WI-Fi Sniffer on UX-50

[Fay_Yerng]

Does anyone know of an always on Wi-Fi sniffer program for the UX-50.

I know the UX-50 comes with software which can scan for available wireless networks within a certain area, but it only works for a relatively short period.

What would be really interesting is if you could have a software application running on your UX-50 as you walk around town. When it discovers a wireless network it would make an audible beep and allow you to log its location for future use.

I know there are software applications like this on the PC and also hardware products (eg. from Kensington) available that do a similar job. So why shouldn't there be for the Palm OS?

[squeff]

As far as I know, the Kensington product does not constantly scan and log what it finds. I believe it will do a scan when you press it's button. That's really less than what the UX50 does, since the Kensignton can't tell you the SSID it found.

"So why shouldn't there be for the Palm OS?" Because no one has written such a thing.

Of course, you'd need to leave you UX50 on while you "walk around town." Not sure that the battery would keep up with a long walk.

[Bionic Antboy]

have you tried NetChaser?

http://www.bitsnbolts.com/netchaser.html

There's a demo available on the right hand side of the page.

Although it says it works on the Tungsten C only (because of Sony's proprietary network setup), this was WELL before the UX came out. I haven't heard if anyone has tried it on the UX50 yet. I would be curious if it works or not, as Sony has made quite a few changes regards to how WiFi works on the UX compared to the earlier "WiFi-able" NX/NZ series devices.

Just a suggestion. Personally, I'd love to hear your results. It may even be worth contacting the developer.

[Fay_Yerng]

I've looked around the web and not found anything yet. There are plenty of wireless network sniffer software applications available, but none have been written for the Palm OS. They are generally geared to work from a laptop running windows or linux, but a few do work on the pocket PC.

I hope someone out there gets around to writing a package for the Palm.

Fair comment about the battery, but the intention would be only to find those hotspots that are conveniently located. So I wouldn't really need to venture to far from my general area of operation.

[outdoor]

just curious, has anyone tried to install netchaser in their NX? Just wondering what error message it will give, so it may give the developers a "hint" in making one for us?? :D

[squeff]

If you try to run NetChase on a NX, it tells you that it only runs on a Tungston C with PalmOS 5.2. Not sure if it's checking to see if it's OS 5.2 or a Tungston. If it's the later, then it won't run on a UX without the developer making a change.

[Bionic Antboy]

It's definitely worth giving NetChaser a try on the UX. I guess the worst that could happen is that it detects the Tungsten as opposed to the OS. If that's true, there's no reason for the developer to give UX compatibility a whirl. :)

[Fay_Yerng]

Well I gave NetChaser a try on the UX-50. Upon running it you get an error saying "WiFi Library Not Found".

Pity it doesn't work as it was exactly what I was after.

I've contacted the developer and fed him this information and tried to encourage him to develop a version that would work on the UX-50, or any wirless enabled device running the Palm 5 OS for that matter.

Obviously he would have to make GPS support an option rather than a standard feature as most devicesdon't have it. But everything else the program does is well usefull.

[Fay_Yerng]

The devloper of NetChaser has gotten back to me with the following message:

"I plan to support any wifi devices that are supported by their manufacturer. Sony has not and will not provide the required information for me to make NetChaser work with their hardware. It's not a lack of desire on my part, it's a lack of desire on the part of Sony"

Good of him to get back to me so promptly. I thanked him for the reply and urged him to have a go at it. I've even offered my services as a beta tester.

From experience its typical Sony really, great products but overly proprietry and poor support. I wonder why they take this stand? Surely it benefits them to have more developers writing targeted software for their products.