Netstumbler Questions

Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.

Get nothing in the IP address field nor the "Name" field,does
that mean my radio is not compatible in some fashion?

Pardon my ignorance, but I am new to this. There are two
headings SNR+ and SNR. What's the diff?

I see that the lower the lower the SNR dbM reading on the
graph the stronger the signal, correct? All the Noise readings
are -100 ; I am guessing that means I have a weak reception
everywhere? The SNR varies from 17 to 46 depending on the MAC,
but there does not seem to be much of a direct relationship
between this reading and throughput, why?

Also is there any url to look up the various flags?
How do I tell which if any APs are interfering with the one I
am connected to?

Sorry for so many questions, any assistance welcomed, thanks.

"public_varies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.

Use inSSIDer:
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inssider

Not only does it work better and provide useful information including a time
graph, the author updates it way more than never.

On 4/27/2011 8:07 PM, Seemore Grey wrote:
> "public_varies"<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>
> Use inSSIDer:
> http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inssider
>
> Not only does it work better and provide useful information including a time
> graph, the author updates it way more than never.
>
>
I agree with inSSIDer too.

It found and used the built in wireless adapter of my Lenov laptop while
Netstumbler refused to admit my laptop even had a wireless option.

I use it to troubleshoot wireless problems caused by other systems on
the same or adjacent channels and to locate idle channels when
installing new systems.

Then again it is fun to look around to see who is dumb enough to not
turn on any form of encryption...

On Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:16:42 -0500, GlowingBlueMist
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On 4/27/2011 8:07 PM, Seemore Grey wrote:
>> "public_varies"<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>>
>> Use inSSIDer:
>> http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inssider
>>
>> Not only does it work better and provide useful information including a time
>> graph, the author updates it way more than never.
>>
>>
>I agree with inSSIDer too.
>
>It found and used the built in wireless adapter of my Lenov laptop while
>Netstumbler refused to admit my laptop even had a wireless option.
>
>I use it to troubleshoot wireless problems caused by other systems on
>the same or adjacent channels and to locate idle channels when
>installing new systems.
>
>Then again it is fun to look around to see who is dumb enough to not
>turn on any form of encryption...

I accidentally left inSSIDer running when I recently ran an errand. I
had to drive past houses, apartment complexes, and some businesses
during the 5 mile round trip. When I got home, I discovered over 800
SSIDs listed so for me the fun was scrolling through the list to see
the funny, outrageous, profane, and creative names people had given
their networks.

"GlowingBlueMist" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ipbpcp$ofn$(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 4/27/2011 8:07 PM, Seemore Grey wrote:
>> "public_varies"<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> in
>> message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>>
>> Use inSSIDer:
>> http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inssider
>>
>> Not only does it work better and provide useful information including a
>> time
>> graph, the author updates it way more than never.
>>
>>
> I agree with inSSIDer too.
>
> It found and used the built in wireless adapter of my Lenov laptop while
> Netstumbler refused to admit my laptop even had a wireless option.

That's strange! What laptop, what wireless adapter?


> I use it to troubleshoot wireless problems caused by other systems on the
> same or adjacent channels and to locate idle channels when installing new
> systems.
>
> Then again it is fun to look around to see who is dumb enough to not turn
> on any form of encryption...

I haven't used Netstumbler in 16~20 months. I don't remember having any
problem with it. According to Wikipedia NetStumbler had a 6 year run and it
really wasn't until inSSIDer showed up that we realized what it was missing.

"public_varies"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>
> Get nothing in the IP address field nor the "Name"
> field,does that mean my radio is not compatible in some
> fashion?
>
> Pardon my ignorance, but I am new to this. There are two
> headings SNR+ and SNR. What's the diff?
>
> I see that the lower the lower the SNR dbM reading on the
> graph the stronger the signal, correct? All the Noise
> readings are -100 ; I am guessing that means I have a weak
> reception everywhere? The SNR varies from 17 to 46
> depending on the MAC, but there does not seem to be much of
> a direct relationship between this reading and throughput,
> why?
>
> Also is there any url to look up the various flags?
> How do I tell which if any APs are interfering with the one
> I am connected to?
>
> Sorry for so many questions, any assistance welcomed,
> thanks.
>

I see you got alot of answers from some spammer promoting his
program, but little else. What a lame group this is.

