This article explains how to connect to a non-broadcasting wireless network from Windows 7.


A non-broadcasting wireless network doesn’t advertise its network name, or SSID. You can configure a wireless access point of a non-broadcasting wireless network to send Beacon frames with an SSID set to NULL. A non-broadcasting wireless network is also known as a hidden wireless network.


You can configure wireless networks in Windows 7 as broadcast or non-broadcast. A computer running Windows 7 will attempt to connect to wireless networks in the preferred networks list order, regardless of whether they’re broadcast or non-broadcast. Additionally, non-broadcast networks appear last in the list of available networks with the name Other Network. Figure 13 shows an example.


Figure 13 A non-broadcast wireless network.

Figure 13 A non-broadcast wireless network.

When you connect to the Other Network, Windows 7 prompts you to specify the wireless network name (SSID). Figure 14 shows an example.


Figure 14 Typing the name of a non-broadcast wireless network.

Figure 14 Typing the name of a non-broadcast wireless network.



Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff847520.aspx