1src Forums - Software for finding wireless networks?

04-07-2004, 10:35 AM	#1
ghitos73 Guest Posts: n/a	Software for finding wireless networks? I was wondering if anyone knew of a software similar to NetStumbler, (www.stumbler.net) that can be used on a Sony Clie (NX80V) to help find wireless networks. I once owned a PocketPC and was able to use a software (RoadWarrior) similar to the one mentioned above to find WiFi networks. Thanks

04-07-2004, 12:22 PM	#2
51Cards Guest Posts: n/a	Unforutanly there isn't one that will work on the NX80/73 due to Sony not releasing the API for their CF WiFi protocol. I have been xploring every possible solution to this problem as it is the one thing I find severely lacking in my own NX80 also. I'll add your request to the pile Sony is unlikely to ever do anything about the problem as our model is now discontinued and the newer units (UX50) have sniffers built into the newer OS. We unfortunately fall into the crack of proprietary WiFi hardware, proprietary drivers, no native OS support, and no one willing to do anything about it since we are discontinued. My current attempt is checking with an Hagawari engineer to see if they have enough info on Sony's driver to adapt their Sniffer app to the WL100 since their new WiFi MS doesn't work in the 73/80

04-07-2004, 12:24 PM	#3
51Cards Guest Posts: n/a	Addition: You can also use SSID 'Any' to locate some open networks with WEP turned off... a lot of people have had some success with this. You'll have no clue what is happening though... just a pleasant suprise if it does hit something when you try, or visa versa if it fails.

04-07-2004, 02:36 PM	#4
Protonus Thread Killer Gold Contributor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 154	the wireless memory stick apparently comes with software to do this, can't wait to get one ;-) __________________ I have a TG50 :-D http://www.protonus.ws

04-07-2004, 05:51 PM	#5
51Cards Guest Posts: n/a	The new WiFi memstick doesn't work on the NX80/73... see other thread in this forum. The Hagiwara (sp?) driver has a comflict with the Sony WiFi driver in ROM which can't be removed and Hagiwara didn't feel it was worth it to find a work around (if one existed) for such a small market segment. My email from Hagiwara: --------------------- Dear Sir, Thanks for contacting us and appreciate your feedback. We did not want to miss NV80V & 73, however, it turned out that SONY CF WLAN driver (Preloaded on the ROM of these models) and MS WLAN driver cannot co-exist due to CLIE architecture. Nobody can erase or modify the ROM contents, so we had no choice but to drop these 2 models from our compatibility list. We really wanted to support NX80V&73..... Thanks for your understanding in this regard.

04-07-2004, 06:30 PM	#6
Protonus Thread Killer Gold Contributor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 154	oh yeah... sorry forgot :-(.... Bummer... Course I only get 11 meg free on my TG50 and the ROM is unflashable. DOH! Is the NX80&73 unflashable like my Tg-50, via jack flash? If not I woul[d htink you could delete the driver for the compact flash wireless.... __________________ I have a TG50 :-D http://www.protonus.ws

04-08-2004, 06:37 PM	#7
GodOwnsAnNX80 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 300	I'm confident that someone will write a sniffer for the WL110 card eventually. I just hope it's while I still own one!

04-08-2004, 09:51 PM	#8
fizazz88 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NY Posts: 9	I know this is off the original topic but, if I read this entire thread right, the only Wirless Network option I have for my NX80V is the PEGA-WL100 or PEGA-WL110? No non-Sony brand cards?

04-09-2004, 04:50 PM

GodOwnsAnNX80

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Quote:

Originally posted by fizazz88
I know this is off the original topic but, if I read this entire thread right, the only Wirless Network option I have for my NX80V is the PEGA-WL100 or PEGA-WL110? No non-Sony brand cards?

Correct.

04-09-2004, 09:02 PM	#10
51Cards Guest Posts: n/a	Not correct... there ARE other cards that will work in the Sony as the WL1x0 cards are only OEM'ed Spectrum24 based cards. (Spectrum24 tech currently being owned by Symbol technologies right now I beleive...) I tried a true Spectrum24 "Wireless Networker" in my Clie and it worked like a charm. Also someone else posted once that a card from IOData worked as well. However... that being said... I wouldn't risk buying another brand of card unless you have one to test first. It's just not worth it. You can find WL1x0 cards pretty cheap these days and you KNOW they will work. Just not worth the possible hassle to save maybe... $10? $20? So with the Sony and then you don't have to worry.

04-21-2004, 12:44 PM	#11
gregberry Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3	add another to the stack of people looking for wifi sniffing capabilities for the nx80. this is a real disappointment, as i just got the wl100 card for my nx80 without realizing this was a (major) gap. sigh...

04-21-2004, 02:24 PM	#12
tprime76 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 240	What you are asking for and what you want are two different things. A sniffer is not a WiFi locator (a la Netstumbler). A sniffer parses network traffic on a network and allows viewing of the component parts. A WiFi locator scans the environment for any access points broadcasting their SSIDs. (This is what you are looking for) I just wanted to clarify. __________________ "Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way... turn." -Better Off Dead

04-21-2004, 02:28 PM	#13
Stratification Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15	So the NXs may be an issue, but would there be anything for some of the newer models with built in (TJ37, TH55)? I'd love to have something like this, scanning from the preferences just isn't terribly dynamic. __________________ I'm just here for the food

04-21-2004, 05:17 PM	#14
tenderidol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 178	This may be a naive question, but what would be the advantage of knowing the SSID over typing "any" to SSID field? If the WiFi AP has protection (e.g., WEP, MAC filtering, etc), it wont make any difference. If these are "open" then is there a difference specifying an SSID or just having "any" there? I am not trying to conflict with anything, just trying to learn... Thanks!

04-22-2004, 06:07 AM	#15
squeff Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Washington, DC Area Posts: 656	(1) I've found that "any" doesn't always work. I've tried this in my own house, where I configured my AP to not use WEP, MAC filtering, SSID hiding, or any other form of security. Clie with "Any" couldn't find it. (2) Sometimes you're in a place with multiple APs and want to connect to a specific one, but for some reason don't know the SSIDs. For example, my office building has a large number of APs. Some are setup by our corporate IT folks for public use. Some are setup by individuals or specific groups (for private use). Our IT folks didn't name the APs in any regular way, so I can't know what the name is just by the floor number and I don't always have the list of APs with me. If I use "any," I might connect to a private AP if it has the stronger signal. Some of the private ones don't have security (but should). Or, more likely the case, they have some sort of security that doesn't keep my Clie from trying to connect -- I'll get a WiFi connection, but not a network connection. With a WiFi locator, I can be see the possible APs and then be more intelligent about which one I connect to. (3) There are some public APs where the SSID isn't posted and there is no one around to ask. As in #1, there are cases where "any" just don't cut it.