Re: Windows XP and Broadcast Disabled SSIDs

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Jim (null_at_null.com)
Date: 03/20/04 

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 11:25:44 -0800

NO! This is the official policy of MS, as MS has interpreted the wireless
spec, and LOTs of people neither understand the reasoning, nor agree w/ the
behavior. Basically it goes like this, when one or more wireless networks
are broadcasting their SSID and another it NOT (let's assume it's YOU), XP
will *always* attempt to attach to the broadcasting wireless network, *even*
if you have specified a matching SSID on your system and wireless clients!
Pretty bizarre, heh? IOW, SSID broadcasts have a higher priority than SSID
name matching. Really sucks, because it now forces you to enable SSID
broadcasts on your system to counteract this behavior, but as a result, it
reduces your security (nothing new here when it comes to MS I suppose). The
only people who can get away without SSID broadcasts are those lucky enough
to be out-of-range of other wireless networks (or otherwise can get their
neighbors to agree NOT to broadcast).

I use to have a link to this on the MS website, if I can still find it, I'll
post back.

If you're as annoyed as me, complain to MS.

HTH

Jim

"Kevin" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:c0a401c40ea1$8654e290$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> How can Windows XP be forced to only connect to your
> default SSID when that SSID has had broadcast disabled?
> Connectivity is fairly good but other SSIDs in the area
> that are broadcasting can sometimes interfere as XP
> detects them and considers them more preferred
> connections. Is there anyway to configure the XP client
> to only look for a set SSID that is not broadcasting?

Relevant Pages