Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

truth_in_nyc · Nov 15, 2002, 11:13 AM

Has anyone used it? What do you think of it? (please no discussions on ethics....)

nbnz · Nov 15, 2002, 11:21 AM

never heard of it, what is it ? Link ?

nsxpower · Nov 15, 2002, 11:31 AM

Yes, I have used it ... still do and could care less about the ethics

since there is nothing wrong with listening for networks.

Works quite well. Sometimes locksup (not freeze) because of the issue with Apple airport cards which lock onto a network as soon as they find one ... does not happen often though.

I am not sure if the development of this port of Linux 802.11b utilities is moving anywhere, since it has been stuck at version 0.6b for as long as I can remember.

craigthomas · Nov 15, 2002, 11:48 AM

Macstumbler is a "wireless scanning tool for the Apple Airport." It finds basestations in range.

http://www.macstumbler.com/

I've played with it a little to see my range in numbers and channel.

truth_in_nyc · Nov 15, 2002, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by craigthomas:
Macstumbler is a "wireless scanning tool for the Apple Airport." It finds basestations in range.

http://www.macstumbler.com/

I've played with it a little to see my range in numbers and channel.

Doesn't the Airport software itself have the capability of searching for networks in the area? Or can it only search for Airport networks?

Octo · Nov 15, 2002, 01:08 PM

I've used MacStumbler a number of times and it does to what it is supposed to. I've emailed the author and he said that he has aquired a GPS and will be trying to add support for this. MacStumbler works by sending out 802.11 frames and then listening for responses. One of the ways that this differs from the regular built in Airport tools is that if you are surrounded by 30 Airport stations that are all part of the same network you will never know it. MacStumbler will tell you about each one, the channels in use and the power level.

There is also a program called Viha, http://www.dopesquad.net/security/ that does the same thing but only on the command line and it does it passively. MacStumbler and the built in Airport utilities both announce the presence of your wireless card while looking for a network. Niha simply listens for access points to identify themselves.

Octo

truth_in_nyc · Nov 15, 2002, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by Octo:
I've used MacStumbler a number of times and it does to what it is supposed to. I've emailed the author and he said that he has aquired a GPS and will be trying to add support for this. MacStumbler works by sending out 802.11 frames and then listening for responses. One of the ways that this differs from the regular built in Airport tools is that if you are surrounded by 30 Airport stations that are all part of the same network you will never know it. MacStumbler will tell you about each one, the channels in use and the power level.

There is also a program called Viha, http://www.dopesquad.net/security/ that does the same thing but only on the command line and it does it passively. MacStumbler and the built in Airport utilities both announce the presence of your wireless card while looking for a network. Niha simply listens for access points to identify themselves.

Octo

I just bought my PB...I have an Airport card...How can a scan for networks around me?

riverfreak · Nov 15, 2002, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by truth_in_nyc:

I just bought my PB...I have an Airport card...How can a scan for networks around me?

You're in NYC? Take a look at the following link:

http://www.nodedb.com/unitedstates/ny/newyork/?

Pick out a location near you, grab your PB and go check it out!

river

RoofusPennymore · Nov 15, 2002, 01:57 PM

I've used MacStumbler quite a bit. It will be nice when GPS support is added.

It cannot find closed networks and it cannot crack WEP. I believe that the original program NetStumbler can do those things. However NetStumbler is not for Mac.

truth_in_nyc · Nov 15, 2002, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by riverfreak:

You're in NYC? Take a look at the following link:

http://www.nodedb.com/unitedstates/ny/newyork/?

Pick out a location near you, grab your PB and go check it out!

river

Don't I need Macstumbler to scan? I don't know how to use the Airport software to do so? The Apple rep. says I need an Airport station...

truth_in_nyc · Nov 15, 2002, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by truth_in_nyc:

Don't I need Macstumbler to scan? I don't know how to use the Airport software to do so? The Apple rep. says I need an Airport station...

I think this is how you do it...

http://www.nycwireless.net/findaccess_howto.html

COrrect?

RBattin · Nov 17, 2002, 02:29 AM

Here's a great site for free wireless network info:

80211 Hot Spots

riverfreak · Nov 17, 2002, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by truth_in_nyc:

I think this is how you do it...

http://www.nycwireless.net/findaccess_howto.html

COrrect?

Yep, haven't seen that page there before. Nice instructions, quite clear. That's exactly what you want to do. You do not necessarily need to use macstumbler.

When you are within range of a suitable base station, it will show up in your menu bar (you have to first enable this in system prefences / network. Click on the aiport tab, the click on the "Show Airport status in Menu bar").

Good luck!

PS - you need a base station to set up your own personal wireless network. All the NYCwireless stff is about "leeching" off of someone else's, provided of course that you are within range. This may not be convenient at all times.