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Good PDA Wi-Fi Signal Strength Locator?
Tark asks: "I have been tasked with creating a reliable, portable 802.11b signal strength indicator. I have looked over various PDA's, and have narrowed it down to two: the Sharp's Zaurus 5500 Linux PDA, and the HP iPAQ 2215 Pocket PC. I have chosen these due to the fact they both support cf and sd slots. Which of these 2 PDA's will provide a reliable solution for detecting an 802.11b signal, and which wi-fi card should I use with the PDA? Also, is there a CompactFlash wi-fi card that supports a external antenna connection?"
... when you're done war-driving?
"Derp de derp."
you have software?
I have similar app based on a hacked-up version of kismet running on the Zaurus, it works okay. What sort of stuff is available for the ipaq? I love the Zaurus because I can code in Java, C++, Perl, Ruby, Python, Shell scripts, etc., and I can use CVS to sync up code to my development workstation.
I have a Linksys WFC12 card and it worked great for a while then crapped out (acts really flakey). So I'd recommend against Linksys especially since I have a WET11 bridge that stopped working one day also!
... as long as they can run linux. Then you have the many and varied linux apps available for precisely your purpose. Oh, and I'd go for a prism2 based card, if that's an option.
While not the best card in the world, it does work (And is supported in linux if you want to run that on your PDA) and has an external antenna connection available with little modding. The D-Link DCF-660W has an antenna connector right under the plastic cover.
It's a CF card, so it will work in your mentioned PDAs. Just pop the plastic off, figure out what the heck that connector is, and hook up your pringles can.
Why PDA? Why not use this?
Kensington has a simple product that will find 802.11b and g signals and let you know strength.
WiFi Finder
Priced online from $20-$30.
- (c) 2018 Hank Zimmerman
All from the Zaurus Software Index
;)
Google is your friend.
Wireless LAN Monitor
Wellenreiter II
Kismet
Kismet w/GUI
Discoverer
ZNetMeter
WirelessApplet
If you's like more research done, let's discuss hourly rates.
Your comment has too few characters per line (currently 8.9).
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
http://www.killefiz.de/zaurus/showdetail.php?app=3 45
Insert pithy comment here.
Since slashdot's editors will probably not publish my latest AskSlashdot I'm going to do it here instead. Is there such a thing as a Star Trek communicator cellphone?
Yes, head on over to Toys R Us. Hope it looks good next to your tricorder.
Also there's Start Trak porn, for the well-rounded nerd. (Really: Sexy Trek. Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just....)
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
Ministumbler is a CE version of Netstumbler that runs great on my iPaq. You can even have it dynamically hop between the strongest AP's to - it reconfigures your card settings.
I use a PCMCIA card, but i would probably recommend the CF card option, since they use less power.
There are 01 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary, and me.
The Zaurus SL-5500 is awesome. Being worried about battery life, I opted to purchase the Socket brand low power CF WiFi Card. The card works great for "normal" usage. It does not work with Kismet or Discoverer (or I could not get it to work).
Well, I'm posting this on a Zaurus, and a few clicks tell me that the WiFi signal strength of my home network is holding up at 130 to noise 11, with a quality of 52. Switching over to Kismet I can see one other network, which is atypical in my building at this hour.
:)
So, yeah, it's pretty easy on a Zaurus if a guy sitting on his living room couch watching the ballgame can do it while simultaneously posting to Slashdot
At work, our wireless networking people use laptops with wireless cards and (sometimes) GPS units attached. They change the BIOS so that the machines stay on with the lid closed, throw the laptop in a backpack, then go for a leisurely walk.
Why spend money on a single-purpose PDA with hard-to-find software?
Forward, retransmit, or republish anything I say here. Just don't misquote me.
Do a Google search on "speaker bracelet". Sounds like what you're looking for.
Saw this in the back of PopSci, may be what you need and more.
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
I have a Zaurus 5500 and a Linksys WCF12. While driving to work a sometimes leave Wellenreiter running, logging whatever networks I run across. Most of my trip is on highways and I pick up at least 20 networks that are at least 100m away from the highway. If I leave Wellenreiter running at the default channel hop delay of 100ms it gets warm after running for 30 minutes continuously so I set it to 1000ms insead. I run openzaurus 3.2 upgraded to Opie 1.0. OZ comes with the HostAP drivers and the WCF12 is a Prism2 chipset so I guess eventually it will be able to work as an access point. I do recommend the Zaurus but it will take a little work to get a good war-driving rig set up.
Just remember
Sharp Zaurus 5500
Linksys WCF12
Openzaurus 3.2
Opie 1.0
Wellenreiter
I Don't Work Here
I personally own an iPaq, and I'm very happy with it (good price, refurbished off eBay) Complaints = Backlight has a mind of its own, I've hard the stylus latch is not to quality, but I losy my stilii, so no problem. As far as both CF and SD, I have a CF expansion pack and my 3835 has onboard SD. Wi-Fi finder? I really don't know; I haven't tried a Zaurus out. However, my device driver/manager has a signal strength checker bult in, but a utility called WINC is also available; it's more powerful, but costs money, and I'm not sure it would work on a Linux device. As far as the cards are concerned, i use a Pharos 802.11b card thet I found for around $40 on eBay, but most tend to go for more. I've had no problems with it yet. External antenna? Goodness, man get a laptop! Or just move closer to the signal! It's portable! Haha, well I've yet to see one. You'd likely have to mod it yourself, and considering that these are expensive and small, I'm unwilling to try it on mine. Maybe a weekend project? Also, keep in mind that at least one SD WiFi card exists, even a combo with storage, too, but they are very expensive (a little less than I paid for my whole device) na di"m not sure how well it would work. The other disadvantage is thet you'd be hard pressed to find a used one.
