Non-Broadcast SSID being displayed on devices

We have a couple SSID's that we don't broadcast. Currently our desktop group is taking new Ipads out of the box, and they can see one of the non-broadcast networks.
I've asked a couple of local wireless engineers, and they said they've noticed this as well with certain devices, and have just ignored it, as it doesn't cause a huge problem.
Is this truly a known issue?

Shane,
It's not a problem usually. When you don't 'broadcast' the SSID all you are doing is suppressing it in the beacon messages. A client, however, will still have the SSID in clear text when it is probing.
What is probably happening, is the device is hearing the probe/probe responses at the same time it is scanning and it's able to link the mac address of the AP to the SSID, thus showing it to you.
Some devices do this, some don't, and as your people said, not a huge problem really.
Steve

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Non-broadcast ssid = no beaconing?

We were told that even though Cisco AP's can support a ton of different ssid's, it's a good idea to keep that number to minimal, due to the fact that each ssid becons to the lowest data rate.
Does anyone know what the recommended max. number of SSID is?
Also if we simply make the SSID non-broadcast, does the AP still send becon out for that non-broadcast ssid, and therefore make it somewhat better?

Lets be clear what a broadcast is and a beacon is ...
Aps need to beacon. If they do not beacon they dont work cause clients will not know where to find them. With that being said, if you enable 16 SSIDs you will have 16 beacons. These are virtual btw. Also they will all use medium.
If you want to know about the virtual beacons and cisco check out my blog post:
http://www.my80211.com/home/tag/cisco-virtual-mac-address
Broadcast / Hide your SSID
There is a field in the beacon that holds your WLAN SSID. You can either hide this or reveal it. If you hide it you lessen the chance of devices finding it. But as Surendra pointed out there is no real security. Becuase there are ways to get the hidden ssid.
So if you hide it or no, no impact to your medium at all.. Why, beacuse the APs still need to beacon ..
Make sense now bud?

Broadcast and non-broadcast SSID issues with iPhones and iPads

We have a CIsco wireless infrastructure configured with a public broadcasted ssid and a private non-broadcast ssid that we are experiencing issues with the iPads and iPhones. The iPad or iPhone will switch between both ssids if defined but keep the original IP address when it switches to the non-broadcast ssid making it unusable. It shouldn't be switching at all technically. If the non-broadcast ssid is defined only on the iPhone or iPad, the broadcast ssid pops up and starts asking for authentication information. I have Cisco looking into this but I'm quite sure this is an Apple bug. Any other device works fine. We are currently using version 4.3.5(8L2) on the iPads and iPhones. I do know that if we broadcast both SSIDS, the issue goes away, but I don't want to do that. Although it doesn't really add any more security, it just isn't advertised, so most people won't see it and avoids a lot of questions. Hopefully there's a simple solution.
Any ideas apple guys?
Also how does one open an actual trouble ticket with apple?

Did you solve this? Settings\Wifi\Askto join networks - OFF

Broadcast to non-broadcast SSID change stops laptop connection

We have started to deploy a CAWLAP migrating autonomous to lightweight. In the configuration, the SSID was broadcast. Windows PC and mobile devices had no problem connecting.
Now when we changed it to non-broadcast, windows PC can not access while the mobile devices still can!
The controller (5508) is running 7.2.110.
Any ideas? Is this bug?

Not a bug... You probably added the SSID to the client when it was broadcasted, so the wireless client is looking for a broadcasted SSID. In windows, you can click connect even if not broadcasted. Or else remove and add the SSID on the clients again. It a client side issue not the wlc.
Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

Non-Broadcasting SSId

My router and access point is currently non-broadcasting and WPA protected. Can I connect a HP Photosmart 6520 to this network? How?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi,
Yes, but for setup, turn the SSID on, this will make life easier. After that you can turn back off.
Regards.
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

Upgraded to Leopard and can't to wireless non broadcasted SSID

Since upgrading to Leopard a few days ago I can no longer connect to my network here at work.
We do not broadcast the SSID and use a 64bit WEP encryption.
My airport will see the WAP for a brief second and then it will go offline. Windows users have there network authentication set to shared.
Are there settings that I am missing.

If the SSID is not being broadcast, your MBP will not "see" the network. You must enter all of the data for the connection including the SSID. I haven't used WEP in a very long time but my recollection is that 64 bit WEP requires a 10 hexadecimal character key. There were many products that allowed this to be entered as a 5 ascii character string. Unfortunately not all manufacturers did the conversion the same way. In my experience it was always best to enter the key in hexadecimal.

