SSID Broadcast Problem

I have been running a wireless home network with Windows XP Home Edition for
some time with no problems, but have just run into a new snag.

As part of my security initiative I have disabled SSID broadcast from my
router so that everyone in the neighborhood doesn't know it's sitting there
waiting to be hacked (I also run WEP encription and a MAC address filter).

This was not a problem until one of my neighbors bought a wireless router
that has SSID broadcast still enabled. Now my computer wants to connect to
his router instead of mine (appearently because of Windows XP's built in
prefrence for connecting to routers that broadcast an SSID first.) Even when
I completely remove his router from my "prefered networks" my computer still
automatically connects itself to the wrong router. ("automatically connect to
non-prefered networks" is disabled) To the best of my knowledge XP won't even
look for a non-broadcasting router on it's prefered networks list if there is
a broadcasting router in range. It's really frustrating, and I don't know how
to get around it.

If anyone can shed some light on this predicament it would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks and Smiles

Broadcast your unique SSID. There is absolutely no security value not
broadcasting the SSID and you run into issues like you describe. Do use WPA
(if your hardware supports) it, or at the very least 128-bit WEP to secure
your wireless network...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...


"Roble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:44DDF0AF-295C-43B4-84AF-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have been running a wireless home network with Windows XP Home Edition
>for
> some time with no problems, but have just run into a new snag.
>
> As part of my security initiative I have disabled SSID broadcast from my
> router so that everyone in the neighborhood doesn't know it's sitting
> there
> waiting to be hacked (I also run WEP encription and a MAC address filter).
>
> This was not a problem until one of my neighbors bought a wireless router
> that has SSID broadcast still enabled. Now my computer wants to connect to
> his router instead of mine (appearently because of Windows XP's built in
> prefrence for connecting to routers that broadcast an SSID first.) Even
> when
> I completely remove his router from my "prefered networks" my computer
> still
> automatically connects itself to the wrong router. ("automatically connect
> to
> non-prefered networks" is disabled) To the best of my knowledge XP won't
> even
> look for a non-broadcasting router on it's prefered networks list if there
> is
> a broadcasting router in range. It's really frustrating, and I don't know
> how
> to get around it.
>
> If anyone can shed some light on this predicament it would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks and Smiles
>
>

http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/...Security#10907

http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/wifisecurity

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...


"Sooner Al [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Broadcast your unique SSID. There is absolutely no security value not
> broadcasting the SSID and you run into issues like you describe. Do use
> WPA (if your hardware supports) it, or at the very least 128-bit WEP to
> secure your wireless network...
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
> benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...
>
>
> "Roble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:44DDF0AF-295C-43B4-84AF-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have been running a wireless home network with Windows XP Home Edition
>>for
>> some time with no problems, but have just run into a new snag.
>>
>> As part of my security initiative I have disabled SSID broadcast from my
>> router so that everyone in the neighborhood doesn't know it's sitting
>> there
>> waiting to be hacked (I also run WEP encription and a MAC address
>> filter).
>>
>> This was not a problem until one of my neighbors bought a wireless router
>> that has SSID broadcast still enabled. Now my computer wants to connect
>> to
>> his router instead of mine (appearently because of Windows XP's built in
>> prefrence for connecting to routers that broadcast an SSID first.) Even
>> when
>> I completely remove his router from my "prefered networks" my computer
>> still
>> automatically connects itself to the wrong router. ("automatically
>> connect to
>> non-prefered networks" is disabled) To the best of my knowledge XP won't
>> even
>> look for a non-broadcasting router on it's prefered networks list if
>> there is
>> a broadcasting router in range. It's really frustrating, and I don't know
>> how
>> to get around it.
>>
>> If anyone can shed some light on this predicament it would be greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks and Smiles
>>
>>
>
>

"Roble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:44DDF0AF-295C-43B4-84AF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> As part of my security initiative I have disabled SSID broadcast from my
> router so that everyone in the neighborhood doesn't know it's sitting there
> waiting to be hacked (I also run WEP encription and a MAC address filter).

Ok so everybody knows that you're sitting there and thinking you're safe

> This was not a problem until one of my neighbors bought a wireless router
> that has SSID broadcast still enabled. Now my computer wants to connect to
> his router instead of mine (appearently because of Windows XP's built in
> prefrence for connecting to routers that broadcast an SSID first.) Even when
> I completely remove his router from my "prefered networks" my computer still
> automatically connects itself to the wrong router. ("automatically connect to
> non-prefered networks" is disabled)

This might be a problem with your wireless adapter driver.
Try to contact their tech support and request update.

( I hope this is not a bug specific to XP Home. haven't worked with Xp Home
for a while - because, no offence please, serious people don't use it ).

Regards,
--PA

I do the same thing, but I only have that problem if my Access-Point
hiccups. Once it comes back up, my laptop reconnects automatically.

"Roble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:44DDF0AF-295C-43B4-84AF-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have been running a wireless home network with Windows XP Home Edition
>for
> some time with no problems, but have just run into a new snag.
>
> As part of my security initiative I have disabled SSID broadcast from my
> router so that everyone in the neighborhood doesn't know it's sitting
> there
> waiting to be hacked (I also run WEP encription and a MAC address filter).
>
> This was not a problem until one of my neighbors bought a wireless router
> that has SSID broadcast still enabled. Now my computer wants to connect to
> his router instead of mine (appearently because of Windows XP's built in
> prefrence for connecting to routers that broadcast an SSID first.) Even
> when
> I completely remove his router from my "prefered networks" my computer
> still
> automatically connects itself to the wrong router. ("automatically connect
> to
> non-prefered networks" is disabled) To the best of my knowledge XP won't
> even
> look for a non-broadcasting router on it's prefered networks list if there
> is
> a broadcasting router in range. It's really frustrating, and I don't know
> how
> to get around it.
>
> If anyone can shed some light on this predicament it would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks and Smiles
>
>

I am having the same problem as Roble. I am using XP Pro. The network that I
need to connect to is the one at work and there is no way they will turn on
broadcasting. I need to find another way of either forcing the connection or
doing it via command line.

Jeremy

"Clark" wrote:

> If you edit the profile, isn't there something that allows you to connect to
> specified profiles only or only to one certain access point? I don't use
> the WZC, but the Intel utility has the connect to only this access point
> option.
>
> Clark
>
>
>