What is a BEACON SCANNER ?

wrt to software such as Netstumbler why is it referred to as a beacon
scanner ?

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>wrt to software such as Netstumbler why is it referred to as a beacon
>scanner ?

Because it scans for (amongst other things) SSID beacons, and shows
you nearby WiFi APs, their signal strengths, etc.

--
William Smith
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc. www.compusmiths.com

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 09:43:47 +0100, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>wrt to software such as Netstumbler why is it referred to as a beacon
>scanner ?

Access points belch beacon frames 10 times every second with all kinds
of cool information inside. They're also not encrypted. See:
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/print.php/1492071
for a complete explanation.

Netstumbler (and others) also use data from an assortement of other
frame types. See:
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/1447501
for a list. Netstumbler uses a probe request frame to get the AP to
blech more info.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831.336.2558 voice http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
# (E-Mail Removed)
# 831.421.6491 digital_pager (E-Mail Removed) AE6KS