Your way, where exactly would reinventing the wheel come in?! Must you really expose the fact that this company is prepared to shell out development money without even doing a quick Usenet search? Please, your MANNERS!
pocketwarrior
When I first saw this, I started to do the "who needs a USB LED light?" kind of groan until the idea started to grow on me.
Kensington wifi finder
It's a small dedicated wifi finder/key fob.
The reason i am needing this is for doing site surveys -for fixed wireless installs-, a laptop is too cumbersom to hold with a antenna at the same time. Thanks for all the feedback.
Tark
Why don't you just get a Kensington WiFi Finder
for 16 to 20 bucks
described thusly
The only WiFi detector on the market today Completely hassle free --
no more booting up your notebook to find a WiFi signal Detects most
available WiFi networks with the press of a button Three lights
indicate signal strength Compact and lightweight - fits in your
pocket. Detects 802.11b and most 802.11b/g signals from up to 200
feet away Filters out other wireless signals, including cordless
phones, microwave ovens and Bluetooth networks No software or
computer required
Out of curiosity, why did the Palm Tungsten C not make the list? It's got built in WiFi and the OS has a build in strength meter. There is a GPS solution for it as well, although I doubt there's hotspot mapping software yet (if that was your need).
The only problem that I have found is that the pre-installed Netfront browser can not open new browser windows, so I get error messages every time I am supposed to see a pop-up. Does anyone know how to allow more windows to open? Can Palm multi-task at all? Is there an alternate browser for my Palm that would work better for me? Thanks in advace.
I don't keep a lid on my coffee so when I walk around I look busy -me
Would be more interesting if a gps locator can be hooked to one of these PDAs, using a microdrive and hopefully running Linux, so you could throw the thing in a mailman's vehicle and get a geographical map of hotspots. I wonder if it would be small enough to strap on a stray cat, get a really detailed map, or that slutty girl down the street, get a REALLY detailed map of the whole city. Dont get too involved strapping it on her though.
"Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
It shows signal strength, MAC address and if WEP is enabled.
Kensingtion WiFi Locator
Not very sophisticated but super-quick and easy!
I have this combo running Windows Mobile 2003. It's not the best hardware for this job, but I can report my results. So far Pocket WinC and Boingo work with 2003. Others are supposed to be working on 2003 compatibility too. I haven't compared first hand, but the forums on Aximsite say the Dell TM1180 has shit for range but it's efficient with power. CF wifi cards are less powerful than PCMCIA, but it seems the Dell is the worst of the lot. If you need range, they sell a CF-PCMCIA adapter for PDAs. It'll stick out 5 inches out the top of the PDA, but that's not a problem if you're wardriving or put it in a bag. You should also check the power consumption so you don't overload your CF slot.
From the site (which is slow right now):
e t/yellowjacket.htm
Yellowjacket(TM) is a wireless receiver module designed to work with Compaq's iPAQ(R) PDA in sweeping, analyzing and optimizing 2.4 GHz W-LANs and WISPs. The receiver measures all 14 DSSS network channels operating on the IEEE 802.11b standard allowing the user to determine the AP (Access Point), PER (Packet Error Rate), Multipath (Ec/Io), SSID and RSSI (narrow and wideband) signal levels of any Access Point and Client STA. Yellowjacket(TM) allows those familiar with the iPAQ's PocketPC(R) interface a unique advantage over "software only" products currently available because Yellowjacket(TM) functions as a complete WLAN analysis system combining the elegant PocketPC(R) Windows CE(R) environment along with Berkeley's precision calibrated receiver technology.Yellowjacket(TM) is also fully compliant with Bird's Eye Indoor Mapping Software so users may also create, edit and analyze indoor W-LANs where GPS reception is not possible.
http://www.bvsystems.com/Products/WLAN/Yellowjack
Airmagnet sounds like what you're looking for. Head over to www.airmagnet.com
If you want a complete solution including site survey capabilities, security audits, etc then the best solution I have seen is airmagnet's handheld solution. It worked well even in Cisco Aironet's office which is possibly the most wifi busy location on the planet. I would definitly suggest you take a look.
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
The PDA is fast and powerful (400 MHz ARM + 64 MB RAM) and NetChaser (http://www.bitsnbolts.com/netchaser.html) is cheap ($10), robust, and under active development. I warwalk/wardrive with this combo all the time and it works like a champ.
Having been a patron of hand-held wireless devices for a long time. I must say, after I got my TabletPC, I'll never go to a Palm-sized pocket PC.
Besides, the tablet offers much more flexibility. The processor is an x86 compatible, the operating system is XP or can be replaced easily with Linux, the weight is just under 1.5 pounds, and the best part, it features a built-in 802.11 device, and your desktop apps work without any problem.
I currently use Netstumbler and it suits most of my needs to "audit" the airspace around me, and it works great (specialy when I combine a USB GPS)
.