Before I switched to Mac, I used to love to use NetStumbler for Windows. It is a tool that allows you to find any WiFi network and learn a lot about them. This tool even lets you make note of GPS coordinates and do a little thing that people like to call WarDriving. Not that I would know anything about that.
Problem is, there is no NetStumbler for Mac. However! After a lot of searching I came up with a couple of cool alternatives:
- iStumbler – Allows you to find AirPort networks, Bluetooth devices and Bonjour services with your Mac. There is also a desktop widget.
- KisMAC – This is a complete wardriving app. Meaning it is GPS enabled and will map open WiFi hotspots and everything. Here is the latest Mac OS version.
Oh, and if you are still using Windows, Netstumber is too old and stale. Now there is inSSIDer. Go and get it.
Oh, and if anyone knows of others for either Mac or Win, please do share!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I use Wefi on my Windows…It very simple and easy..I had used NetStumbler once., but then I again shifted to Wefi
I don’t get it. Do you actually need a separate application to automate the search for available network? I mean whenever I bring my Mac around, my airport will auto detect any available network in the vicinity. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Yan
Well, you’re right, but sometimes you need to troubleshoot a network and actually see information such as the strength, channel, etc. of a signal. For that you need a tool like these.
John
Actually, this information is obtainable in Mac OS X by holding down the “option” key when selecting the airport icon at the top right of your screen…
WOW! That is a great tip Turk! Thanks for sharing and I can’t believe no one else ever told me that!
John P.
I tried the holding down the option key thing and the only extra menu item that came up was “About Airport” which just tells you which version of the software you are running.
Works with Snow Leopard. Holding down the option key while clicking Airport icon let me see the checked Network’s PHY Mode, BSSID, Channel, Security, etc.
I’m still wondering if there is any easy way to change channel. Example: My neighbor and I are both on channel 11, next door is on 6, all with the same cable company and living very close to each other. What do you recommend I change the channel to?
Hi Jakc Stilich,
For me, I would change my channel down to channel 3.. as the AP allowing +/-2 from the channel.
In your case. channel 11, might interference with channel 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and channel 6 will be 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Channel 3 would work within channel 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and it will not interference with your neighbors AP.
Hope that help.
- Julian -