Sparkling newbie question

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scatlett

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
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Location
Westville, Durban
I have never given much thought to the idea of WiFI, I initially joined the MyADSL forum because I wanted to get ADSL.

After looking at the threads about meshes and stuff I got a interested in WiFi because my laptop has a build-in WiFi adapter. I live in Berea West, Westville, Durban at the bottom of a value so I thought it would be next to impossible to get a WiFi/My Wireless/Sentech signal at all.

I was sitting at home after reading some threads on this forum and decided to enable my WiFi adapter - just for the fun of it. Imagine my surprise when it said it had connected to a network!

There is somebody in my area who must have a AP! I downloaded NetStumbler (saw it on this forum somewhere) and I can get the MAC Address - but that's it.

Now what, is there any way that I can communicate with this user? How would I get in touch with them? Maybe the Durban mesh has come to me? :rolleyes:
 
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Unless they are using a big antenna they will be close, very close. Less than 100m away.

Which narrows down the number of people quite a lot considering the layout of your property. To get a better idea which direction, just shield the laptop from one side with the side panel of your other computer, this makes it sort of directional. You should be able to see a signal change as you move the panel around.
 
pookfuzz said:
Unless they are using a big antenna they will be close, very close. Less than 100m away.

Which narrows down the number of people quite a lot considering the layout of your property. To get a better idea which direction, just shield the laptop from one side with the side panel of your other computer, this makes it sort of directional. You should be able to see a signal change as you move the panel around.
Click to expand...

Hey Pookfuzz!

So there is no way to kind of net send them?
 
No, not really. Besides most people have the winpopup service turned off otherwise you get all sorts of rubbish popups all the time while surfing the net.

You could try use a packet sniffer/protocol analyzer prog, that would at least show you what IP range is being used if the AP is open.
 
Netstumbler is a wifi sniffer, not really a full packet sniffer, it won't always be able to show you an IP.

Perhaps try do a RARP broadcast and see what happens.
 
Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. Its used discover the IP address of a known MAC address.
 
pookfuzz said:
Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. Its used discover the IP address of a known MAC address.
Click to expand...

Don't you need a router or gateway to reply to the RARP request?
 
You could also use Kismet via a Live CD (I use Auditor Security CD) and get a little more info on the AP
 
scatlett go into command prompt and ipconfig it will tell the ip adress do this when connected to the AP. then u can go into his router and change his ssid to plssecureme that will make him take notice. to get to the router, type 192.168.1.1 in your web browser, that is the most common IP for a AP or search the net for the model it gives you in netstumbler, by the way doing this is sortoff illegal
 
Bjorn said:
by the way doing this is sortoff illegal
Click to expand...

Like it Already, but remember ipconfig works in case DHCP is enabled on the AP, else you can still connect to the AP, but that doesn't necessarily mean you get an ip address. Connection to APs is based on SSID, Encryption and Filtering. Not same range IP. Except if a Router Based system is being used. So if DHCP is not enabled, ipconfig will not help. Suggest try to use a messaging software that is independant of protocols. Ex. LAMA10, it is free on the internet. Then you can send a broadcast message like " Me cute little fella, need help, gimme IP NOW!" Nah, don't be rude.

Cheers
 
SSK if you succesfully connect to the AP its because DHCP is on, if it isn't u have to specify an IP adress, if you connect to any network or AP you have an IP adress...
Ipconfig will definately help. Earlier Scattlet said he connected to the Ap so there is no security or filtering on the network. and to send the person a message through the network his computer would have to be on.
 
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I had connected to the AP, but I don't recall seeing an ip number when doing an up config.

I am waiting for the person to go live agian. I actually briefy saw another AP called 'Venus' (anyone know if this one in westville?), but didn't get a chance to connect as I was busy with another connection at the time.
 
DWC (http:\\www.dwc.za.net) doesn't have any activity in that area.
however saying that... it seems there could be some hope...:-)
maybe something is happening in that area.
 
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