WLAN? again

I have not been able to respond to your posts about my Oct 18 question.
I am trying to find the/a program to download that will let me roam
around and watch signal strength of the signal in question. Any ideas?
Maybe just watch the connection strength icon? I would like a meter.
My laptop is a basic, relatively cheap, Gateway 4025, XP home, using
the supplied wireless device.
Again I am 20 miles from a town, Tuscaloosa, AL, and my closest
neighbor is about 1/4 mile away and I think he is on cable (which I
can't get). I am, however, only about 2 miles from a couple of wireless
phone towers that are on I-20. Could the signal be from them? Again,
the computer says the signal strength is strong. Seems like a puny home
setup 1/4 mile away would not have a strong signal here.
I tried changing the connection choice in the computer and it did
nothing. May have to talk to him.
I have a pretty good connection with my cell phone as I am on a hill
and can see the towers, one is cingular which is my carrier. May have
to check out their wireless broadband program. Anyway, I am still
baffeled. Further ideas that are not too complicated?
I am so tired of dialup!!
Thanks

"hawkeye" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I have not been able to respond to your posts about my Oct 18 question.
>I am trying to find the/a program to download that will let me roam
>around and watch signal strength of the signal in question.

I'll assume you want to monitor wi-fi signal strength and not cellular
signal strength. The basic assumption is that a potential wireless
service provider will use 802.11b/g and broadcast their SSID. This is
a bad assumption. Many user other schemes such as WiMax or Frequency
Hopping Spread Spectrum (Alvarion). They may also be on 5.7GHz or
900MHz (Waverider) instead of the usual 2.4GHz. The cell site may
also provide broadband (1xRTT/EVDO/GPRS/HSDPA/etc) via one the
cellular carriers. Searching all these modes and frequencies for
providers would probably be done only with a very expensive spectrum
analyzer and modulation analyzer.

If all you want is Wi-Fi under Windoze, try Netstumbler or Wi-Fi
Hopper.
http://wifihopper.com
http://www.netstumbler.com

Linux does a better job as it supports the monitor mode. I suggest a
LiveCD suitable for booting your laptop.
http://www.remote-exploit.org/index.php/Auditor
http://www.remote-exploit.org/index.php/BackTrack
Make sure your wireless card is supported:
http://www.remote-exploit.org/index....itor_dev_list1

Methinks you could do better searching for a suitable wireless ISP
using one of the online directories.
http://www.bbwexchange.com/wisps/
This looks probable.
http://www.onelasvegas.com/wireless/AL.html
Looks like a few to choose from. I would go with WiMax if possible.

--
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

On 28 Oct 2006 06:21:59 -0700, "hawkeye" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>I have not been able to respond to your posts about my Oct 18 question.
>I am trying to find the/a program to download that will let me roam
>around and watch signal strength of the signal in question. Any ideas?
>Maybe just watch the connection strength icon? I would like a meter.
>My laptop is a basic, relatively cheap, Gateway 4025, XP home, using
>the supplied wireless device.
>Again I am 20 miles from a town, Tuscaloosa, AL, and my closest
>neighbor is about 1/4 mile away and I think he is on cable (which I
>can't get). I am, however, only about 2 miles from a couple of wireless
>phone towers that are on I-20. Could the signal be from them? Again,
>the computer says the signal strength is strong. Seems like a puny home
>setup 1/4 mile away would not have a strong signal here.
>I tried changing the connection choice in the computer and it did
>nothing. May have to talk to him.
>...

Now there's a thought.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>