How to make a connection to an unknown/hidden WiFi network?

[amethyst]

My laptop has wifi builtin and I have connected to hotspots before so the interface is correct and it works. Now, my neighbour has a hotspot and I can pick it up. He says I can use it BUT he actually gave me a better alternative. So he said: here. use this unknown (hidden?) network, it will be faster. So he gave me a name and the password. So how the heck do I set it up with either SNS, Frisbee or Dougal's? It seems I need to scan networks first and then choose one to configure it. I can see two profiles by the names of x00x00.... Are these the unknown or hidden networks? How do I do this?

[Flash]

I'd pick one and try the password he gave you. If it doesn't work, try another network until you find one where the password works.

[bigpup]

So he gave me a name and the password

If it has a name.

When you do a scan.
Seems to me this name should show as one of the detected ones.

That is if it is in range to be detected by a scan.

Do you know if it is transmitting at 2.4GHz or 5GHz?

Can your WIFI hardware use whatever signal it uses?

I have one WIFI adapter that cannot use 5GHz signal only 2.4GHz.

If transmitting at 5GHz.
It has less range than 2.4GHz signal.
So may be too far away to be picked up by your WIFI hardware.
.
.

[amethyst]

Logic would suggest to me that you won't see the name, well, because it's unknown/hidden. So there must be a way to change the configuration on my side in some way to set up or identify the connection with the name and password he has given me. I can't see the name neither does the password work with any of the network names displayed. Surely, I must use the name he has given me somewhere (otherwise why would he give me the "hidden" name?). My guess is that it is one of the connections displayed as x00x00xoox but how do you configure/change that with the name he has given me to set it up from my side? Has nobody on here set up a hidden connection before, can't be that uncommon?

[geo_c]

You could try a tool called nmtui, which is a terminal gui, it allows you setup a connection then try and connect. It might already be installed. Just type nmtui in a terminal and see if it runs.

I've only used it a couple of times, but it works. Never tried with a hidden network.

[bigpup]

Never had to try connection to hidden network, but the stuff I have found about doing it says basically to do this.

Use Dougal's Network Wizard to setup a profile manually.

Do not use one of the ones that shows in a scan.

In the profile setup, manually setup a profile to use.

Enter the Network name, WiFi security type, and password.

Select use this profile.

[bigpup]

I also found this info:

I use the regular wizard and tell it to scan for networks. It finds the hidden ssid network and lists ESSID:"\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00" as the SSID.

Select that network for use, and when you are returned to config dialog, put the proper SSID in the SSID field, and save the config by an appropriate name.

[amethyst]

Some feedback. Couldn't get it going but my neighbour's son who is a computer wiz came over to have a look. Couldn't get it going either (could see he knows what he was doing, hitting the one command after the other in terminal for print outs), reckons my hardware is not quite up to the hidden technology stuff. So we went to the "normal" account showing up with the scan. Obviously that worked (as I knew it would work because I've used it before piggy-backing on an "open" server) but connection rather slow. So, I start moving the laptop around to check for better signal. Just unbelievable how important positioning is with wifi. I moved the laptop not more than 20cm to the right and the signal is almost twice as strong and I get quite a good speed now. So it didn't work out to bad in the end afterall, very usable. Now I can do more testing and download stuff. Yes, that x00.. was the hidden signal as I thought but we still couldn't get it set up with Dougal's.

[wizard]

On my Fossapup64 9.5 this is what works:
Menu>Setup>Internet Connection Wizard>Wired or wireless LAN>Network Setup Wizard>wlan0>Wireless
-click: Scan
-select: \x00 (this is the hidden wifi)
-click:OK

Screenshot(3).jpg (30.49 KiB) Viewed 736 times

-ignore: Select a profile to load

Replace: \x00 with the SSID name.
-Profile Name = SSID name
-ESSID = SSID name
-click: WPA2 (or the routers encryption type)
-Shared Key = wifi password
-click: Save
-click: Use This Profile

You should get a connection confirmation
-click: Auto DHCP

Connection should be complete

wizard

[amethyst]

@wizard
Brilliant mate, got it to work. I did all these steps before but somehow did not get the sequence right (neither did the computer wiz). Now is there a very quick way to start this connection, I still need to do a few steps everytime despite having saved the profile?

[wizard]

It should automatically connect if you chose that after the setup, otherwise you should find it in the "Select a profile to load" drop down.

wizard

[bigpup]

Is it the default connection?

Puppy will automatically use what the default connection is.
This you should have set when you finished the setup and closed the Network Manager.
Should have seen a screen giving you the choice to make it default.

If you want to use a different connection.

You do need to go into setup and select the different connection.

[amethyst]

Is it the default connection?

Puppy will automatically use what the default connection is.
This you should have set when you finished the setup and closed the Network Manager.
Should have seen a screen giving you the choice to make it default.

If you want to use a different connection.

You do need to go into setup and select the different connection.

Dougal's need extra steps to make the connection whether default or not (in Bionic 32 anyway). Unfortunately I have to use Dougal's with this hidden network. For "nomal" hotspots, the connecion connects immediately and automatically with SNS and Frisbee once a profile is set up.

[rerwin]

@amethyst,

The latest version of SNS, 3.x at:
viewtopic.php?p=2241#p2241
also handles hidden networks.

If you see multiple hidden networks, get the MAC address of the hidden network you seek, so you can choose the right one.

Just supply the SSID and password when prompted. It should also connect upon reboot, like any other SSID.

Richard

[amethyst]

@amethyst,

The latest version of SNS, 3.3.x at:
viewtopic.php?p=2241#p2241
also handles hidden networks.

If you see multiple hidden networks, get the MAC address of the hidden network you seek, so you can choose the right one.

Just supply the SSID and password when prompted. It should also connect upon reboot, like any other SSID.

Richard

Thanks, I'll try the newest version of SNS if I encounter problems (running Fossa9.5 and that included SNS does not work, it's maybe the older one). Dougal's working just fine at the moment and also connects upon reboot.