WiFi connect to Hidden SSID anyone know how ?

[narxis]

For security reasons I switch off SSID broadcast on my WiFi router, this wasnt a problem on my HTC Hermes, but the nokia seems unable to find an AP with SSID broadcast disabled.

Anyone know whether its possible or not ? Would prefer not to broadcast my AP to the neighbourhood!

[pseudofinn]

Is that AP already permanently setup on your N95, or do you scan for it everytime you want to connect to the wifi?

[narxis]

Ive defined it in the AP section (SSID, password, etc)
and its listed as 'Known' when its visible, works fine with SSID broadcast on, but dissapears as soon as I turn it off.

Cheers

[andykn]

For security reasons I switch off SSID broadcast on my WiFi router, this wasnt a problem on my HTC Hermes, but the nokia seems unable to find an AP with SSID broadcast disabled.

Anyone know whether its possible or not ? Would prefer not to broadcast my AP to the neighbourhood!

From the troubleshooting section of the users guide:

"Q: Why can't I see a wireless LAN (WLAN) access point even though I know I'm within its range?
A: The WLAN access point may use a hidden service set
identifier (SSID). You can only access networks that use a hidden SSID if you know the correct SSID, and have created a WLAN Internet access point for the network on your Nokia device."

So it should work.

[narxis]

Yeah thats what I thought. Im wondering if theres some trick to getting it to find the AP, I tried going into the AP section and looking for a 'connect' option but there isn't one

There is even a setting 'Hidden' to tell the phone that the AP is not broadcasting SSID. Maybe its a bug ?

[cobra111]

Is the handset using generic or operator firmware and would it be possible to test with another router?

[narxis]

Its an O2 handset, so im not sure how many tweaks have been made aside from the operator graphics etc. I'll see if I can try it with another router

[Joscwy]

I too am having issues with this and have such just not used the wifi in my home. every now and then my 95 see's the network, but then cannot connect to it. Its odd.

[gadgetman]

I had to enable mine, set up on the phone and add the MAC to the router, then disable. Works fine now. Same setup issue with my N80 IIRC.

[Ritz009]

I am facing similar problem with HIDDEN WLANS

When I go to Tools > WLAN Wizard, I see Hidden WLAN for which I have created an Access Point.

But when I go to Web Browser and it Searches for APs and finds nothing !!

Somebody in this forum said that after installing Gizmo everything went right, I dont want to install other stuff once I already use VOIPCheap.

Please HELP Admins !!!

[blakpearl]

I too have intermittent problems with hidden SSID. I assumed that is was due to the problem with my old Netgear router.

[intel]

This worked for me:
Changed the Network Status to 'hidden' in the Access Points settings in the phone.

[shaffee]

Yeah I have found that even when I have the Hidden AP set on the N95, I still have to manually enter it in every time I want to connect to it...I have v.11 still ... maybe it's fixed on v.12 as it had many WLAN fixes...

[intel]

I sometimes need to cancel and retry one or two times to get my hidden accesspoint listed.

[Ritz009]

Yeah I have found that even when I have the Hidden AP set on the N95, I still have to manually enter it in every time I want to connect to it...I have v.11 still ... maybe it's fixed on v.12 as it had many WLAN fixes...

I am sorry to say that it has not been fixed in v12 also.

[geoffbaker]

Yeah I have found that even when I have the Hidden AP set on the N95, I still have to manually enter it in every time I want to connect to it...I have v.11 still ... maybe it's fixed on v.12 as it had many WLAN fixes...

I had the same problem to start. I had to enable the ssid, then connect, set up all settings, and then disable. Now it works fine. I've done the same with a netgear and a buffalo router, no problem using hidden ssid, wep and mac filtering. The trick ( I think) is to get it set up as a public ssid, make sure everything works two or three times, then hide the ssid.

I've done this successfully with three different wlans - my home, and two office wlans I consult for. No problems.

[Ritz009]

I had the same problem to start. I had to enable the ssid, then connect, set up all settings, and then disable. Now it works fine. I've done the same with a netgear and a buffalo router, no problem using hidden ssid, wep and mac filtering. The trick ( I think) is to get it set up as a public ssid, make sure everything works two or three times, then hide the ssid.

I've done this successfully with three different wlans - my home, and two office wlans I consult for. No problems.

I tried this at my home Setup by turning SSID Broadcast off which I have been using since ages. Even that trick didn't work.

I am using a Belkin 54g rotuer which works perfectly otherwise whence I had the SSID Broadcast.

Please help... : pray :

[geoffbaker]

I tried this at my home Setup by turning SSID Broadcast off which I have been using since ages. Even that trick didn't work.

I am using a Belkin 54g rotuer which works perfectly otherwise whence I had the SSID Broadcast.

Please help... : pray :

You should turn SSID broadcast ON.

Get everything set up, then turn off.

Apart from that, are you using MAC filtering and encrypting using WEP? Is it open or shared? If so, I'd shut those off, set up a publicly available, unencrypted, unprotected network with no Mac filtering, set to 'open', not 'shared'. Do that, then tell me if you can get the N95 onto it.

If you can get the n95 onto the network, do it several times. Make sure you've saved the access point.

Then add back each element, one at a time, and make sure each time it is working correctly.

The problem is that there are just a lot of settings that have to match.

Good luck.

Another route is rather than let the n95 find the network, just go to Tools > Settings > Connections > Access Points, and select New. Then manually enter all the info for your (open) network and then try to access it.

If that's successful , add back the security...

[geoffbaker]

I tried this at my home Setup by turning SSID Broadcast off which I have been using since ages. Even that trick didn't work.

I am using a Belkin 54g rotuer which works perfectly otherwise whence I had the SSID Broadcast.

