What 802.11 access points do site surveys (listen to beacons, promiscuously monitor traffic)? The Linksys WAP11 had this feature, but I am finding it difficult to locate more recent products that do it. It is not trivial to hoist a separate antenna to the height of an installed community radiator for testing; one ought to have that function available in the access point.
Perhaps opinions on the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the access points on the following list, which do have the site survey function, and additions to this list would be helpful:
Any access point or wireless router that runs alternative Linux firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWrt. See:
The "site survey" button in DD-WRT (on the Status -> Wireless page) returned:
Neighbor's Wireless Networks SSID Mode MAC Address Channel Rssi Noise beacon Open dtim Rate Join Site JM Wireless AP 00:11:24:27:E3:52 1 -91 -96
100 No 0 12(g) CBMALVIN AP 00:19:5B:5F:95:BB 5 -66 -96
100 No 0 12(g) CMS AP 00:14:6C:A3:8B:A2 6 -72 -93
100 No 0 12(g)
2WIRE562 AP 00:14:95:06:38:49 6 -77 -93
100 No 0 12(g)
2WIRE206 AP 00:14:95:89:16:C9 6 -75 -93
100 No 0 12(g)
DD-WRT also includes Wiviz:
which is interesting but methinks confusing. However, it does show wireless clients as well as access points and wireless routers.
There are also command line incantations that can obtain the same results using the WL command. However, various people have been messing with the WL command and methinks it no longer works.
There's also the "/sbin/site_survey" program in DD-WRT which returns:
I have used Linux wireless tools and drivers on various platforms but have not considered doing so for an access point. I did a quick check of the projects your listed and not finding ready answers I pose these questions:
Is a bridged mode supported? I don't want the radio interface to be routed, only bridged.
Yes. DD-WRT and OpenWRT both have a bridging mode. However, it's not exactly transparent bridging and may cause problems if you expect transparent bridging. Search this newsgroup and the DD-WRT Wiki for "transparent bridge" for details.
Your unspecified application may not need a transparent bridge.
No. You'll need to build an IPX over IP tunnel. See:
I've never tried this on a router, although it works well on a full server. (Yes, I still have one remaining Novell 3.11 customer running a mixed IPX/SPX and IP system. They even use NETX on some DOS clients).
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