Trouble Connecting to a non-broadcasted SSID

Hello all,
I am currently using a Samsung WAP that works with our customers phone system. The WAP does not broadcast the SSID and using WEP security 128 bit ASCII.
I walked the customer through creating a wireless network through airport, as the network name, I simply used the SSID. However, the network does not come up in the list to connect to. I understand that when the network does come up in the list on airport when you click to connect to it, it will then ask you for the password. However, it is not coming up in the list and not being familiar with Apple products myself, I am unable to help my customer further.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to connect to a wireless network that is not broadcasting the SSID it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Alex

amorrow84, Welcome to the discussion area!
The best solution is to quit using this feature. Even with this feature enabled the SSID is still broadcast between any connected clients and the base station. Therefore the network name is easily discovered in just a few seconds.
Otherwise, they must go to the AirPort menu, select "Other...", enter the name of the network and encryption password.

3.12 Bug with WiFi and non broadcast SSID?

I seem to have a bug. I can reliably replicate this on my phone and after talking to others, they mention the same issues.
Setup:
WiFi that does not broadcast its SSID and is protected (could be any protection, mine happens to use WPA Enterprise)
How to replicate:
-> Add the new network, set the network name (ssid), username, password, JOIN.
-> You are joined to the network.
-> Do something that verifies you're on the WiFi network (e.g. visit http://hostip.info in the browser)
-> Set phone down, or sleep it.
-> Wait a few seconds... wake phone.
-> It should re-connect, but won't. It has forgotten the network connection was ever there.
Describing this to others, they say they had to turn on ssid broadcast... this is not an option for me since it's a work network, and it's their security configuration to not broadcast the ssid.
Any help or can we get this confirmed as a bug and get it tracked?
Thanks...

This is a user-to-user tech support forum and Apple doesn't routinely or officially monitor these posts. Apple rarely announces bugs and the other iPhone users here have no more info than you. To report a bug or make a suggestion to Apple, do so on the iPhone Feedback page:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Can't find non-broadcast SSID

Ok, so it may seem like it's doing what it should, but I've already connected.
The wireless network is a WEP encrypted network with a web-based login on top. The SSID is not broadcast, but since I've set up my computer to connect to it before, and it's in my list of remembered networks I should still be able to automatically connect to it when in range. For some reason, it doesn't recognize it. I have to manually join a new network, reenter the SSID and passkey and even then it takes a few tries to actually connect. Has anyone experienced a problem like that where a known network won't connect?

I had the same problem, my MBP will not connect to a previously setup wifi connection if the ssid is turned off. To solve this issue I just broadcast the ssid all the time now, it's not like the ssid is hard to find with the right software. For added security use mac address filtering and limited ip addressing.

Windows 7 and Non Broadcasting SSID

As a part of our wireless security setup, we routinely uncheck the box to enable the broadcasting of the SSID in question. We are starting the migration to Windows 7 firmwide and have begun to notice a significant delay in the amount of time that Windows 7 is taking to acquire the SSID when it starts up.
Would like to see how others are handling this. Would prefer not to enable broadcasting of the SSID if at all possible. I know it isnt a good security option but I would like to think it makes it a little harder for someone at least of script kiddy status to get onto the wireless. We are using WPA2 enterprise which required an AD account to get onto wireless so I have a little more in place than just a static passphrase.

Here is the reponse I received from Toshiba Support on this problem -
We are in the process of certifying this driver. As far as the Intel drivers go we do not change and aspect other then the packaging to support from a Toshiba prospective is not really a issue. This problem has been documented from a couple of different manufacturers and we do plan on releasing once it goes through our certification process.
I can tell you that the cert process was slowed down last week due to a issue with a Microsoft KB2393802 that appears to be interacting with the Intel Graphic driver and causing blue screens. Microsoft has since pulled this KB and will re-release but the number of reports has got engineering tied up in the short term. We were planning and having this driver released are the 1st of this month but now certification has been pushed back to the 15th.
Continuing to work with the other Toshiba laptops that we use to confirm the problem/solution on them as well.
Ron

IPOD Touch and my (non broadcasted) SSID

Can someone tell me what I need to do to get my touch to connect to my linksys e3000 router (not broaddcasting) my SSID?

This should work for you:
1. Log onto your network as you normally do. Tap Settings > WiFi > then the network with the check mark next to it. Tap the blue ">" icon to get a display of your IP addresses. Tap the "Forget Network" button.
2. Reset the touch network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
3. When the touch restarts, tap Settings > WiFi > Other and re-enter your network name, security, and network password.
It should begin remembering the network name and log on automatically.
However, hiding your SSID is just about worthless as a security measure. You might want to reconsider hiding it.

