inSSIDer - Strange SSID "Unknown, Adhoc"

#1 (**permalink**) 05-03-2009, 02:59 AM

Hello,

I have a Cisco 877W (ADVIPSERVICESK9-M), Version 12.4(15)T7 and a
Toshiba Laptop with an Intel
Wireless Interface - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG. The
laptop runs Vista.
Toshiba A200-27U
Model No. PSAE6E

I look around occasionally with inSSIDer and from time
to time see a very strange SSID indicated. I understand
that inSSIDer gets its information from the Vista driver
and sure enough :-
c:\>netsh
wlan

netsh wlan>show networks mode=Bssid
(plain show networks is similar with less detail)

gives me :-
(note SSID name should be after "SSID 3 : "
as can be seen in subsequent examples.)

SSID 3 :
Network type : Adhoc
Authentication : Open
Encryption : None
BSSID 1 : 00:00:00:00:00:00
Signal : 99%
Radio Type : Any Radio Type
Channel : 13
Basic Rates (Mbps) :

This is consistent with inSSIDer except that inSSIDer
shows channel 0. Which does not exist. inSSIDer
says SSID "Unknown".

The signal strength is the same as that indicated for
my Access Point which is in the same room.
inSSIDER says RSSI -50. Also the ONLY AP
nearby that is using channel 13 is my own one.
Chanel 13 is legal in the UK. 1-13 are allowed.
No one else uses it so I do.

Anyone any ideas? Note that inSSIDer does not
always show this "rogue" Unknown SSID.

Is my PC opening an Adhoc network to anyone who
happens along?

My Cisco router's entry is:

SSID 2 : bod43
Network type : Infrastructure
Authentication : WPA-Personal
Encryption : TKIP
BSSID 1 : 00:19:56:95:xx:xx
Signal : 99%
Radio Type : 802.11g
Channel : 13
Basic Rates (Mbps) : 1 2
Other Rates (Mbps) : 12 18 24 36 48 54
## I have changed the allowed rates for my own purpose.
## Basically, if at long range use 2M and stick to it
## which I find more reliable than letting it wander.

Another local AP:

SSID 1 : O2wirelessEExxxx
Network type : Infrastructure
Authentication : Open
Encryption : WEP
BSSID 1 : 00:90:d0:f2:xx:xx
Signal : 13%
Radio Type : 802.11g
Channel : 1
Basic Rates (Mbps) : 1 2 5.5 11
Other Rates (Mbps) : 6 9 12 18 24 36 48 54

Thanks.

#2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2009, 03:34 PM

On 03/05/2009 02:59, bod43 wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a Cisco 877W (ADVIPSERVICESK9-M), Version 12.4(15)T7 and a
> Toshiba Laptop with an Intel
> Wireless Interface - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG. The
> laptop runs Vista.
> Toshiba A200-27U
> Model No. PSAE6E
>
> I look around occasionally with inSSIDer and from time
> to time see a very strange SSID indicated. I understand
> that inSSIDer gets its information from the Vista driver
> and sure enough :-
> c:\>netsh
> wlan
>
> netsh wlan>show networks mode=Bssid
> (plain show networks is similar with less detail)
>
> gives me :-
> (note SSID name should be after "SSID 3 : "
> as can be seen in subsequent examples.)
>
> SSID 3 :
> Network type : Adhoc
> Authentication : Open
> Encryption : None
> BSSID 1 : 00:00:00:00:00:00
> Signal : 99%
> Radio Type : Any Radio Type
> Channel : 13
> Basic Rates (Mbps) :
>
> This is consistent with inSSIDer except that inSSIDer
> shows channel 0. Which does not exist. inSSIDer
> says SSID "Unknown".
>
> The signal strength is the same as that indicated for
> my Access Point which is in the same room.
> inSSIDER says RSSI -50. Also the ONLY AP
> nearby that is using channel 13 is my own one.
> Chanel 13 is legal in the UK. 1-13 are allowed.
> No one else uses it so I do.
>
> Anyone any ideas? Note that inSSIDer does not
> always show this "rogue" Unknown SSID.
>
> Is my PC opening an Adhoc network to anyone who
> happens along?

My understanding of Vista ad-hoc networking:-
1. You need an SSID or it won't create or join a network.
2. Unless you save the ad-hoc network details then when you stop using
the ad-hoc capability or move out of range of the network you have been
connected to then the ad-hoc details are removed.

I doubt that your wireless card can receive and transmit at the same
time so I would be curious how your card could receive a transmission
from itself.

It's not something I can repeat with Inssider ver 1.1.1.0318.
I also tried putting my adapter in ad-hoc mode and running Inssider and
apart from seeing fewer AP's I did not pick an ad-hoc network.

Were you running the Proset s'ware to control the Intel card or just
using Vista?

#3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 05:03 AM

On 3 May, 15:34, LR <l...@privacy.net> wrote:
> On 03/05/2009 02:59, bod43 wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hello,
> > I look around occasionally with inSSIDer and from time
> > to time see a very strange SSID indicated. I understand
> > that inSSIDer gets its information from the Vista driver
> > and sure enough :-
> > c:\>netsh
> > wlan
>
> > netsh wlan>show networks mode=Bssid
> > (plain show networks is similar with less detail)
>
> > gives me :-
> > (note SSID name should be after "SSID 3 : "
> > * as can be seen in subsequent examples.)
>
> > SSID 3 :
> > * * *Network type * * * * * *: Adhoc
> > * * *Authentication * * * * *: Open
> > * * *Encryption * * * * * * *: None
> > * * *BSSID 1 * * * * * * * * : 00:00:00:00:00:00
> > * * * * * Signal * * * * * * : 99%
> > * * * * * Radio Type * * * * : Any Radio Type
> > * * * * * Channel * * * * * *: 13
> > * * * * * Basic Rates (Mbps) :
>
> > This is consistent with inSSIDer except that inSSIDer
> > shows channel 0. Which does not exist. inSSIDer
> > says SSID "Unknown".

>
> My understanding of Vista ad-hoc networking:-
> 1. You need an SSID or it won't create or join a network.
> 2. Unless you save the ad-hoc network details then when you stop using
> the ad-hoc capability or move out of range of the network you have been
> connected to then the ad-hoc details are removed.

I have never configured ad-hoc networking. I only have one PC.

> I doubt that your wireless card can receive and transmit at the same
> time so I would be curious how your card could receive a transmission
> from itself.
>
> It's not something I can repeat with Inssider ver 1.1.1.0318.

That's the one I have - it upgraded itself the other week.
I am convinced it is not an artefact of inssider since
it is visible in netsh too. I will have a look in the registry,
maybe there is some stub configuration there. If it
is not all too obscure to understand.

> Were you running the Proset s'ware to control the Intel card or just
> using Vista?

All the default as it came from Toshiba which seems to use
Vista - no sign of Intel (or Toshiba) wireless software, but
I am not an expert really.

As I said the weird thing is that the mysterious SSID is not always
there.

I might try to write it down when it happens to see if I can
find a pattern.

thanks.