadcast SSID is enabled it works OK.
>
><snipped>
>
>If you're using the Windows Wireless Zero configuration utility to manage
>your wireless connection, that is normal. Windows does not like it when SSID
>broadcast is disabled. I've had my SSID broadcast disabled while
>experimenting with the WZC and was able to get it to work, but as soon as I
>rebooted, I could not get a connection. Still, like the previous posters
>stated, there is no real protection in disabling the broadcast of your SSID.

I have never had a issue with any of my wireless computers using the WZC
and no SSID broadcasts. The laptops are set up with a preferred profile
using the correct SSID name, and authenticate to the wireless network
without issue after reboot.

Lars M. Hansen
http://www.hansenonline.net
(replace 'badnews' with 'news' in e-mail address)

On 11-Jul-2005, Lars M. Hansen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have never had a issue with any of my wireless computers using the WZC
> and no SSID broadcasts. The laptops are set up with a preferred profile
> using the correct SSID name, and authenticate to the wireless network
> without issue after reboot.

Lars, I can connect to my WLAN without broadcasting the SSID (using WZC),
however, acquiring the connection is not as flawless when compared to
broadcasting the SSID.

--
Just Me, D

"Doug Jamal" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>Lars, I can connect to my WLAN without broadcasting the SSID (using WZC),
>however, acquiring the connection is not as flawless when compared to
>broadcasting the SSID.

That's what I find too; the time it takes to connect varies from
seconds to an hour - depending on the sunspot activity, and which of
two sites I do it at. There appears to be no correlation with any
other factor. I am sure there is a subtle bug in the Windows XP /
Pocket/PC "supplicant" code.

On 11-Jul-2005, Pete <(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> >Lars, I can connect to my WLAN without broadcasting the SSID (using WZC),
> >however, acquiring the connection is not as flawless when compared to
> >broadcasting the SSID.
>
> That's what I find too; the time it takes to connect varies from
> seconds to an hour - depending on the sunspot activity, and which of
> two sites I do it at. There appears to be no correlation with any
> other factor. I am sure there is a subtle bug in the Windows XP /
> Pocket/PC "supplicant" code.

My experience isn't that drastic. On occasion, the WLAN could not be
detected when the SSID was not broadcasted. It didn't matter if I had my
WLAN listed in the "Preferred Networks" section or not. Furthermore, it
didn't matter if I had my access set to "ANY" or "Access Point
(Infrastructure) Only". Having the SSID set to broadcast produced the
opposite results. In any case, that was a long time ago and I've been
broadcasting my SSID ever since and have been broadcasting it for reasons
not listed in this particular post.

--
Just Me, D