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$5 Keychain WiFi Detector: Foxhunt Potential? — Parallax Forums

$5 Keychain WiFi Detector: Foxhunt Potential?

ercoerco Posts: 20,261
edited 2010-06-26 14:21 in General Discussion
Here's a nifty $4.50 DoD: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270597768464·that detects 200 feet away. Obviously it's intended·for Starbucks latte sippers sniffing out a free internet connection. It has several LEDs as a field strength meter. If this unit can detect·a wireless home·router without it·being·hardwired to a modem (I'm not certain about that), it might make for an interesting·radio foxhunt (find·the hidden transmitter). That is, one person could hide a router (could use·an AC adapter, or alt. battery supply) then turn the kids loose tracking it down. If it does require an internet·connection, it's not nearly as portable (DOH!). But I'm hoping it may·just be·looking for any detectable·carrier signal on the 802.11b and 802.11g frequencies.

I'll bet somebody here can solve this mystery in a matter of minutes. GO!

PS:·This unit·also has an LED flashlight built in. If you want to increase the skill level, make·your kids·hunt down the router in the dark...

Alt: Here's a $4.19 Hong Kong unit: http://cgi.ebay.com/WiFi-Wireless-Access-Hotspotter-Finder-Detector-9780_W0QQitemZ170494383505QQcategoryZ61818QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4012.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D20%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7582648125737132412

·image_05.jpg

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·"If you build it, they will come."

Comments

  • kf4ixmkf4ixm Posts: 529
    edited 2010-06-25 00:01
    @Erco
    Yes, it just detects the 802.11x signal of the access point or router. i have one similar to this one, but i have seen some on tigerdirect i think that has a lil lcd screen that displays the ssid and whether or not encryption is enabled. i cant find the one i was thinking about, but heres one that does all that plus its a usb wireless adapter.

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1815254&CatId=2699



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    I'm just 7*1027 atoms floating through time and space in close formation. -KF4IXM
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2010-06-25 00:08
    Thanks, Mike! Then this little unit would probably detect a spare battery-powered router hidden inside the clothes hamper just fine.

    "And I woulda gotten away with it, too, if it hadn't been for them dang kids!"

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2010-06-25 18:19
    ROFL 2.4 G t hunting ... I was a hardcore 2 M T hunter I so cal ....

    I have wanted to do hunts on UHF and over bands to see how they compare to 2M hunt ..

    we could hunt with nice and tiny ANTs...

    KG6LSE ..peter..

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    "Carpe Ducktum" "seize the tape!!"
    peterthethinker.com/tesla/Venom/Venom.html
    Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. —Tanenbaum, Andrew S.
    LOL
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-06-25 18:35
    kf4ixm said...
    @Erco
    Yes, it just detects the 802.11x signal of the access point or router. i have one similar to this one, but i have seen some on tigerdirect i think that has a lil lcd screen that displays the ssid and whether or not encryption is enabled. i cant find the one i was thinking about, but heres one that does all that plus its a usb wireless adapter.
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1815254&CatId=2699

    Would this be the one you were talking about?

    www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4267991&CatId=1817
  • kf4ixmkf4ixm Posts: 529
    edited 2010-06-25 18:45
    thats not the exact one i was thinking about, but functionally it's the same thing. they may not carry it anymore. the one i was talking about looks almost like a usb thumb drive dimensially, except for the usb connector. had a narrow lcd display. it looked almost like the wireless adapter above except it didnt have the wireless adapter fuctionality.

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    I'm just 7*1027 atoms floating through time and space in close formation. -KF4IXM
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2010-06-25 19:09
    @erco, be careful with your hunt you could end up losing a few of the kids as they happily lock onto next doors router then the next one and the next....
    could end up in the next state?? lol.gif

    Actually its a brilliant idea! Next time I want a bit of peace i'll hand a couple to my kids. roll.gif
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2010-06-25 19:35
    Those cheap 4 dollar keychain wifi detectors
    look like they would be fun to experiment with.

    You could mount the things at the focal point of
    a small dish and see just how far they could detect
    rf at 2.4ghz. You could just connect to the lines that
    power the indicator LEDs and use that signal to switch
    something on/off.

    (I'm always trying to interface gadgets together..LoL)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2010-06-25 19:39
    My "friend" says you could bypass the safety on a microwave oven door, operate it with the door open, and detect it quite a ways...

    One way to get rid of those pesky neighborhood kids, so I can get on with my nefarious plans!

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2010-06-25 19:48
    erco said...
    My "friend" says you could bypass the safety on a microwave oven door, operate it with the door open, and detect it quite a ways...

    One way to get rid of those pesky neighborhood kids, so I can get on with my nefarious plans!
    Steady on erco, I was suggesting getting rid of the kids for a moments peace, not cooking them lol.gif
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2010-06-25 20:22
    Just A Modest Proposal ...

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2010-06-26 01:20
    Holly

    Try this

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabolic_antenna

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    You can feel stupid by asking a stupid question or You can be really·stupid by not asking at all.

    ·
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2010-06-26 14:21
    erco said...
    Just A Modest Proposal ...
    lol.gif it's almost Monty Pythonish
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