Is Network SSID Broadcast Required?

If you have a wireless system and do not have ssid broadcasting, then you will not be able to see that router for connecting any thing

What does it matter that you are broadcasting the ssid, as if you have security enabled, then even if some one tryed to connect they would need the code and if you do not get it out then they will not be able to connect.

If you go into the dca setup menue, you should be able to enter in the same security information that you use on your computer and then plug the dec into the receiver.

btw--why do you need a security code 63 characters long?  I think that is way over kill

agreed.  if a hacker really wanted to "get in" to your network, I don't think that a 63 character  key would stop them (pentagon hack, remember?).  no need to over complicate things

Not broadcasting SSID is just one more layer of security. It's always easier to pick a network to target from a list of networks broadcasting SSIDs than to look for networks that may or may not be present before attacking anything. I've also seen "don't broadcast a SSID" as a pretty much standard comment when I read about security.

Granted, if a skilled hacker has a serious desire to get into my network they will. I just don't want to give them any help.

So the questions remains, "Should the DCA be able to connect to a network that is not broadcasting SSID?" All my other computers and my kids video games and iTouches have no problem at all connecting to the network when it's hidden.

it should.  when you are setting it up, it won't list your network name, but the last option is to type your SSID, then you are suppose to enter your password.  I don't think that you will be able to type your enormous password though.

You're right about the password. It won't let me type the whole thing in. I figure I SHOULD be able to connect by pressing the WPA buttons on the router and DCA even with the SSID not broadcasting. That's how I set it up WITH SSID broadcasting. In any case, if I stop broadcasting SSID, the DCA loses the network almost immediately.

I'll shorten the password if I need to, but I've never had a device that needed SSID broadcast after it had connected.

I DO know that my kids' iTouches will only find a network in the same state as it was in when they initially connected to it (broadcasting vs. not broadcasting) but the DCA doesn't behave like that.

you cannot change the SSID status once is configured.  you need to configure it with the SSID hidden

If you check out page 5 of this document, you see a section for advanced users.

http://hr20.dbstalk.com/docs/WDCCC_First_Look.pdf

It mentions connecting your PC to the device using ethernet cable. Then use your browser and go to:

http://169.254.1.100:8080.

The default
username is “admin” and the password is “admin.”

Well, it almost worked. The results were very sporadic. I managed to connect one time via the internal WPS connection. Unfortunately, it failed to reconnect after a power down and up.

Just to check, I changed my network password to a much shorter version. Even without broadcasting, that worked. I guess I'm too paranoid after all and I'll have to shorten the password.

Thanks for your help. At least we figured it out.

Awesome.   hackers are not interested in breaking to our networks.  Not much to gain, they usually target big corporations, (Sony?) where one break in can get them thousands of names along with their information.  we protect our networks, so your neighbors don't leech from your internet connection for free.  and a simple password, usually takes care of that.

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone!

you're welcome!