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-   -   mapping location of wireless access points? (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33640490)

tvout 24-10-2008 23:44
mapping location of wireless access points?
 
hi all,
Does anyone know of any kind of utility or application or if it's at all possible to see a map of local wireless access points in an area? I mean local routers not hotspots.
I know you can see the strength of local routers but wasn't sure if there is any way of telling which direction they're in?

bopdude 24-10-2008 23:51
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
Depending on what platform your using, pda > laptop etc, Makayama do a 'radar' of wireless connections, open and otherwise in the area, as for pinpoint acuracy, I think it would need something with a gps signal :shrug:

HTH

What is it your looking to do ?

kpanchev 25-10-2008 01:56
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
In order to do this you need a directional antenna, standard antennas are omni-directional and cannot be used to pinpoint directions. Also you need to do at least 2 detections from different positions and triangulate the exact point of the WAP.

Jon T 25-10-2008 08:35
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kpanchev (Post 34661015)
In order to do this you need a directional antenna, standard antennas are omni-directional and cannot be used to pinpoint directions. Also you need to do at least 2 detections from different positions and triangulate the exact point of the WAP.
Even then you've got problems with signal reflections. DF'ing isn't as easy as it sounds.

Kymmy 25-10-2008 09:10
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon T (Post 34661034)
Even then you've got problems with signal reflections. DF'ing isn't as easy as it sounds.
I agree with that statement....

Ramrod 25-10-2008 09:31
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
If your device has GPS then WiFiFoFum is very good at mapping direction and strength of access points....

tvout 25-10-2008 16:21
Re: mapping location of wireless access points?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bopdude (Post 34660964)
Depending on what platform your using, pda > laptop etc, Makayama do a 'radar' of wireless connections, open and otherwise in the area, as for pinpoint acuracy, I think it would need something with a gps signal :shrug:

HTH

What is it your looking to do ?
That's great, cheers. I tried it and it did show two neighbouring routers. One's in the middle of the road. Not sure how I never saw that before :D
I only have a Linksys router with the standard antennas. I suspect that's incapable of being directional, even using the DD-WRT firmware?

---------- Post added at 16:20 ---------- Previous post was at 16:16 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by bopdude (Post 34660964)
What is it your looking to do ?
I wanted to try and work out which of my neighbours have wireless. I suspect all the wireless access points are on one side. The idea is to try and move my router/PCs etc further from sources of interference. There used to be only 2 local wireless routers, now 3 are showing up, making it harder to get a channel with the least interference.

---------- Post added at 16:21 ---------- Previous post was at 16:20 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramrod (Post 34661047)
If your device has GPS then WiFiFoFum is very good at mapping direction and strength of access points....
Sounds good, I have a Nokia N95 (GPS and Wifi), I'll take a look...


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