Dream-team connection manager

Dream-team connection manager

Postby CaesarNero » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:15 am

For several days I'm digging the net for a replacement of WinXP built-in WZC.
Can't say that my quest is over, but here are some thoughts before.

A perfect connection manager should:


Be generic (support *most* cards - USB, PCMCIA, MiniPCI).

Small (Intel Proset latest distro is 80Mb - can you believe that? crazy!)

Display all possible information about the AP (MAC, vendor lookup)

Be able to lock to specific AP if many of them with same SSID are in range.

The last one is the most important! I have 5 AP's with the same SSID, but they have different internet connections.
And unfortunately, the slowest one (128kb ADSL) has the strongest signal. While fastest one (switched into 10Mbit) has a slightly weaker signal.
Nether Windows Zero Configuration daemon, nor any other third-party software allows me to choose among several AP's and "lock" to the fastest one (by MAC).

So far I tried:

Intel Proset - bloatware, awful interface, slow.
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/proset/proset_software.htm

BVRP Connection Manager - they tried to make fancy design and forgot the rest.
http://www.bvrp.com/eng/products/connectionmanager/

Xenon Wardrive Toolbox - this is a joke! the windows arent even resizable.
http://www.xenon-inc.com/index.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=16&Surfer=

NetSwitcher - piece of crap, enough said.
http://www.netswitcher.com/

Boingo Wireless Manager - this one is nice, at least I stopped with it until I find any better. Shows AP's with same SSID, but cant choose. Although easy to use for most of people.
http://www.boingo.com/

Conclusion: I wish everybody to wait until a one beautiful day, when you right-click in Netstumbler on a desired AP and connect to it. A needful feature for all!

The search continues, please post links to alternative connection managers here!
CaesarNero
Mini Stumbler
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:41 am

Postby streaker69 » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:18 am

CaesarNero wrote:For several days I'm digging the net for a replacement of WinXP built-in WZC.
Can't say that my quest is over, but here are some thoughts before.

A perfect connection manager should:


Be generic (support *most* cards - USB, PCMCIA, MiniPCI).

Small (Intel Proset latest distro is 80Mb - can you believe that? crazy!)

Display all possible information about the AP (MAC, vendor lookup)

Be able to lock to specific AP if many of them with same SSID are in range.

[color="Red"]The last one is the most important! I have 5 AP's with the same SSID, but they have different internet connections.
And unfortunately, the slowest one (128kb ADSL) has the strongest signal. While fastest one (switched into 10Mbit) has a slightly weaker signal.
Nether Windows Zero Configuration daemon, nor any other third-party software allows me to choose among several AP's and "lock" to the fastest one (by MAC).[/color]


So far I tried:

Intel Proset - bloatware, awful interface, slow.
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/proset/proset_software.htm

BVRP Connection Manager - they tried to make fancy design and forgot the rest.
http://www.bvrp.com/eng/products/connectionmanager/

Xenon Wardrive Toolbox - this is a joke! the windows arent even resizable.
http://www.xenon-inc.com/index.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=16&Surfer=

NetSwitcher - piece of crap, enough said.
http://www.netswitcher.com/

Boingo Wireless Manager - this one is nice, at least I stopped with it until I find any better. Shows AP's with same SSID, but cant choose. Although easy to use for most of people.
http://www.boingo.com/

Conclusion: I wish everybody to wait until a one beautiful day, when you right-click in Netstumbler on a desired AP and connect to it. A needful feature for all!

The search continues, please post links to alternative connection managers here!


And I'm quite certain that you have explicit permission to connect to those AP's with the same SSID and different internet connections right?

After all, you wouldn't want to come here claiming to be a theif, now would you?
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.
User avatar
streaker69
 
Posts: 11867
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:09 am
Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA

Postby CaesarNero » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:20 am

Of course I have. But that's offtopic, man.
CaesarNero
Mini Stumbler
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:41 am

Postby Dutch » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:21 am

CaesarNero wrote:Conclusion: I wish everybody to wait until a one beautiful day, when you right-click in Netstumbler on a desired AP and connect to it. A needful feature for all!

If you had read any of included documentation, you'd know why that is not a feature in NS.
Let me repeat it once more in big letters :
Network Stumbler is an AUDIT-TOOL, NOT a connection manager.

Dutch
All your answers are belong to Google. SEARCH DAMMIT!
Warning. Warning.
Low C8H10N4O2 level detected. Operator halted....
User avatar
Dutch
 
Posts: 6698
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: City of Mermaids, Denmark

Postby wrzwaldo » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:23 am

CaesarNero wrote:
blah blah blah...