Non-broadcasting SSID client configuration

hi,
If we have SSID which is broadcasting and can be seen in windows wireless network. Now if we configure "suppress SSID" or " no guest mode" the SSID will not be seen in windows wireless network. In this case, do we need to configure ( on notebooks ) once again a new profile or manually supply the SSID name and give WEP key to all wireless notebook clients. Although all clients have the existing SSID name and Key already configured on the notebooks which is not changed.
In short if we make SSID name as "unseen" do we need to configure all notebook clients again , as it will be big task to supply SSID and WEP key to all users !!
Please share the experience
Subodh

Assuming the details are hard coded in the machines, it depends on your operating system. With likes of Windows XP (Pre SP-3) you shouldn't need to make any changes, but with XP SP3 & Vista, there is an extra button in the WLAN config page which influences whether or not the Client will join the WLAN even if the SSID is hidden, so you'll need to do some homework and check your laptops...
Also note that when you make the change it will typically reset the Client's connections, so be patient for a few minutes while your Clients drivers realise they've been disconnected and start the reconnection process.
Rgds,
Richard
PS - Make sure you've got new drivers, old drivers tend not to re-associate very well / if at all when there's a problem / issue.

HT1731 How does one configure a NEW (unconfigured) AirPort Express to join a WiFi network that has a non-broadcasted SSID?

The following KB article assumes that the user has a configured AirPort Express:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731
I reset my AirPort Express, because the SSID of the WiFi network changed and its name is not broadcast for security reasons.
When using the "AirPort Utility" ( not the "AirPort Admin Utility" – which is the wrong name of the application in the article! ) the application found the unconfigured AirPort Express, connected to the LAN via ethernet; However, when selected, the configuration "wizard" assumes that the user wants to configure the AirPort Express as a WiFi base station.
I selected the option to have the AirPort Express join a WiFi network; However, the AirPort Utility sent back an error, saying that a "Base station" ( WiFi network?! ) could not be found. Well, guess what? That's because the SSID of the network I want the AirPort Express to join.
UGH!
...and the best part is that there is no other solution, but to run with the AirPort Utility's assumptions, configure the AirPort Express as a WiFi Base station, then follow the KB article's instructions ( which are not accurate ) to re-configure the AirPort Express as a WiFi client.
This is a really bad user experience, Apple.
Please try following your own instructions to see how fantastically they fail..then, re-write your KB articles.
Thanks,
PS — If anyone knows of any easier methodologies, do tell. (That's the "question" part of this inquiry )
PPS — My Mac Pro, which I used to configure the AirPort Express, does not have WiFi.
PPPS — Why do all the articles that match searches for "AirPort Express" return articles that refer to "AirPort Base Stations"?! Please, for the love of UX, be consistent!

Here are the basic steps:
Run the AirPort Utility
Select the AirPort Express
Click on Manual Setup
Click on the AirPort icon
Click on the Wireless tab
For Wireless Mode, select the "Join a wireless network" option
In the Wireless Network Name field, enter the SSID of the hidden wireless network you want the Express to join.
Select the approrpriate wireless security type in the Wireless Security window.
Enter the appropriate wireless security password for the hidden network.
Click on Update.

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Wdtv not connecting to wifi unless broadcasting SSID

Greetings from Sunny Spain 8)
I've been using for several years a wd tv live (currently version of firmware: 1.16.13) wirelessly attached to my network (Netgear router). My wifi security is wpa2. I also set my wifi, among other things, to NOT broadcast SSID.
I bought last week an Airport Time Capsule. For now it's working bridged to my Netgear router-modem, who gets the Internet connection. Wifi is supplied by the apple router.
I do have several boxes wirelessly attached to this new wifi: Sonos boxes, a PS3, a Wii, a Linux laptop, a Samsung printer.
But strangely enough I cannot connect my WDTV to this airport/wifi UNLESS I BROADCAST its SSID.
I've checked several times. Strangely enough (at least to me) I can still connect to a hidden SSID if I use my old router.
I've got no trouble getting the other devices (except for the Samsung printer who required a little work) to connect to the hidden SSID apple driven wifi. So methinks this is a bug, unless it's a feature Is there any kind of workaround available that anyone knows about?
Thanks for reading this. Please forgive my poor grammar skills.

As you are probably already aware hiding the broadcast of a wireless network's SSID is not a fool-proof security measure but tends to introduce new problems ... like your WDTV not being able to connect.
I'm not sure why this is only happening with your new AirPort Extreme and not with your previous Netgear router but it may be due to how each manufacturer implemented this feature. I don't think it is a bug with your AirPort router and I'm not aware of any communications from Apple about it.
By the way, your grammar skills are excelente!

Non-Broadcast SSID being displayed on devices

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