Please help... : pray :

You should turn SSID broadcast ON.

Get everything set up, then turn off.

Apart from that, are you using MAC filtering and encrypting using WEP? Is it open or shared? If so, I'd shut those off, set up a publicly available, unencrypted, unprotected network with no Mac filtering, set to 'open', not 'shared'. Do that, then tell me if you can get the N95 onto it.

If you can get the n95 onto the network, do it several times. Make sure you've saved the access point.

Then add back each element, one at a time, and make sure each time it is working correctly.

The problem is that there are just a lot of settings that have to match.

Good luck.

Another route is rather than let the n95 find the network, just go to Tools > Settings > Connections > Access Points, and select New. Then manually enter all the info for your (open) network and then try to access it.

If that's successful , add back the security...

[Ritz009]

As suggested, with broadcasting ON, I disabled Security, MAP/IP Filtering, & Firewall and then used the features - WLAN Wizard, Internet Phone and Web Browser. Everything worked as expected.

To test the real part, I turned OFF the broadcasting of the SSID. Then WLAN wizard showed Hidden WLAN from which I created an AP and it showed that AP is valid.

Internet Phone didn't list that in WLAN section but gave an option to use Hidden Lan, if I used the option and got connected to my SIP provider, WLAN connected icon came on main screen along with internet phone. And then when I started browsing it showed me an AP of hodden wlan.
But when I disconnected the Internet Phone, browser didnt list that AP. So I am struck at the same problem.

Is it some bug, I am using Nokia N95(01.01) at v12.

Anyways thanks for helping my out..

[Ritz009]

Any leads...

[bkstagekwk]

Not sure if I am just prolonging the thread.
But if anyone out there is running this setup...
Phone: N95-3 v10.2.0 (I know... JUST got it though!!)
Router: Linksys WR54G

Searched the forum (trying to get in that habit).
Found this particular thread.

Entered my MAC address of the N95-3 into my MAC filter table on the router.
Enabled the SSID broadcast of the router (to unhide).
Scanned for networks on the N95-3
Found my home network.
Once it was established on the phone, I set my SSID broadcast back to disabled (to hide the SSID).
As many of you have experienced, the N95-3 would not find the network.

Menu>>Tools>>Settings>>Connection>>Access Points...

scrolled to my home network in the list.
Options>>Edit>>Network Status...
change from Public to Hidden.

Voila!
Finds it everytime for me.

************edit now it stops finding the home network****************

Keep in mind that with that particular firmware for the router, I have increades my Transmit Power from the default 28mW to 100mW. At this power, I am still 100% strength on the N95-3 all the way to my mailbox (approx. 50ft and through one exterior wall). I haven't even done the mod to increase the N95-3's power nor have I bumped up my router to it's maximum transmit power of 251mW!!!

As I am quite new to the forum, please excuse me if my format for the menu links (...>>...>>) is incorrect. I learn more and more from your guys each day. Thanks to all!

[N95noM8s]

After spending ages suffering the same issue, found I had to go to the Web application settings and actually tell it to use my predefined hidden AP. I then put a shortcut to google in the standby application settings for quick access. Clicking on that launches the browser, uses the predefined AP and opens your homepage (google in my case). Oddly, scanning for wireless networks still fails to bring up the hidden one, unless it has already been used in the current session. Oh, I'm using the N95 8gig, if it makes any difference. Good luck

[Homer]

Internet Phone didn't list that in WLAN section but gave an option to use Hidden Lan, if I used the option and got connected to my SIP provider, WLAN connected icon came on main screen along with internet phone. And then when I started browsing it showed me an AP of hodden wlan.
But when I disconnected the Internet Phone, browser didnt list that AP. So I am struck at the same problem.

Is it some bug, I am using Nokia N95(01.01) at v12.

It's a feature.

I think I know why it happens.

When you start browsing, the phone looks for available access points and displays only the WLANs it can see (even if you have one defined).

The solution is to not hide your SSID, it's pretty pointless as a security measure and only causes problems with people around you trying to pick a spare channel.

[drpaulos]

I did have the problem with v12 on the N95-1, but since loading v20 the phone remembers various hidden wireless networks, and shows them as available when in range.

DrPaulos

[BlackPandora]

I believed its very buggy when it comes to defining a hidden wlan, but I did managed to get it to work. Before I start, i had the AP defined on the phone since my router was set to SSID broadcast. After turning SSID was turned off, it took me several tries to get it to work.

You just do the search and located the Hidden WLAN when it pops up. Then it should tell you that no Hidden WLAN is available. Then it should give you the option "New WLAN". Select it, the put in your router info. It should tell you that the AP exist, which it does. Click yes, and everything should work like a normal AP.

[john_g]

I had this problem but solved it by following the same steps as bkstagekwk, except that, for me at least, the access points list is entered by pressing Menu>>Settings>>Connection>>Access points.

Just set up the connection with the SSID shown and then set the router to hide the SSID and follow the steps described by bkstagekwk:

"Menu>>Tools>>Settings>>Connection>>Access Points...

scrolled to my home network in the list.
Options>>Edit>>Network Status...
change from Public to Hidden.

Voila!
Finds it everytime for me."

[garyagh]

I had this problem but solved it by following the same steps as bkstagekwk, except that, for me at least, the access points list is entered by pressing Menu>>Settings>>Connection>>Access points.

Just set up the connection with the SSID shown and then set the router to hide the SSID and follow the steps described by bkstagekwk:

"Menu>>Tools>>Settings>>Connection>>Access Points...

scrolled to my home network in the list.
Options>>Edit>>Network Status...
change from Public to Hidden.

Voila!
Finds it everytime for me."

I don't seem to have these settings on my 8gb version? Anyone help?