Wireless Network + Netgear Settings?

Hi All
I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the network
name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless router
settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know how to
re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and no prompt
for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
George

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:45901f9c$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All
> I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
> wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
> chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
> addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the
> network name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless
> router settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know how
> to re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and no
> prompt for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
> George

Use WPA and let it broadcast the network name.
WPA is more secure and hiding the name doesn't help security.

On Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:59:41 -0000, "george" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Hi All
>I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
>wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
>chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
>addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the network
>name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless router
>settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know how to
>re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and no prompt
>for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
>George
>

You can broadcast the name and have the MAC addesses (not i/p
addresses) in the access restricted list. WEP encryption is weak but
works for the most part but WPA is better. When you turn off the SID
broadcast then be sure to leave the wireless radio broadcasting.

-- Zadok
('¿')

"dennis@home" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:459025d3$0$24526$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:45901f9c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi All
>> I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
>> wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
>> chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
>> addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the
>> network name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless
>> router settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know how
>> to re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and no
>> prompt for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
>> George
>
> Use WPA and let it broadcast the network name.
> WPA is more secure and hiding the name doesn't help security.
>
Hiding the name does help security. Both PCs are set incorrectly or trying
to connect to a network other than your own. You need to delete the
connections off each, then set it up again filling in the details of the
SSID and WPA-PSK key. The PC will remember it and you do not need to
broadcast the SSID.
You tell windows that the network does not appear in the list and to add it
yourself.
You can always look at www.practicallynetworked.com

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:45908ab8$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "dennis@home" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:459025d3$0$24526$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:45901f9c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Hi All
>>> I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
>>> wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
>>> chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
>>> addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the
>>> network name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless
>>> router settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know
>>> how to re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and
>>> no prompt for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
>>> George
>>
>> Use WPA and let it broadcast the network name.
>> WPA is more secure and hiding the name doesn't help security.
>>
> Hiding the name does help security. Both PCs are set incorrectly or
> trying to connect to a network other than your own. You need to delete
> the connections off each, then set it up again filling in the details of
> the SSID and WPA-PSK key. The PC will remember it and you do not need to
> broadcast the SSID.
> You tell windows that the network does not appear in the list and to add
> it yourself.
> You can always look at www.practicallynetworked.com
>
Hi
Thanks for your responses/efforts. It is irrelevant to my questions whether
or not broadcasting the network name increases security or which encryption
to use . My questions are HOW to tell windows that the network does not
appear in the list and HOW to connect to it when the network name is not
broadcast?

In message <45901f9c$(E-Mail Removed)>, george
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Hi All
>I set up a home network, 2 sony vaios both with wireless receivers and a
>wireless netgear router. I am trying to secure the network and so far I
>chose the wep encryprion and I restricted access only to my to pc's ip
>addresses. It would seem that it is a good idea not to broadcast the network
>name. When I select do not broadcast network name on wireless router
>settings, both computers then lose connection and I don't know how to
>re-connect them, because there is no network detected by name and no prompt
>for me to enter the network name anywhere. Any ideas?
>George
>
>
There is a known problem with Windows XP and networks with hidden SSIDs

See

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907405

I would simply leave the SSID visible. That fixes it.

As I understand there is a different security problem with hidden
SSID's. The network may not broadcast its SSID, but whenever the laptop
is disconnected ( say when you are out of the house with it) it
repeatedly tries to connect to the "hidden" network - broadcasting
your apparently hidden SSID in the attempt.

Regards
--
Peter R Cook

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:45908ab8$(E-Mail Removed)...

> Hiding the name does help security.

No it doesn't.
Anyone who wants to connect to your network is not going to be effected by
hiding the name.
It doesn't stop the network name being found either as its easy to find the
SSID using freely available software..
At best it stops accidental intrution.. but as WPA/WEP will stop this it is
pointless.
All you are doing is making it harder for the legitimate users.

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:459101a2$(E-Mail Removed)

[snip]

> Hi
> Thanks for your responses/efforts. It is irrelevant to my
> questions whether or not broadcasting the network name
> increases security or which encryption to use . My
> questions are HOW to tell windows that the network does
> not appear in the list and HOW to connect to it when the
> network name is not broadcast?

Using a wired connection, set up the wireless system so that the SSID *is*
broadcast. Then it will allow the wireless clients to connect.

Then, once they have all done so, turn off SSID broadcasting. The clients
will still be able to connect.

Ivor

"dennis@home" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:45911b8a$0$2625$(E-Mail Removed)
> "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:45908ab8$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> > Hiding the name does help security.
>
> No it doesn't.
> Anyone who wants to connect to your network is not going
> to be effected by hiding the name.
> It doesn't stop the network name being found either as
> its easy to find the SSID using freely available
> software.. At best it stops accidental intrution.. but as WPA/WEP
> will stop this it is pointless.
> All you are doing is making it harder for the legitimate
> users.

Eh..? Legitimate users will be able to get in anyway.

At least hiding the SSID can deter casual access.

Ivor

"Invalid" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news0QMZ$(E-Mail Removed)

[snip]

> As I understand there is a different security problem
> with hidden SSID's. The network may not broadcast its
> SSID, but whenever the laptop is disconnected ( say when
> you are out of the house with it) it repeatedly tries to
> connect to the "hidden" network - broadcasting your
> apparently hidden SSID in the attempt.

Not if you turn off wireless when you're not using it, it won't..! Why
waste battery power trying to connect to a network that you know isn't
there..?

Ivor