Hidden wireless networks are those networks which do not broadcast their Network ID (SSID). While not that many people use such networks, it definitely ads a bit more security to have your home wireless network hidden from unwanted guests. In this guide we will cover details you need to know in order to connect to such a network.
Details of the Hidden Wireless Network
Firstly you need to know all the connection details of the hidden wireless network you want to connect to. for this, you will need to open your router’s configuration page and then go to the Wireless configuration menu. note down the values for the Network ID (SSID) and Security fields. Depending on what type of security your wireless network carries and then you will need to note down the value of another fields:
- The WEP security - the value of the WEP Key field.
- The WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK(AES) security - the value of the Preshare Key field.
Now if you have all these three details, you must open the Network and Sharing Center: go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. In the Network and Sharing Center window you will see lots of shortcuts. Click on the one that says ‘Set up a new connection or network’.
The ‘Set Up a Connection or Network’ wizard will now start. From the list of available options, press ‘Manually connect to a wireless network’ and click on Next.
Fill up the details of the Wireless Network
Fill up all the fields shown in this window. The first one is called Network name. In it, type the name of the wireless network you want to connect to, which is the equivalent of the Network ID (SSID) field from your router’s wireless configuration menus.
The next field is the Security type used by your wireless network. If your wireless network has no security enabled, then select No authentication (Open) or depending on the type of security used, make the following selection:
- For WEP security - select WEP.
- For WPA-PSK security - select WPA-Personal.
- For WPA2-PSK(AES) security - select WPA2-Personal.
Once you done that, select the kind of encryption. If you are using WPA2-PSK(AES) security, make sure you select AES. Otherwise, leave the default value that Windows 7 gives you.
For WEP, WPA2 Personal and WPA Personal you will have to insert the security key:
- WEP security - the value of the WEP Key field.
- WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK(AES) security - the value of the Preshare Key field.
Check two boxes: ‘Start this connection automatically’ and ‘Connect even if the network is not broadcasting’. These two allow you to connect automatically to the hidden wireless network. Once all this is completed, press Next.
When done, you will see a message which says that you have successfully added the wireless network to your computer.
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