2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer

[jbritt1234]

Just read about the Wi-Spy, a $99 2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer for Windows that looks pretty darn useful. Not only scans for other access points, but microwaves, cordless phones, baby monotors or whatever. Then you can choose the least cluttered channel.

I think something like this would be great for a home or office. I live in a condo on a hill and I pick up like 6 AP's at least most of the time. I have chosen a different channel, but I still have intermittent problems.

The Wi-Spy is hardware based, anybody know if this can be done software only? Preferably for Windows.

Any ideas?

 

[nweaver]

quick answer: yes. many wireless cards can report things like channel load, noise, etc.

full answer: getting that data is rough. I would use Netstumbler to find the best channel.

 

[Brentx]

If you know anything about Linux, there is a program out there called Kismet which does pretty much the same exact thing as Wi-Spy, except it is open source. However, you have to have a supported WiFi card, preferrabley something based on the Atheros or RaLink chipsets.

 

[jbritt1234]

Ug, been out with the flue for days... Thanks for the response guys.

nweaver, Netstumbler is great, but only shows the channels used by other WAP's, not all the other 2.4 GHz crap. (or does it?)

Brentx, i've heard of Kismet, but never used it. May have to load up Linux and try it out if I have a supported card. Thanks!

 

[nweaver]

Netstumbler doesn't show everything, but most enterprise cards support checking channel load, noise, beacons, etc. If you know how, you can get this data. It's the same data/way that the cisco WLSE server does radio measurements and monitoring

 

[jbritt1234]

I don't know how to get it, that's pretty much what I'm asking. I have a WMP54GS at home, I kinda doubt that fits in the "enterprise card" section?

 

[nweaver]

as far as reporting, most broadcoms, all intels, and many Atheros based cards support this RM. You have to have an AP that supports sending RM requests, and then you have to parse the hex that's returned into something usable. The only AP I know that does this (it's what we use) is the Cisco 1200 series. You set it up for WDS, enable debuging for.... w a r p (don't remember what that all stands for atm) and then send the request "Test aprm rmreq client xxxx.xxxx.xxxx dot11radio 0 packet.txt" where the client mac is put in for xxxx.xxxx.xxxx and you have a packet uploaded to the router with the proper request in hexadecimal. Kinda complex though