Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 17:55:11 +0800 From: Raymond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [LIB] off topic...wifi devices
At 02:12 AM 26/04/2004 -0700, you wrote: >Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 09:46:19 +0100 >From: "Fisher, Dave (IBM)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: [LIB] off topic...wifi devices > > > Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 08:09:44 -0400 > > From: "Michael Hodish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: off topic...wifi devices > > > > I am looking for one that has software built in, or > > available, that makes it simple to find open networks > > and grab access > >First off I think it's worth mentioning, just as a disclaimer kind of thing, >that usually using someone's wireless lan without their permission is a very >dodgy thing to do, legally. <snip> I second this ... remember, depending on who you are, bandwidth can get VERY expensive. Just because they didn't secure themselves doesn't mean you should take advantage of them (even if you're only using low bandwidth applications - in that case it's a bit like going into a random person's unlocked office and using their phone, at best it's very bad manners unless you've come to some prior agreement). Of course, if your intention is to go "white hat" and inform them that their network is wide open then by all means go right ahead but be aware that "white hat" hackers have also been "caught in the net" in the past. >Now, with that boring stuff out of the way, onto the hardware. I've no >direct experience of the Palm hardware that has wireless connectivity >(Tungsten W ??) but it has a built in keyboard, built it 802.11b (11mbps) >and runs OS 4.something I think. It has a dragonball processor and something >like 32mb of ram. Check www.brighthand.com for a review. There is at the >moment no wireless add on cards suitable for other Palm units. I have a >Tungsten T3 and I'm waiting, STILL, for a suitable driver for the Sandisk >Wireless SDIO card. People have been waiting over a year! If you're going Palm, consider one of the Sony Clie PDAs. For instance, the NX and NZ series all have CompactFlash slots that will take (Sony brand) wireless LAN cards (note that these will have to be obtained secondhand though given Sony don't make them anymore). Alternatively if you already have a Sony PDA, Hagiwara produce a wireless LAN memory stick that also comes with a rudimentary 'stumbler' style wireless LAN tool. As for brand new, both the Sony UX and TH series Clie PDAs come with built-in wireless LAN (and in some cases bluetooth) and both can be had for pretty reasonable prices. I *think* again they come with wireless LAN tools suitable for your needs. There is also a new TJ series I think with wireless LAN. The Sony devices also have other nice features. For instance the ones I've listed (apart from the TJ) come with 320x480 screens (almost all PocketPCs only have 240x320 screens - I only know of one exception, a Toshiba with a 640x480 screen) and the screens are properly backlit (look at most PocketPC or even Palm screens and you'll notice more light coming out the sides than the front, look at one of the newer Clie screens and it's more like a laptop screen, most light comes right out the front). These devices also have models with built-in cameras with resolutions between 640x480 and 2 megapixel. Finally, I personally find PalmOS a lot more responsive than PocketPC (and I've used both) ... you just spend less time waiting around for the PDA to do it's thing. Of course, this is heavily dependant on what you use and do so your mileage may vary ... >So, it is with heavy heart I have to say that Mickeysoft is your best bet. I >have an old Casio E-115 that can use, through an adapter, my 802.11b >Orinocco Gold card and this works well. Also my Jornada 720 works well with >the same card. Most of the new Windows Mobile devices will accept either a >CF or SD wireless card and work with relatively minimal pain and anguish. >Others such as the Dell Axim 3i have wireless built in (again in the UK a >model with 802.11b and bluetooth is available!) and an HP iPaq of some model >or other, again I have no direct experience of these but based on other >units I've tried I've no reason to believe they won't work... Depending on your technical prowess, a PocketPC-type PDA (even an old one like a Compaq iPaq 3600 series with PCMCIA jacket) can be used as a very useable Linux PDA (a distribution known as "Familiar", based on Debian, is available that is preconfigured for a variety of iPaq PDAs). This in itself opens up a whole line of additional possibilities. For instance, I have used wireless LAN sniffers in the past - we ran a research wireless LAN and at certain times we needed to trace the source of interference, the amount of bandwidth used on the air (yes it IS possible to sniff for this!) and the like. The Linux utility "Kismet" came in really really REALLY useful for this and from what I understand it will run on a Linux-endowed PocketPC. Of course, this might not suit you - I'm not entirely sure if your "not too many windows", etc. comment refers to the installation or the using of the software in question. Of course, there are also native Linux PDAs such as the Sharp Zaurus but I'm not too familiar with those so I can't really make much comment on them. - Raymond --- /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\ | | "Does fuzzy logic tickle?" | | ___ | "My HDD has no reverse. How do I backup?" | | /__/ +-------------------------------------------| | / \ a y b o t | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | | Need help? 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