Re: Strange Wireless Networking Issue

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

Hi
Market constantly changes and when an OS is released there is No way to know when and how fast the technology changes. As a result Windows provides a specific, as well as a general capacity to deal with Wireless Control.
Many of the features and the "Last Word" in Wireless control is up to the way the manufacturer writes its Drivers (and some of them are rather sloppy in the writing).
Example Windows can do WPA and WPA2, but if the Drivers do not provide the WPA entries the Wireless would Not do WPA.
Similarly SSID and other variables work about can be manipulated in the Drivers.
Many Wireless cards would not work correctly if the SSID is Off, thus to avoid misunderstanding is better to keep it On.
Any person who is capable to Brake Encryption knows how to detect a Wireless connection whether the SSID is On or Off, so there is No merit to keep it Off.
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

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

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).


"John Schneider" <johnmsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:2EEA3323-697B-43C1-9F02-195FF3614FAD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My daughter has a new Gateway laptop with wireless networking capability,
running XP Home SP2 and all current updates. I'm trying to get her connected
to my home wireless network (D-Link DI-634M). I have the router set to not
broadcast the SSID. The laptop won't connect to the network. However, if I
go into the router and set it to broadcast the SSID, it will connect fine.
That proves that I have all the correct settings in XP (SSID, Authentication,
encryption method and network key). But if I go back to the router and set
the SSID not to broadcast, it won't connect the next time the machine is
booted.

What am I missing here? I have another laptop (XP Pro SP2) that works fine
without having to broadcast the SSID. Could this have something to do with
the differences between XP Home and XP Pro?

Thanks

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Suggestions for a secure home network
    ... it does 'not' have any security merit. ... Anybody with a wireless sniffer can ... pull the SSID out EVEN IF ITS NOT BROADCASTED. ... separate DSL modem with wireless router for his two MACs. ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: Suggestions for a secure home network
    ... I also wouldn't put too much belief that this will provide security ... Anybody with a wireless sniffer can ... pull the SSID out EVEN IF ITS NOT BROADCASTED. ... Try Webroot's Spy Sweeper Enterprisefor 30 days for FREE with no ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: Wireless Disconnects
    ... When setting up wireless for clients and noticing ... an open network or other wireless configuration issue, if the SSID gives ... In a home security and personal privacy sense, though, keeping a little ... John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Strange Wireless Networking Issue
    ... Looks like I can comfortably turn the SSID back on, ... Many of the features and the "Last Word" in Wireless control is up to the ... From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is. ... WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Connecting to Router when SSID disabled.
    ... the status of the SSID is irrelevant since anyone who can break Encryption knows how to get on a None Broadcasting Wireless in 10 sec. ... The documentation of your Wireless devices should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware. ... If you need more good security and one device is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)