Bug 16782 - SB won't reconnect to hidden SSID after power cycle or reboot
: SB won't reconnect to hidden SSID after power cycle or reboot
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Product: SB Radio
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Connectivity (Wireless)
: Include FW version in comment
: PC Windows Vista
: P3 normal (vote)
: ---
Assigned To: Felix Mueller
:
Depends on:
Blocks:
  Show dependency treegraph
 
Reported: 2011-01-08 14:19 UTC by billp
Modified: 2011-04-17 21:17 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Category: Bug


Attachments
email thread with customer support prior to submitting this bug (105.20 KB, application/pdf)
2011-01-08 14:20 UTC, billp
Details

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Description billp 2011-01-08 14:19:05 UTC
SB Radio, FW version 7.5.1-r9218
After loosing AC power and turning the SB Radio back on again, it will not automatically reconnect to my home network.  It is WPA2 WiFi with a hidden SSID.  The SB remembers the WiFi SSID and its long 60+ character password  Every time I move the SB from one room to another I have to go through the network reconnect process, which is annoying and seems silly since the SB knows everything it needs to.  Customer Support tells me a non-hidden network will reconnect, so I am submitting this as a FW bug because there is no reason it shouldn't reconnect to either.

Customer Support suggested that I submit this here (email string attached). Thanks for your attention to this request. -- Bill P.
Comment 1 billp 2011-01-08 14:20:53 UTC
Created attachment 7075 [details]
email thread with customer support prior to submitting this bug
Comment 2 Felix Mueller 2011-03-17 06:29:39 UTC
Hi Bill

SB Radio should be able to (re-)connect to hidden SSIDs - at least that is what my tests show. Maybe there is another factor preventing your SB Radio to connect to the specific AP you are using?

- What is the model and settings of your AP?
- Does SB Radio reconnect ok if you (temporarily) unhide your SSID?

BTW: In your exchange with customer support your are stating the reason for hiding the SSID is security. Well, just as an information, hiding the SSID is not really helping security. Here is a randomly chosen articles about that:

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/04/21/wi-fi-mythbuster-do-not-hide-your-ssid/

Thanks
Felix
Comment 3 Felix Mueller 2011-03-18 00:45:01 UTC
Info from Bill via email:

Hi Felix,
Thanks for the info on SSID security.  After enabling the SSID the behavior
remains the same.  

The router is a LinkSys WRT54GL with DD-WRT burned into it:
	Firmware: DD-WRT v23 SP2 (09/15/06) std

Settings are:
Internet Connection Type: Disabled (there is a different router/firewall
connected to the internet)
STP Disabled (for Comcast ISP)
DHCP Server: Disabled
Operating Mode: Gateway (vs BGP, RIP2 Router, OSPF Router)
Wireless Mode: AP
Wireless Network Mode: Mixed (B/G)
Wireless SSID Broadcast: Disabled (also tried enabled, as discussed above)
Sensitivity Range (ACK Timing) 2000
Security Mode: WPA2 PSK Only, TKIP
WPA Shared Key: (63 characters alphanumeric with special characters)
Key Renewal Interval: 3600 Seconds
Authentication Type: Auto
AP Isolation: Disable
Preamble: Long (Default)
WMM Support: Disable
SPI Firewall: Enable
Block Anonymous Internet Requests: Enabled
Filter Multicast: Enabled
Filter NAT Redirection: Disabled
Filter IDENT Port 113: Enabled

My half dozen other wifi devices haven't ever had a problem with it.  Thanks
for taking a look.

Bill P
Comment 4 Felix Mueller 2011-03-18 00:48:25 UTC
Hi Bill,

Thanks for the information. Let's keep all comments attached to the bug. Maybe someone else has a good idea.

Hmm, that is strange, even with SSID enabled it won't work. Bummer.

Two additional questions:

- What wireless channel is your AP using? (I don't see this info in the list)
- Am I correct that the other router/firewall is serving IP addresses?

Thanks
Felix
Comment 5 billp 2011-03-28 18:15:09 UTC
(In reply to comment #4)
> - What wireless channel is your AP using? (I don't see this info in the list)
> - Am I correct that the other router/firewall is serving IP addresses?

Hi Felix,
The Wifi Channel is 3
And, yes, the home firewall is the DHCP server assigning IP addresses.  This firewall is a separate unit from the WiFi access point.
-- Bill
Comment 6 Felix Mueller 2011-04-07 09:23:44 UTC
Hi Bill

Channel 3 should be no issue, hmm, could you try with a factory reset device and a non hidden SSID? What I mean is unhide the SSID, then setup your device from scratch.

Other than that I do not have another idea at this point of tiem, sorry.

Felix
Comment 7 billp 2011-04-17 21:17:51 UTC
While trying setting up a second WRT54G node with DD-WRT using the default settings, I discovered that the problem has gone away.  The node with the default settings and the original untouched node both work.  The SB FW version has changed, and I assume that is the reason.
-- Original FW version 7.5.1-r9218 with problem
-- The Squeezebox was automatically updated (don't know when) to 7.5.4-r9408.
This new version works.  After disconnecting AC power and reconnecting the Squeezebox reconnects to the network and usually begins playing again.
Thanks to all who helped on this!  -- Bill P