We also use NetStumbler and MiniStumbler as basic wireless
trouble-shooting tools. One caution is that these utils require
Broadcast SSID to be turned on, and in my experience sometimes the dB
numbers are not accurate.
In the past we have used a number of wireless tools, PDA and laptops,
and we finally settled on the Stumblers and Airmagnet. We purchased
Airmagnet for our PDA and two laptops. The two laptops use a Cisco
a/b/g and a Proxim a/b/g trio cards. The PDA uses a Cisco 350 802.11b
only. I have found through several tests that the Airmagnet software is
more reliable, stable, and sees more than just the broadcast SSID's.
Depending on what I'm looking at, tracking down, or trouble-shooting I
do also at times get out the SpecAn. In some cases you just have to be
able to see the RF, which both of these softwares don't do.
Rick Brown wrote:
David,
We are using Motion Computing Tablet PC's with a Cisco
abg card to do our surveys. We use the Cisco Site Survey utility
(in addition to the Desktop Utility) which is very similar to
Netstumbler.
Motion has come out with a smaller version of it's tablet that may be
a better fit that the PDA's. We tried several PDA's when we first
started
but were not satisfied with their performance. I wouldn't take anything
for our Tablets.
We were introduced to the Motion via Wireless Valley. They
are bundling their LanPlanner software with it.
Rick
David Gillett wrote:
We've been deploying a handful of hotspots, but we're about to
begin rolling out ubiquitous b/g coverage (with a reserved for
hotspots with special needs).
To support this, we want to start equipping our techs with
wireless PDAs with which to quickly and easily determine the
status of wireless service at their location.
I've been using Kismet on a Sharp Zaurus, but its chipset
support so far limits me to b only, and both the Zaurus 5500/5600
models and the LinkSys WCF12 have been superseded, so I don't
think that's the right direction. I've been happy with the
level of detail that NetStumbler shows, but a laptop is more
device than we really want to require.
So: I'm looking for recommendations of a PDA/wireless/software
combo that will provide about the same level of detail as NetStumbler
for at least b/g, and preferably also a.
Are you using something like this?
David Gillett
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Scott Smith
Network Engineering Services
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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