Does Intel's 2200BG work with netstumbler?

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scot · #1 Post by **scot** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:21 pm

I'm about to buy a T42 and I was curious if anyone has tried this out yet. Thanks for the (hopefully) exciting result!

Leeper · #2 Post by **Leeper** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:56 pm

It should useing the default XP NDIS driver

gosha16 · #3 Post by **gosha16** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:57 pm

no reason for it not to work

scot · #4 Post by **scot** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 1:13 pm

Sorry for the naive question--I've never actually used wifi myself. The reason I asked is that in a previous thread some time ago, one person mentioned that the IBM card would work, but no one responded about the Intel because it was so new. Thank you!

darrenf · #5 Post by **darrenf** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:19 pm

Yes. It uses the NDIS5.1 driver.

-darren

Leeper · #6 Post by **Leeper** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:34 pm

if you have never used wifi before, what are you wanting to use netstumbler for?

JohnV · #7 Post by **JohnV** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 3:00 pm

Yes it does work.

John

admsteiner · #8 Post by **admsteiner** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 3:23 pm

Yes it does work, and quite well.

I've used netstumbler next to other's PC's that are using netstumbler and picked up AP's that others were missing...guess it's that IBM antenna...

scot · #9 Post by **scot** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 3:35 pm

Leeper wrote:if you have never used wifi before, what are you wanting to use netstumbler for?

I'll need it to find free hotstops in Boston (or at least I think this is what I will need). I've read as much about wifi as I could in the few hours I spent to research it. Needless to say, there are many gaps in my knowledge (like difference between chipsets, etc.)

Thanks for everyone's input, this puts me at ease as I await DHL to ring my bell. Hopefully I was not alone in wondering.

darrenf · #10 Post by **darrenf** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 1:05 am

-Scot,

The following might not be news to you, but since you said that you haven't used wireless before, I want to be sure you don't spend time with netstumber that perhaps you don't need to.

Windows is as good as netstumbler at detecting the presence of open wifi access points. Netstumbler is best suited to "wardriving" where you drive around with netstumber running and GPS attached to the laptop. Netstumbler will record the presence and signal strength of hotspots as you move and log the GPS coordinates of each sample point. You can then feed that data into mapping software to build a picture of where there are hotspots along the route you took. In some cases, you can pinpoint the hotspot by where the signal was strongest, but for real directional detection, commercial software is required.

If your goal is to sit down in a spot and see what wifi access points are in the area, just use the Wireless Connection Status icon in your system tray. It has a "Find WLAN..." button that will show you all the APs (that announce their SSIDs) in your area. If you don't use IBM's Access Connections software but prefer to use Windows' default Zero Effort Networking instead, Windows is likely to make *sure* that you know about any hotspots you wander into by bombarding you with little bubbles in the system tray.

BTW: I was using the IBM a/b/g card until a month ago when I switched to the Intel 2200BG card. Despite what I have read in other posts here I am getting EXCELLENT signal strength with the Intel card -- MUCH better than the IBM card. Of course, I always thought there was something wrong with the IBM card because my signal strength was so poor. Anyway, I think you'll like it.

Have fun!

-darren

scot · #11 Post by **scot** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:09 am

Darren,

Thank you for your encouraging and informative comments. I see now that netstumbler is not necessary for my basic use. You have now made everything much more clear, too!

I appreciate the time you and others have spent helping me.

darrenf · #12 Post by **darrenf** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:40 pm

No problem at all.

Report back when you get your ThinkPad and let us know what you think of it!

-darren

Does Intel's 2200BG work with netstumbler?

Does Intel's 2200BG work with netstumbler?

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