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If you're lucky enough to be walking around with a Verizon Mi-Fi in your pocket, it would be a good idea to turn off broadcasting the network name. It's just an added security precaution so the casual user doesn't see your SSID (network name) pop up when he turns on his wireless-capable device near you.

How do you turn off broadcasting your Mi-Fi's SSID?

• Launch a browser on your Mi-Fi-connected device (iPhone or computer).
• Type in 192.168.1.1 in the address line and click Go (press Enter, whatever!).
• The Mi-Fi's status page will appear. You need to login with your admin password to make any changes.
• Type in your admin password in the upper right corner.
• Click the Login button.
• Choose Settings from the Advanced menu at the top (in the red menu bar area).
• Under Access Point, uncheck the setting "SSID broadcast enable".
• Click the Apply button.

That's all. Now you'll have to type in your SSID on your computer/iPhone/iPad the first time you want to join the network. (Some devices will always keep track of it and hop back on it. Others will force you to retype it every time.)

Needless to say, you also need to turn on security (WPA2 preferred, if your wireless cards can handle it).

• Verizon Novatel 2200 Mi-Fi Tutorial (Flash-based video from Verizon)
• Checking data usage
• How to remain under the 5gb limit
• Boosting the Mi-Fi's signal
• Locating cell towers (not a simple task!)
• Access the Mi-Fi admin page
• What does 5gb get you?