How do you tell Windows XP Pro to connect to a wireless that isn't broadcasting SSID?

Normally, when I want to connect to a 802.11 wireless network using the
Windows connection tools, I View Available Wireless Networks, select one,
and tell Windows to connect.

What happens if I set my wireless network up to not broadcast the SSID?
There is no network that Windows can see, so I can't tell Windows to connect
to it. I know how to configure a wireless connection even if it is not seen
in the viewer, but I don't know how to connect to it.

If I have "Connect if this network is in range" will that find the network
even if the SSID isn't being broadcast?

Thanks

"RS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EyHkl.11649$(E-Mail Removed)...

> What happens if I set my wireless network up to not broadcast the SSID?

Makes things more of a pain for you.

Doesn't bother hackers a bit, they couldn't care less.

Your security, or lack there of,...comes from the Encryption (like
WPA),...not from monkeying with the SSID.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

Hi
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if
it is Off)
MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be
easily Spoofed).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
-------------------
The above is Not considered safe.
Safe Starts here at WPA.
-------------------
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have
to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft.
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357>
The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.
Setting Wireless Security - <http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html>
The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
<http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html>
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"RS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EyHkl.11649$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Normally, when I want to connect to a 802.11 wireless network using the
> Windows connection tools, I View Available Wireless Networks, select one,
> and tell Windows to connect.
>
> What happens if I set my wireless network up to not broadcast the SSID?
> There is no network that Windows can see, so I can't tell Windows to
> connect to it. I know how to configure a wireless connection even if it
> is not seen in the viewer, but I don't know how to connect to it.
>
> If I have "Connect if this network is in range" will that find the network
> even if the SSID isn't being broadcast?
>
> Thanks
>
>

I agree with Phillip.
more inline...

"RS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EyHkl.11649$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Normally, when I want to connect to a 802.11 wireless network using the
> Windows connection tools, I View Available Wireless Networks, select one,
> and tell Windows to connect.
>
> What happens if I set my wireless network up to not broadcast the SSID?
> There is no network that Windows can see, so I can't tell Windows to
> connect to it. I know how to configure a wireless connection even if it is
> not seen in the viewer, but I don't know how to connect to it.

If you've already connected to this wifi network while SSID broadcast was
enabled, Windows WZC keeps a profile of the connection. You can either tell
it to use that default profile or manually select the profile and click
Connect.

> If I have "Connect if this network is in range" will that find the network
> even if the SSID isn't being broadcast?

Yes. IIRC about 7 years ago, when I configure my first home WiFi network, I
turned off SSID broadcast (among other things). It proved to be a PITA. So I
decided to just leave it on (ie: broadcast SSID).

Enable WPA2/AES encryption and give it a long password (eg: 30 to 40
characters long). That's it. Forget about the rest of silly things like
hiding SSID, disabling DHCP, enabling MAC filtering unless you really want
to make your life harder.

RS schrieb:
> Normally, when I want to connect to a 802.11 wireless network using the
> Windows connection tools, I View Available Wireless Networks, select one,
> and tell Windows to connect.
>
> What happens if I set my wireless network up to not broadcast the SSID?
> There is no network that Windows can see, so I can't tell Windows to connect
> to it. I know how to configure a wireless connection even if it is not seen
> in the viewer, but I don't know how to connect to it.
>
> If I have "Connect if this network is in range" will that find the network
> even if the SSID isn't being broadcast?
>
> Thanks
>
>

Maybe you would like to read

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb726942.aspx

Wolfgang