iDetect's Wi-Fi Sniffer

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.idetect.com.sg/WiFi.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.idetect.com.sg/WiFi.htm</a><br /><br /></div>"Wi-Fi Sniffer, WFS-1, detects Wi-Fi availability by the press of a button. No longer do you have to boot up your laptop or walk around with your laptop turned on, hence reducing the risk of hard drive crashes. Pressing the button on the Wi-Fi Sniffer will tell you whether access is available."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/wifi1_new.jpg" /><br /><br />Not sure if this is real or not, but if it is, it might be a cool administrative (and wardriving) tool. The real problem is how such a device is supposed to tell <i>which</i> wireless network it's picking up. I was configuring a wireless client the other day in an office building, and before I plugged in the real SSID and WEP key for a secured base station, it picked up one from the floor below or above - and the signal was strong. :)

[jet8810]

This might be useful for wardriving! (I don't wardrive because I only have an e740...range wont allow it) Maybe a continous search mode though.

[Registered]

OK, I checked the site, is it just me ( due to weekend drunkeness), or is there no download link ??

[van_mierlo]

OK, I checked the site, is it just me ( due to weekend drunkeness), or is there no download link ??
Duh...it is a piece Hardware 8O

[jet8810]

What would you be downloading? Its hardware... :roll:

[Registered]

lol :D
..time to get off the sauce.........
R.

Memo to self: Actually read articles before posting !

[sgyee]

I'm just skeptical that this would actually work. And to me, it's very misleading.

On one hand - You get to detect 802.11b frequencies. Whoopee.

On the other hand - What can you do with it once you detect 802.11b frequencies ? Nothing.

I could care less (as a network admin) if I detect 802.11b frequencies. I do care if I can do something with it.

[Aamdaron]

check the range of your network to see how far you can place computers?

[guinness]

Is it just me, but what's the big deal about this? Is it because it's small and can carry it around? Picture looks kind of fake too, very Photoshopish.

[garretwp]

I dont know but to me it looks like it is photoshoped or something. But it may be me.

Garrett

[sgyee]

check the range of your network to see how far you can place computers?

You use a site survey tool from the WiFi manufacturer to do that.

[vincentsiaw]

so how's the verdict, useable or not?

[szamot]

I say lame, but then again a sucker is born every minute. You can already do it for "free" with the iPAQ

[Jorgen]

It is not usable unless you can fix the SSID to your WLAN so you know you are not sensing your neighbour. Get a PDA with a Wi-fi card; the two I have, can measure signal strength and link quality.

Jorgen

[dangerwit]

It would be useful if it even showed you what channels traffic was streaming across, etc.

I'm curious how this works on wifi setups that disable automatic broadcasting of the SSID. There's so much out there using the 2.4Ghz band, I'd like to know how it discerns wifi from other traffic... i.e. would the lights go off when my neighbor uses his cordless phone?

Most reputable corporations with a smidgen of dedication to security will, however, prevent their access points from broadcasting the SSID.

If the product does detect wifi, I can't see how useful it'd be for anyone other than hackers.

*Phil

[Bob Anderson]

I'm curious how this works on wifi setups that disable automatic broadcasting of the SSID. There's so much out there using the 2.4Ghz band, I'd like to know how it discerns wifi from other traffic... i.e. would the lights go off when my neighbor uses his cordless phone?
*Phil

While this is a great concept, I think it just looks for any "noise" in the prescribed bandwidth, and if found, lights up! So... without having a true 802.11b chip inside, it's nothing more than scanning for traffic on the 2.4GHz band... I betcha bluetooth would make it light up too!

I think this is just a clever business taking advantage of uninformed individuals to make a quick buck. I wouldn't buy one!

[GoldKey]

Given we have already determined that this is not really useful so really it is worthless. But I wonder what they are charging? I did not see any prices on the page. And given that you could go by a 300 Mhz Axim and a cheap CF WiFi card and have a much more robust solution for under $300 using software like Winc, I just don't get it.

[sgyee]

Given we have already determined that this is not really useful so really it is worthless. But I wonder what they are charging? I did not see any prices on the page. And given that you could go by a 300 Mhz Axim and a cheap CF WiFi card and have a much more robust solution for under $300 using software like Winc, I just don't get it.

I filled out the form to get some more information. It will be interesting to see what they say.

[GoldKey]

I filled out the form to get some more information. It will be interesting to see what they say.

Did they reply?