Digital Fugue - Random Thots

Wirelessly

First there were Wifi and Bluetooth, then came WiMax. Now they are talking about wireless firewire or fire wire-less.
Although the details are still sketchy, the wireless 1394 will be using the IEEE 802.15.3 standard, the same standard used by UWB.

Netstumbler 0.4

Finally, the update to the world's favourite wifi sniffer have been released.

For the PC - Netstumbler 0.4
For the Pocket PC -Ministumbler 0.4

Stumbling on what?
NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:

Verify that your network is set up the way you intended.
Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.
Detect other networks that may be causing interference on your network.
Detect unauthorized "rogue" access points in your workplace.
Help aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.
Use it recreationally for WarDriving.

Free Book

Want to learn the art of Wi-Fi? Sign-up and get a free complimentary book from Cisco Systems.
Make sure you key in this registration code in the related field: 5j7n9ea

Unwiring the house

After we installed ADSL in the house, the next logical thing is to wire up the house. For this, my brother bought a Prolink 4-in-one ADSL router. Funky little thing with built-in ADSL modem, a simple router, 802.11b wireless LAN and 4 port 10/100 switch. Somehow rather, I haven't found any of the big boys (Cisco, 3Com, D-Link etc) carry this kind of many-in-one product. Maybe they wanna make more money by selling individual equipment.

Anyway, setting up was a breeze. After keying in the ADSL id and password, the router connects itself automatically everytime the router is switched on. No need to run the ADSL client manually. Everytime we plug in the router, it connects to the internet. Brilliant!

The whole house is now wired, wirelessly- 2 PC's and a laptop. Signal strength in the kitchen is about 65%. Now all we need is an internet enabled fridge!

Wi-Fight

Two conflicting reports from research firms on the development of WiFi. Gartner in a recently published report projects the number of hotspot users this year to grow to 9.3 million users while the number of public WLAN hotspot worldwide to grow to more than 71,000 in 2003 from about 1,200 in 2001. However, according to them, this will NOT be able to cater user needs. They also project the number to swell above 151,768 in 2005.

The Economist on the other hand analyses the gartner report and cook up their own analysis, comparing the popularity of Wifi to the internet boom in the late 90s. The article can be found here.

For me it all boils down to the dollars and cents. The providers should keep the subscription rate low to attract end users and have various plans or programs for the end users to choose. Besides WLAN cards being offered for rent at cafes, providers should also look into providing the PCs or network stations as well for users who dont have the luxury to own a notebook or a PDA. Not to turn coffee-shops into cyber cafes, but just to give end users the freedom to choose.
Then again, the pricing have to be right.

Jumping into the hotspon bandwagon is Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which plans to install WLAN onboard long haul flights. Together with Japan Airlines and British Airways they follow the footsteps of German's Lufhansa in providing in-flight internet access using Boeing's Connexion.
But WLAN providers should also think about the feasibility of putting hotspots and not blindly jump into the bandwagon. Not all places are suitable. For example Cesky Telekom in Czech Republic plans to install hotspots at KFC restaurants around Prague.
While on the surface this looked like a brilliant opportunity, i dont think my laptop or PDA would be all too happy after a round of finger lickin' good.

By the way, anybody participating in the Worldwide WarDrive here in KL?

Airzed Review

As part of my mission to checkout the hot spots in Malaysia, I came across this unbeatable offer from Airzed. It offers a one year unlimited access on airzed network PLUS a free D-Link Wifi card. Dirt cheap unbeatable offer? You bet.

Airzed's unbeatable offer.

Without further hesitation, i decide to subscribe to the plan. It took me quite sometime before actually testing the plan out. The D-link card works perfectly in the office and i am pleased with it although i was quite dissapointed as it couldn't work with Netstumbler.

So, on a grey, cloudy and hazy Saturday afternoon, i decided to test out airzed. My target, Austin Chase Coffee in Bangsar Shopping Centre. A nice spot, not so many people, but i couldn't find a power socket anywhere in the cafe. Bummer. Anyway, my laptop was almost fully charged, that should give me about 1.5 hours.
Ordered a grande latte and a terriyaki chicken sandwich and im off to a cosy spot.
I used my loaned Orinoco card as i wanted to checkout the signal quality using Netstumbler.
The pc detected the network, and any url entered being directed to Airzed's login page. However, the page had problems the moment i entered my user id and password. I changed the setting at the client manager manually and still
it returned the "The page cannot be displayed" page after a while. I rebooted the machine and reentered my id and password and Voila!.
Everything after that is smooth surfing. Signal strength is OK. The actual throughput fluctuates between 9kbps to 20kbps. Preety OK as Im the only user. A check on the ip states that its using TMnet's backhaul.

On the average, i was quite happy with the performance. I'd give it a 6/10.

Anyway, here's a list of available hotspots in Malaysia. For global listing, checkout hotspot-locations.com.

Surfing while sipping latte. Signal's preety good around this corner.

My Wifi

"Pick a card, any card..."

Top left; my favourite wifi card, the Orinoco Silver. Top right; my old faithful, 3Com AirConnect. Bottom left; Airzed freebie, D-Link AirLink. Bottom right; new toy; 3Com PC card with retractable antenna. Not in picture, my first wifi, Cisco Aironet PC Card.

Malaysian WLAN Hotspot Scenario

Sparked by a question posed by Bill Koslosky of Wireless-Doc, I decided to do a little survey on the actual WLAN deployment in Malaysia, specifically in Kuala Lumpur.

On the surface, most of the wireless hotspot deployment is situated at Bintang Walk, Jalan Bukit Bintang area. Almost all hotspot provider have setup access points in the area.

Currently, there are five main WLAN providers operating in Malaysia. They are:
Airzed
Utopia from Maxis
TMhotspot from TMNet
Zapzone
Timezone from Time.net

There are a few smaller players but i have yet to see them in action.
Over the next few weeks i will try out one or two of the main providers and will write a review on them. Keep tuned.

More WLAN security

As a complement to Network Computing's 10 Wireless Security Commandments, here is SearchNetworking's list of wireless security top ten.

10)Identify malicious users
9) Analyzers and troubleshooting guide
8) Why distributed wireless IDS is needed
7) Wireless handhelds need defense-in-depth
6) Protecting wireless LANs
5) Wi-Fi Security, chapter 4: Issues in wireless security
4) Securing wireless, part 2: WLAN best practices
3) Securing wireless, part 1
2)Ten steps to low-cost wireless LAN security
1) WLAN security checklist

WiFi Sniffer

This guy is one hell of a wifi sniffer. I wish i could wire up my car and driving all around town sniffing for unwary wireless networks.

By the way, here's a taste of what rocket science is all about... checkout his thesis on Ground Calibration of an Orbiting Spacecraft Radar Transmitter. Whatever that means.....