Wireless Networking Requires Braodcast of SSID

I just upgraded my PC from Me to XP Pro. My Linksys WUSB11 v2.6 wireless
adapter setup now requires that my router broadcast its SSID or XP will not
connect. Once XP connects, if I turn off broadcasting the SSID at my router,
the connection at the XP PC quits. No other PC on my wireless network has
this problem. All other PCs are using the software that comes with the
adapter to control the wireless configuration. XP is using its built-in
Windows Networking to control the wireless adapter. How do I tell XP's
Windows Networking to connect to my wireless network without having to
broadcast the SSID? 128-bit WEP, channel 11, unique SSID, adapter MAC in
router table.

Thanks.

LeslieQ wrote:

> I just upgraded my PC from Me to XP Pro. My Linksys WUSB11 v2.6
> wireless adapter setup now requires that my router broadcast its SSID
> or XP will not
> connect. Once XP connects, if I turn off broadcasting the SSID at my
> router,
> the connection at the XP PC quits. No other PC on my wireless network
> has
> this problem. All other PCs are using the software that comes with
> the
> adapter to control the wireless configuration. XP is using its
> built-in
> Windows Networking to control the wireless adapter. How do I tell
> XP's Windows Networking to connect to my wireless network without
> having to
> broadcast the SSID? 128-bit WEP, channel 11, unique SSID, adapter MAC
> in router table.
>
> Thanks.

There is no reason *not* to broadcast the SSID. Not broadcasting it
provides you no security whatsoever. Here are links to help you with
understanding wireless security:

Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5

The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN -
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

I read the zdnet blog, VERY INTERESTING. I followed the link in that article
to Ou's security paper. Turns out I may as well turn off everything I am
using as it is all pretty useless (although a year ago it meant something).
I guess I will be buying a new router to get WPA2 and upgrading everything to
at least XP.

Agains, thanks.

"Malke" wrote:

> LeslieQ wrote:
>
> > I just upgraded my PC from Me to XP Pro. My Linksys WUSB11 v2.6
> > wireless adapter setup now requires that my router broadcast its SSID
> > or XP will not
> > connect. Once XP connects, if I turn off broadcasting the SSID at my
> > router,
> > the connection at the XP PC quits. No other PC on my wireless network
> > has
> > this problem. All other PCs are using the software that comes with
> > the
> > adapter to control the wireless configuration. XP is using its
> > built-in
> > Windows Networking to control the wireless adapter. How do I tell
> > XP's Windows Networking to connect to my wireless network without
> > having to
> > broadcast the SSID? 128-bit WEP, channel 11, unique SSID, adapter MAC
> > in router table.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> There is no reason *not* to broadcast the SSID. Not broadcasting it
> provides you no security whatsoever. Here are links to help you with
> understanding wireless security:
>
> Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
>
> MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5
>
> The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN -
> http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"
>

LeslieQ wrote:

> I read the zdnet blog, VERY INTERESTING. I followed the link in that
> article
> to Ou's security paper. Turns out I may as well turn off everything I
> am using as it is all pretty useless (although a year ago it meant
> something). I guess I will be buying a new router to get WPA2 and
> upgrading everything to at least XP.
>

You are most welcome. I wouldn't turn off WEP, though. Even though it
can be easily cracked, you need someone who knows how to do it. That
probably doesn't include your neighbors.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

all the 16 year olds know how to crack WEP. Better to run WPA/WPA2.

On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 19:19:28 -0700, Malke <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I wouldn't turn off WEP, though. Even though it
>can be easily cracked, you need someone who knows how to do it. That
>probably doesn't include your neighbors.
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://www.mcemvp.us/bbowman/