A tail of two ministumblers 3870 & 3970

Grey Wolf · 08-30-2002

Ok I had a chance this afternoon to do a run with two iPAQ one a 3870, and one a 3970. Both were using Orinoco cards, and both were in the front of an Aerostar about 6' to 7' apart. I had two sound files so I could tell which one had a hit. I was expecting both to get the same hits.

Now I have the impression that the 3870 got hits faster than the 3970. This is mostly based on the sound files, and when I heard them. But it seems to me if I can hear a difference in when they start to play, we are talking a lot of computer time. The 3870 was not always faster, some where to close to call. But in many cases the 3870 seem to be faster than the 3970.

I'd like to use the log files to compare time, but I think the log file time stamp is based on the PPC time and not the GPS time stamp. So is anyone aware of a utility to set the PPC time from the GPS?

Any one else tried more than one Stumbler running in the same car?

Thanks
Grey

iriequicksigns · 08-31-2002

How do you get Mini Stumbler to make sounds when it gets a hit?

Grey Wolf · 08-31-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by iriequicksigns
How do you get Mini Stumbler to make sounds when it gets a hit?

Well first you need a sound check out these.

I happen to like Thorn's Sub-ping sound.

Then you rename it ir_begin.wav and for the PPC put it in your /windows/ folder.

HTH
Grey

iriequicksigns · 08-31-2002

Thanks

Chris_Schear · 09-06-2002

I can tell you that walking around with two identical 3970s, MiniStumbler reports access points differently. I've walked with two in hand, one will detect a faint AP - the other will not, or the other will once I've stepped 20-50 more steps.

Within the same platform, same hardware, same drivers...two MiniStumbling devices don't behave on equal ground, one for one.

Grey Wolf · 09-07-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris_Schear
I can tell you that walking around with two identical 3970s, MiniStumbler reports access points differently. I've walked with two in hand, one will detect a faint AP - the other will not, or the other will once I've stepped 20-50 more steps.

Within the same platform, same hardware, same drivers...two MiniStumbling devices don't behave on equal ground, one for one.

Ok the question then becomes, is it a random event? Or is it related to the Orinoco card, is card A always faster? Or is it related to the iPAQ, say iPAQ "A" is always faster than iPAQ "B"?

Any thoughts?

Grey

Chris_Schear · 09-08-2002

At first look, it would appear the one 3970 was always the "slower" detector. Thoughts were that, perhaps, the built-in antenna on one card was just a little bet "better", what have you. However, additional tests have thrown that to the wind. Those same two 3970s failed to detect an access point (whose physical location I positively can confirm), and the previously believed "faster detector" was the slow man this time. "Ipaq A" is not always the fastest/slowest, etc.

Given the nature of the WL110 NICs, I'm weight should be given to what position the devices are being held, who is standing closer to any obstructions, and what battery power is available on each IPAQ. These are just thoughts, mind you, I have no data to support my theories.

Grey Wolf · 09-08-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris_Schear
At first look, it would appear the one 3970 was always the "slower" detector. Thoughts were that, perhaps, the built-in antenna on one card was just a little bet "better", what have you. However, additional tests have thrown that to the wind. Those same two 3970s failed to detect an access point (whose physical location I positively can confirm), and the previously believed "faster detector" was the slow man this time. "Ipaq A" is not always the fastest/slowest, etc.

Given the nature of the WL110 NICs, I'm weight should be given to what position the devices are being held, who is standing closer to any obstructions, and what battery power is available on each IPAQ. These are just thoughts, mind you, I have no data to support my theories.

I don't have access to two 3970s, I've used a 3870 and a 3970. My impession is that the 3970 is always slower, than the 3870, if they are both picking up the same AP. Doesn't seem to matter about the card, (1 a silver, the other a gold), doesn't seem to matter about position, if the AP is in range. The 3870 seems to pick up more, and faster.

I have noticed that the 3970 seems to vary in it's slowness, sometimes being way slower, and at other times being almost as fast as the 3870.

I can't help but wonder if this has something to do with the 8 bit reads, problem the 3970 has with the PCMCIA pack.

Grey

Wombat · 09-09-2002

I haven't mini-stumbled, but I have two Dell laptops, a 366MHz PII and a 1.5GHz P4, and there is a real difference between the two, not only in time, but in picking up the signals at all.

08-30-2002	#1 (permalink)
Grey Wolf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 345	A tail of two ministumblers 3870 & 3970 Ok I had a chance this afternoon to do a run with two iPAQ one a 3870, and one a 3970. Both were using Orinoco cards, and both were in the front of an Aerostar about 6' to 7' apart. I had two sound files so I could tell which one had a hit. I was expecting both to get the same hits. Now I have the impression that the 3870 got hits faster than the 3970. This is mostly based on the sound files, and when I heard them. But it seems to me if I can hear a difference in when they start to play, we are talking a lot of computer time. The 3870 was not always faster, some where to close to call. But in many cases the 3870 seem to be faster than the 3970. I'd like to use the log files to compare time, but I think the log file time stamp is based on the PPC time and not the GPS time stamp. So is anyone aware of a utility to set the PPC time from the GPS? Any one else tried more than one Stumbler running in the same car? Thanks Grey __________________ ~the packets are out there~ waiting....

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08-31-2002	#2 (permalink)
iriequicksigns Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2	How do you get Mini Stumbler to make sounds when it gets a hit?

08-31-2002	#4 (permalink)
iriequicksigns Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2	Thanks

09-06-2002	#5 (permalink)
Chris_Schear Packetmonkey Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: WDM, Iowa Posts: 243	I can tell you that walking around with two identical 3970s, MiniStumbler reports access points differently. I've walked with two in hand, one will detect a faint AP - the other will not, or the other will once I've stepped 20-50 more steps. Within the same platform, same hardware, same drivers...two MiniStumbling devices don't behave on equal ground, one for one.

09-08-2002	#7 (permalink)
Chris_Schear Packetmonkey Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: WDM, Iowa Posts: 243	At first look, it would appear the one 3970 was always the "slower" detector. Thoughts were that, perhaps, the built-in antenna on one card was just a little bet "better", what have you. However, additional tests have thrown that to the wind. Those same two 3970s failed to detect an access point (whose physical location I positively can confirm), and the previously believed "faster detector" was the slow man this time. "Ipaq A" is not always the fastest/slowest, etc. Given the nature of the WL110 NICs, I'm weight should be given to what position the devices are being held, who is standing closer to any obstructions, and what battery power is available on each IPAQ. These are just thoughts, mind you, I have no data to support my theories.

09-09-2002	#9 (permalink)
Wombat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Smalltown, AZ Posts: 82	I haven't mini-stumbled, but I have two Dell laptops, a 366MHz PII and a 1.5GHz P4, and there is a real difference between the two, not only in time, but in picking up the signals at all.