Can't connect to Wireless Network when SSID broadcast is disabled

BelchFire · 07-22-2006, 08:00 AM

Linksys WRT54G original settings:
G only
WEP enabled
disabled SSID broadcast

In this state, I've been connecting with a Dell Latitude D505 for almost a year. System is good and well tested.

Wife gets a new laptop at work (OK well not new, but new to us)
It is:
Toshiba Satelite running a Proxim 802.11b PC card.
So I go about adding our wireless connection.

I begin by resetting the router to Mixed (A,B,&G) but I can't locate the wireless connection even with the SSID and WEP on paper.
I enable broadcast of SSID, and it connects for me without any effort on my part (I had entered the WEP key earlier).

Turn off SSID broadcast, and I lose the connection. I'm entering this thread through the Toshiba, so I know everything's hunky-dory right now with SSID broadcast turned on.

Here's my issue: I don't like to invite people to try to hack into my network, and they can't (or at least won't) try if they don't know it's there. How do I continue to use this connection through the Toshiba, yet disable the broadcast of the SSID?

BelchFire · 07-22-2006, 08:01 AM

I'm sorry: Both the Dell and the Toshiba are running XP

**johnwill** · 07-22-2006, 10:56 AM

Actually, disabling SSID broadcasts is a very weak security measure, and as you have already discovered, makes it harder to use your own network. My advice is to enable WPA encryption on all devices and forget about SSID hiding.

BelchFire · 07-22-2006, 12:30 PM

OK. A short study on WPA shows that it's a very similar approach to WEP, but using a much more secure method. Good enough for me. I'm trying to turn it on now, and my options are:

WPA Pre-Shared Key
WPA RADIUS
RADIUS
WEP

I tried searching the internet at large to see what difference there is between PreShared Key, and RADIUS. Sounds like RADIUS wouldn't work unless I have an external server of some sort? Which should I be using for a home network -- Pre-Shared?

Also, what is RADIUS security when turned on by itself? Something completely external to my router/WAP?

BelchFire · 07-22-2006, 01:10 PM

OK, problem number 2. I've got the Linksys set to WPA-PSK, and the Dell is accessing fine (I'm using it now). However, the Toshiba doesn't offer me a WPA setting when I try to reconfigure the wireless connection. The only two security options are "disabled" and WEP.

In order to get the WPA option showing in the Toshiba, do I need an XP update, a firmware update for the wireless card, or a driver update for the wireless card?

Or am I SOL trying to use WPA on 802.11b?

BelchFire · 07-22-2006, 01:32 PM

Actually, I think I've answered my own question with some research. According to this whitepaper, it looks like WPA support is not, and will never be, available to the model card I'm using (ORiNOCO Model 8420-WD). So a driver update is out.

Soooooo, I've turned WEP encryption back on as the highest level of security that this hardware setup will support.

Am I correct in assuming that I'll never be able to logon to my network with the SSID hidden as long as I'm using this Toshiba with the Proxim card?

**johnwill** · 07-23-2006, 05:21 PM

Well, you could simply buy a new WiFi card for the laptop...

BelchFire · 07-24-2006, 09:25 AM

And I've considered that. It's a corporate laptop, so I'd have to make sure that the card stays with us if she turns the laptop in later.

John, Thanks for your input on all this.

**johnwill** · 07-24-2006, 04:06 PM

A new card is cheap, so it's not much of an investment.

**Squashman** · 07-25-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelchFire

In order to get the WPA option showing in the Toshiba, do I need an XP update, a firmware update for the wireless card, or a driver update for the wireless card?

Or am I SOL trying to use WPA on 802.11b?

Yes to both. Windows XP requires SP1a plus the WPA update. If you are on SP2 you are fine. The driver also needs to support WPA. I wouldn't rule out a driver update. Is the Wireless card internal or a pcmcia card. If it is internal I would check Toshiba's website for a driver update. Heck I would look for a driver update even if it was a pcmcia card. That would definitely be the first wireless card that I have run into that didn't have a WPA driver update.