Conclusion: I wish everybody to wait until a one beautiful day, when you right-click in Netstumbler on a desired AP and connect to it. A needful feature for all!

The search continues, please post links to alternative connection managers here!


NetStumbler is not and will (I hope) never be a connection manager! It is an auditing tool. And since this is in the lounge I'll be nice.
wrzwaldo
 
Posts: 8995
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:43 pm

Postby streaker69 » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:24 am

CaesarNero wrote:Of course I have. But that's offtopic, man.


Damn, did my bullshit meter just fall through the floor.
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.
User avatar
streaker69
 
Posts: 11867
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:09 am
Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA

Postby wrzwaldo » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:24 am

CaesarNero wrote:Of course I have.

:rolleyes:


But that's offtopic, man.



As is your post.

What was your "basic" NetStumbler/WiFi question again?
wrzwaldo
 
Posts: 8995
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:43 pm

Postby CaesarNero » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:25 am

THATS WHY this thread is about the alternatives. =)
CaesarNero
Mini Stumbler
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:41 am

Postby Dutch » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:25 am

CaesarNero wrote:Of course I have. But that's offtopic, man.

No it isn't. Are those AP's yours, part of the same network topology, or just the 5 neighbours with a default Linksys AP setup that you happen to be able to see ?

Dutch
All your answers are belong to Google. SEARCH DAMMIT!
Warning. Warning.
Low C8H10N4O2 level detected. Operator halted....
User avatar
Dutch
 
Posts: 6698
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: City of Mermaids, Denmark

Postby wrzwaldo » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:27 am

CaesarNero wrote:THATS WHY this thread is about the alternatives. =)


So rather than post in the "software" forum you posted out of topic here? Good move!
wrzwaldo
 
Posts: 8995
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:43 pm

Postby CaesarNero » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:29 am

Move it to a right section =)
CaesarNero
Mini Stumbler
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:41 am

Postby Dutch » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:29 am

wrzwaldo wrote:NetStumbler is not and will (I hope) never be a connection manager! It is an auditing tool. And since this is in the lounge I'll be nice.

Is it ? Damn, my eyes must be fooling me again.... :rolleyes:

Dutch
All your answers are belong to Google. SEARCH DAMMIT!
Warning. Warning.
Low C8H10N4O2 level detected. Operator halted....
User avatar
Dutch
 
Posts: 6698
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: City of Mermaids, Denmark

Postby streaker69 » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:34 am

So, now that it's no longer in the lounge, I challenge you do come up with a scenario that you have access to 5 AP's all with the same SSID and different network connections that you have explicit permission to use without violating the TOS of those 5 internet connections.
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.
User avatar
streaker69
 
Posts: 11867
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:09 am
Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA

Postby Thorn » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:42 am

CaesarNero wrote:...
Be able to lock to specific AP if many of them with same SSID are in range.

The last one is the most important! I have 5 AP's with the same SSID, but they have different internet connections.
And unfortunately, the slowest one (128kb ADSL) has the strongest signal. While fastest one (switched into 10Mbit) has a slightly weaker signal.
Nether Windows Zero Configuration daemon, nor any other third-party software allows me to choose among several AP's and "lock" to the fastest one (by MAC).
...


<sigh> You might want to look up the 802.11 standard and understand why this is A) a violation of the standard, and B) why it is undesirable. Hint: Roaming.

There is a simple way to do this and to conform to the standard: Give different WLANs different SSIDs.

CaesarNero wrote:... bloatware ...

...

Conclusion: I wish everybody to wait until a one beautiful day, when you right-click in Netstumbler on a desired AP and connect to it. A needful feature for all!

...

Let's see, in one breath you complain about "bloatware," yet in the next you want to add a connection manager to NetStumbler. Do you see the dichotomy here?
Thorn
Stop the TSA now! Boycott the airlines.
Thorn
 
Posts: 10340
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2002 3:00 am
Location: Villa Straylight

Postby Airstreamer » Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:05 am

Thorn wrote:<sigh> You might want to look up the 802.11 standard and understand why this is A) a violation of the standard, and B) why it is undesirable. Hint: Roaming.

There is a simple way to do this and to conform to the standard: Give different WLANs different SSIDs.


Let's see, in one breath you complain about "bloatware," yet in the next you want to add a connection manager to NetStumbler. [color="Red"]Do you see the dichotomy here?[/color]

I'd be suprised if he knows his butt from a hole in the ground.:cool:
"But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know.""

- Rudyard Kipling
User avatar
Airstreamer
 
Posts: 2703
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:26 pm
Location: A little North of Reason

Next

Return to Windows

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests

cron