Why can't iStumbler see my network?
iStumbler scans by sending out probe packets via an Apple interface Access Points MAY respond to these probes but they might also be configured as private networks. Future versions of iStumbler may introduce monitoring for and joining private networks, but not necessarily scanning for them. iStumbler is intended to find publicly available wireless. Making your network private is the equivalent of putting up a "No Trespassing" sign.

Does iStumbler allow me to access networks protected by WEP?
No. A few have asked for this feature but I don't plan to implement it. If you want KisMac you now know where to find it. iStumbler is a tool for finding open, public networks.

What do the abbreviations mean?
You can now find out by reading the manual, where it says:

• s = signal level 1-128
• n = noise level 1-128
• ch = ism channel number
• range = range to station (you're getting warner or cooler)
• wep = (Wired Equivalent Protection) is the network encrypted
• ssid = (Select System IDentifier) or network name
• type = ibss (ad-hoc) or bss (base-station)
• mac = (Media Access Controller) unique hardware address

Does iStumbler support wireless interfaces other than AirPort?
Not yet. I have been in contact with the author of the OpenSource wireless driver for Mac OS X, when a new version is released I will be able to support it. It's been a few months since this time, there's less hope.

What's all this stuff about locations in here?
Planned features include the ability to interface with a GPS and to geo-locate *without* a GPS based on the known locations of various radios. Currently GPS support is experimental, see below.

Does iStumbler leak memory?
iStumbler may leak a little memory. In typical use it keeps it's VSIZE below 90M now that it forgets old encounters.

Why did iStumbler forget all the networks it saw!
Every time iStumbler scans for wireless networks it records it's findings in an Encoutner object. Each of these takes up some space in memory and if iStumbler remembered all encouters it would eventuall use all your RAM. By default encounters more than 10 minutes old are forgotten, you can change this value to 1 hour for an extended site survey or forever if you're up to something else.

Does iStumbler work with my GPS?
Maybe. Initial GPS Support has been implemented for serial NMEA devices, if you have one of these installed you may see the locations of your encounters recorded in the log.

Where are the screen shots?
Read the friendly Manual, it has examples, explanations and pictures of every window.

Copyright (c) 02003, Alf Watt (alf@istumbler.net). All rights
reserved. Redistribution and use permitted under BSD License
in license.txt.