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General discussion

Have two laptops-one finds router, the other does not.

by mflavin Mar 8, 2006 3:28AM PST

I have a home network with a desktop (wired) and a laptop that is wireless. My router is secured and broadcasting the SSID is turned off. My laptop sees my router plus another unsecured router in my neighborhood. I set up the laptop before I turned off broadcasting. Now I have a second laptop, but it only finds the unsecured router. Do I have to turn on broadcasting to get the initial connection to add my second laptop? Or what?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Turning off SSID is a known issue.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 8, 2006 3:39AM PST

Can you explain how it makes your network more secure?

It's a common item for security pundits to list but they don't explain how it can make repeaters and more devices to stop working.

-> Go back to what worked.

Bob

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Nope
by kena10 Mar 30, 2006 4:20PM PST

you don't have to turn on the SSID broadcasting for the new laptop to find the connection. As long as you enter the settings correctly and the router's settings allow the laptop to connect, you shouldn't have to turn on the ssid broadcasting for the laptop to connect to your router.

Unless you have set the router to assign 2 live connections or to allow only specific mac addresses to connect to it (meaning, the one laptop and your desktop) then, that would be the reason why the new laptop couldn't connect.

Let us know if it worked.

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Beg to differ.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 30, 2006 9:45PM PST

I've found some new laptops won't automagically find the router without SSID enabled. There are pundits that tell all to turn it off but then again they expect the new owners to have a full set of both metric and english spanners. In other words not everyone wants to learn all about TCPIP.

Try the simplist things first. And then proceed to secure your network.

Bob

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Also, your new laptop should be updated
by Gakada Mar 31, 2006 5:20PM PST

for use with the security system (WEP, WPA, WPA2 etc.)

SSID name is only to broadcast (Announced) that you have a wireless connection.. it is NOT the main purpose of security.. it just like wearing a name tag (If you wear it, people will know your name, and if you take it off, people wouldn't now your name)

So, Enabled SSID Broadcast... disabled any security ..

get connected, then secure the network.

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