SSID: What Is It and How to Find It?

Posted on 5th February 2021

Follow @veepn

Wi-Fi entered modern life a long time ago. The SSID needs to be known to set up, connect, and operate on a wireless network. Any user of computers and mobile gadgets encounters it, regardless of the level of proficiency in modern technologies. Read more about what SSID is in this review.

What Is SSID?

If you search the Internet, you can find some information about the SSID, in particular:

SSID length – 32 bytes;
The name characterizes a detached network;
The identifier is usually represented by the letters of the human alphabet;
The sequence of characters includes each packet circulating inside.

Modems ignore the sending of other SSIDs, although they can see neighboring networks perfectly. Here the publicly available information is cut off. Let’s add a not obvious consequence of the current implementation of the standard: each network must have a unique SSID.

Violation of the rule prevents devices from correctly identifying the access point. Even if different router channels are manually set by the administrator, today’s modem must be able to form the original sequence. In addition to the proprietary abbreviation, the network name contains several digits of the MAC address, greatly reducing the possibility of conflicts.

Explanation of The Abbreviation

Literally, the abbreviation SSID stands for Service Set Identifier. This is the access point to which the connection is made.

As it is known, there is a personal identifier in each unit of almost all devices, both hardware and electronic-software. Of course, different standards are made for each type of equipment. The hardware responsible for the wireless network has more than one code. Depending on the complexity of collecting certain modules and feature sets, they use more than one such code. If the complexity of the scheme is increased, the pointers will be in all components. There is one code that is used as generic and has a MAC address. It is used to recognize the module, even when the IP addresses match.

All modules can create at least one more code – SSID. Simply put, it is a network ID. By the standard, it is set by the administrator when configuring the Wi-Fi SSID. But it is also possible to determine by automatic adjustment.

For quality work of each element, it is necessary that parameters coincided with all elements of cooperation. The standard code is limited to 32 characters.

Multi-SSID

You already know what the SSID of a Wi-Fi network is, so you can learn more information. For example, a TP-Link access point has a function called Multi. It allows you to broadcast 4 networks simultaneously. When using this function, the user can assign a VLAN ID to the selected Wi-Fi network code. This facilitates the use of any TP-Link access points when working with networks of different levels of capabilities.

ESSID and BSSID

This is the configuration of the infrastructure, which has the ability to work in roaming with mobile users. Several installed BSS is called the Extended Service Set (ESS). A user belonging to one of the ESS groups maintains communication between the BSS as long as there is a wired network connection. In addition, all ESS points must have the same ESS ID and the same radio channel.

Hidden SSID

Security is enhanced by a special SSID hiding function. This function hides the IDs of wireless connections. When using this configuration, access points will not be visible in the list as available networks on different equipment. However, a user who knows about this point and its code will be able to join it.

To make access points hidden, you need to activate a special function in the device configuration menu, and this is possible using the command line window CLI center. The web configurator, located on the Home Network page, has a special section, “Wi-Fi Wireless Network”. It is necessary to open “Advanced settings” and find the option “Hide SSID”. Click on the function and save.

As soon as this function starts working, the access point does not send its name and code. Only BSSID is broadcast. A client device with a configured connection will no longer connect automatically. For connection, you’ll need to add a specific network and specify a known SSID with security settings. A short time after this function is turned off, and the access point will be visible again.

How to Find Out the SSID of Wi-Fi?

To successfully use the connection, you first need to find out the SSID of the Wi-Fi network. If you connect a phone, tablet, computer, laptop, TV, or any other device, the name of the selected access current is an identifier. To find out the ID code, check your wireless settings, and find the necessary name. Depending on which operating system is installed, certain actions are taken.

Windows

To find out the Wi-Fi SSID in Windows, you need to:

Click on the special icon after opening the list of available connections;
Find the name you want in the popup window. “Connected” will be written next to the active network;
A full list of names will be displayed in the pop-up window. These are available networks to connect to.

Mac OS X

To find out the Wi-Fi SSID in Mac OS X, you’ll need to:

Click on the icon in the upper right corner. If another icon appears, select “Enable wireless network”;
To find a point, you need to find a tick. It is usually next to the active name;
All network names displayed on the screen are identifiers.

To find out the code, check the “Network Name” marking on the case. The ID provided by the router manufacturer cannot be determined if it is not accessible.

Tips for Users

We hope that you have already understood in detail what SSID is in router settings. However, it is still necessary to remember some nuances:

Android connects in the same way as a PC;
If there is a visible connection, it can be connected automatically;
You do not need to configure anything;
You must select a name from the available list and enter a password.

It should be noted that it is quite convenient to use special programs. For example, Android Wi-Fi Manager applications quickly and efficiently search for free access points. The Wi-Fi Key Recovery application can also be used by users. It securely remembers passwords previously entered on the device. Therefore, you don’t have to ask for a password every time. The program is turned on, the required access point is selected in the SSID field – and the password is displayed immediately.

In the case of a hidden access point, it is recommended that you find the router name, security key, and encryption type (if necessary). However, such protection can also be bypassed by using special programs. For example, the Wi-Fi Connection Manager works with hidden SSID networks. It scans all existing networks around, can connect a device to them, and allows you to manage them as a whole. Furthermore, it has many other additional features.

Thus, we recommend that you take into account the above recommendations. Thanks to them, you can easily find the SSID, learn how to properly connect and use it.