BelchFire · 07-27-2006, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelchFire

Actually, I think I've answered my own question with some research. According to this whitepaper, it looks like WPA support is not, and will never be, available to the model card I'm using (ORiNOCO Model 8420-WD). So a driver update is out.

Squashman, It's a PCMCIA card. The link above shows that they don't offer a driver for it. It's a 802.11b card, so maybe it needs to be "filed away" and I should just get a newer card that supports g. The issue now is which card. They range in price from $12 to $89. I hate to spend more than I have to, but I hate to throw away eve $12.

**johnwill** · 07-28-2006, 06:04 AM

You really don't think your security is worth $12?

07-22-2006, 08:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	Can't connect to Wireless Network when SSID broadcast is disabled Linksys WRT54G original settings: G only WEP enabled disabled SSID broadcast In this state, I've been connecting with a Dell Latitude D505 for almost a year. System is good and well tested. Wife gets a new laptop at work (OK well not new, but new to us) It is: Toshiba Satelite running a Proxim 802.11b PC card. So I go about adding our wireless connection. I begin by resetting the router to Mixed (A,B,&G) but I can't locate the wireless connection even with the SSID and WEP on paper. I enable broadcast of SSID, and it connects for me without any effort on my part (I had entered the WEP key earlier). Turn off SSID broadcast, and I lose the connection. I'm entering this thread through the Toshiba, so I know everything's hunky-dory right now with SSID broadcast turned on. Here's my issue: I don't like to invite people to try to hack into my network, and they can't (or at least won't) try if they don't know it's there. How do I continue to use this connection through the Toshiba, yet disable the broadcast of the SSID? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-22-2006, 08:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	I'm sorry: Both the Dell and the Toshiba are running XP __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-22-2006, 10:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,940 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Actually, disabling SSID broadcasts is a very weak security measure, and as you have already discovered, makes it harder to use your own network. My advice is to enable WPA encryption on all devices and forget about SSID hiding. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-22-2006, 12:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	OK. A short study on WPA shows that it's a very similar approach to WEP, but using a much more secure method. Good enough for me. I'm trying to turn it on now, and my options are: WPA Pre-Shared Key WPA RADIUS RADIUS WEP I tried searching the internet at large to see what difference there is between PreShared Key, and RADIUS. Sounds like RADIUS wouldn't work unless I have an external server of some sort? Which should I be using for a home network -- Pre-Shared? Also, what is RADIUS security when turned on by itself? Something completely external to my router/WAP? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-22-2006, 01:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	OK, problem number 2. I've got the Linksys set to WPA-PSK, and the Dell is accessing fine (I'm using it now). However, the Toshiba doesn't offer me a WPA setting when I try to reconfigure the wireless connection. The only two security options are "disabled" and WEP. In order to get the WPA option showing in the Toshiba, do I need an XP update, a firmware update for the wireless card, or a driver update for the wireless card? Or am I SOL trying to use WPA on 802.11b? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-22-2006, 01:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	Actually, I think I've answered my own question with some research. According to this whitepaper, it looks like WPA support is not, and will never be, available to the model card I'm using (ORiNOCO Model 8420-WD). So a driver update is out. Soooooo, I've turned WEP encryption back on as the highest level of security that this hardware setup will support. Am I correct in assuming that I'll never be able to logon to my network with the SSID hidden as long as I'm using this Toshiba with the Proxim card? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-23-2006, 05:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,940 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Well, you could simply buy a new WiFi card for the laptop... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-24-2006, 09:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	And I've considered that. It's a corporate laptop, so I'd have to make sure that the card stays with us if she turns the laptop in later. John, Thanks for your input on all this. __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

07-24-2006, 04:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,940 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	A new card is cheap, so it's not much of an investment. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-28-2006, 06:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,940 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	You really don't think your security is worth $12? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience