SSID Hiding and Broadcasting

When I hide SSID, a PC WiFi connection status shows "connected" and "not
connected" about 2-5 seconds apart. So the connection is very choppy. It
can connect, but not continuously. However, when SSID broadcast is
enabled, that same PC connection status is steady ("connected").

Why is that?

On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:31:36 -0800, Ron
<(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in
<138bc$454ba72c$4286329d$(E-Mail Removed) s.com>:

>When I hide SSID, a PC WiFi connection status shows "connected" and "not
>connected" about 2-5 seconds apart. So the connection is very choppy. It
>can connect, but not continuously. However, when SSID broadcast is
>enabled, that same PC connection status is steady ("connected").
>
>Why is that?

Don't hide the SSID. It provides no benefit (since the SSID isn't
really hidden), and it frequently causes problems (e.g., making your
neighbor more likely to accidentally jump on "your" channel).

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John Navas wrote:
> On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:31:36 -0800, Ron
> <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in
> <138bc$454ba72c$4286329d$(E-Mail Removed) s.com>:
>
>
>>When I hide SSID, a PC WiFi connection status shows "connected" and "not
>>connected" about 2-5 seconds apart. So the connection is very choppy. It
>>can connect, but not continuously. However, when SSID broadcast is
>>enabled, that same PC connection status is steady ("connected").
>>
>>Why is that?
>
>
> Don't hide the SSID. It provides no benefit (since the SSID isn't
> really hidden), and it frequently causes problems (e.g., making your
> neighbor more likely to accidentally jump on "your" channel).
>

Thanks. I know that already. My question was "why was the connection
choppy?" when SSID is hidden. Just curious.

Ron <(E-Mail Removed) m> hath wroth:

>John Navas wrote:
>> On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:31:36 -0800, Ron
>> <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in
>> <138bc$454ba72c$4286329d$(E-Mail Removed) s.com>:
>>
>>
>>>When I hide SSID, a PC WiFi connection status shows "connected" and "not
>>>connected" about 2-5 seconds apart. So the connection is very choppy. It
>>>can connect, but not continuously. However, when SSID broadcast is
>>>enabled, that same PC connection status is steady ("connected").
>>>
>>>Why is that?
>>
>>
>> Don't hide the SSID. It provides no benefit (since the SSID isn't
>> really hidden), and it frequently causes problems (e.g., making your
>> neighbor more likely to accidentally jump on "your" channel).

>Thanks. I know that already. My question was "why was the connection
>choppy?" when SSID is hidden. Just curious.

That's going to be rather difficult to answer since you only supplied
the symptoms. How about some details like the wireless access point
maker, model, and hardware mutation. Perhaps the client you're using
to test it, including the wireless card, operating system, and
especially the wireless client driver or manager being used (Windoze
Wireless Zero Config or the vendors wireless manager). Some clue as
to how you have it setup (open, WEP, WPA, RADIUS, etc).

Extra credit for mentioning how your doing the testing, something
about the range and signal strength, and whether you've tried it with
more than one wireless router and/or client computer.

I agree with John Navas. Don't hide the SSID. It offers few security
benifits and causes too many complications. Your only real security
is in the encryption, which should be WPA or WPA2.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:14:40 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>Ron <(E-Mail Removed) m> hath wroth:
>
>>John Navas wrote:
>>> On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:31:36 -0800, Ron
>>> <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in
>>> <138bc$454ba72c$4286329d$(E-Mail Removed) s.com>:
>>>
>>>>When I hide SSID, a PC WiFi connection status shows "connected" and "not
>>>>connected" about 2-5 seconds apart. So the connection is very choppy. It
>>>>can connect, but not continuously. However, when SSID broadcast is
>>>>enabled, that same PC connection status is steady ("connected").
>>>>
>>>>Why is that?
>>>
>>> Don't hide the SSID. It provides no benefit (since the SSID isn't
>>> really hidden), and it frequently causes problems (e.g., making your
>>> neighbor more likely to accidentally jump on "your" channel).
>
>>Thanks. I know that already. My question was "why was the connection
>>choppy?" when SSID is hidden. Just curious.
>
>That's going to be rather difficult to answer since you only supplied
>the symptoms. How about some details like the wireless access point
>maker, model, and hardware mutation. Perhaps the client you're using
>to test it, including the wireless card, operating system, and
>especially the wireless client driver or manager being used (Windoze
>Wireless Zero Config or the vendors wireless manager). Some clue as
>to how you have it setup (open, WEP, WPA, RADIUS, etc).
>
>Extra credit for mentioning how your doing the testing, something
>about the range and signal strength, and whether you've tried it with
>more than one wireless router and/or client computer.

Even more credit for the *exact* error messages and symptoms, rather
than paraphrasing.

>I agree with John Navas. Don't hide the SSID. It offers few security
>benifits and causes too many complications. Your only real security
>is in the encryption, which should be WPA or WPA2.

With a *strong* passphrase!

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>