On 4/28/2011 8:01 PM, Seemore Grey wrote:
> "GlowingBlueMist"<(E-Mail Removed) lid> wrote in message
> news:ipbpcp$ofn$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On 4/27/2011 8:07 PM, Seemore Grey wrote:
>>> "public_varies"<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>> in
>>> message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>>>
>>> Use inSSIDer:
>>> http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inssider
>>>
>>> Not only does it work better and provide useful information including a
>>> time
>>> graph, the author updates it way more than never.
>>>
>>>
>> I agree with inSSIDer too.
>>
>> It found and used the built in wireless adapter of my Lenov laptop while
>> Netstumbler refused to admit my laptop even had a wireless option.
>
> That's strange! What laptop, what wireless adapter?
>
>
>> I use it to troubleshoot wireless problems caused by other systems on the
>> same or adjacent channels and to locate idle channels when installing new
>> systems.
>>
>> Then again it is fun to look around to see who is dumb enough to not turn
>> on any form of encryption...
>
> I haven't used Netstumbler in 16~20 months. I don't remember having any
> problem with it. According to Wikipedia NetStumbler had a 6 year run and it
> really wasn't until inSSIDer showed up that we realized what it was missing.
>
>

I have a Lenov 3000 G530 running Windows 7 with a Broadcom 802.11g
Network Adapter.

It's possible I may have missed something in the Netstumbler setup
somewhere but I gave up after a couple of hours trying to make it work.

Most likely the problem was a lack of support for the Broadcom chip set
used in my wireless adapter. Sure I could have spent the money to buy a
different wireless adapter but since inSSIDER worked right the first
time I loaded it I figured why waste the money.

If/when a new version of Netstumbler is released I will give it another
try but until then I'll use what works with my existing hardware.

>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>>
>> Get nothing in the IP address field nor the "Name"
>> field,does that mean my radio is not compatible in some
>> fashion?

[ ... ]

>I see you got alot of answers from some spammer promoting his
>program, but little else. What a lame group this is.

Huh.

What *I* saw was a couple of knowledgeable folks suggesting using
inSSIDer instead of Netstumbler. As I hadn't heard of inSSIDer
before (but have considerable respect for Metageek), I went ahead
and installed it ... and found it to be ... very nice! The
graph tracing the BSSIDs' RSSI across time is neat, and the
filter function is quite easy to use and powerful.

- Another Spammer

On Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:47:12 -0700, Aaron Leonard <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>>> Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.
>>>
>>> Get nothing in the IP address field nor the "Name"
>>> field,does that mean my radio is not compatible in some
>>> fashion?
>
>[ ... ]
>
>>I see you got alot of answers from some spammer promoting his
>>program, but little else. What a lame group this is.
>
>Huh.
>
>What *I* saw was a couple of knowledgeable folks suggesting using
>inSSIDer instead of Netstumbler. As I hadn't heard of inSSIDer
>before (but have considerable respect for Metageek), I went ahead
>and installed it ... and found it to be ... very nice! The
>graph tracing the BSSIDs' RSSI across time is neat, and the
>filter function is quite easy to use and powerful.
>
>- Another Spammer

That's exactly what I saw.

On Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:09:17 +0000 (UTC), "public_varies"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Just started using Netstumbler on a Alfa Realtek 8187L.

There's an FAQ on Netstumbler.org web site, but I suggest using a
different program. Netstumbler is rather old, and had not been
updated for many years. Alternatives:

1. If you're running Vista or Windoze 7, try:
start -> run -> cmd <enter>
wlan show networks mode=bssid
There's also a fancy wrapper for the above command:
<http://www.codeproject.com/KB/gadgets/WifiScanner.aspx?msg=2147441>

2. WiFiHopper
<http://www.wifihopper.com>
This is normally a paid program. However, when the trial period
expires, the "stumbler" function of the program continues to operate.
Only the connection manager is disabled. However, I've had one
problem with this program. It installs a "shim" in the IP stack,
which has interfered with some other programs I like to run, such as
WireShark.

3. inSSIDer
<http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider>
As previously mentioned. It works very nicely and is what I use on
Windoze machines this week.

4. NetSurveyor
<http://www.performancewifi.net/performance-wifi/main/NetSurveyor.htm>
Lots of nice looking graphs.

5. There are variety of add on programs called "wireless connection
managers". These are intended to act as replacements for Microsoft
Wireless Zero Config. They usually add a sniffer like function for
finding wireless access points. One advantage of these is that they
usually identify multiple access points which have the same SSID. For
example:
<http://www.avanquest.com/USA/software/avanquest-connection-manager-107347>


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558