This is an OpenSource replacement firmware for the "WiFi-Finder" a.k.a. Wi-Fi Detector.

The device is based on an Atmel Mega168 microcontroller and a ZyDAS (Atheros) ZD1211B wireless MAC chip. The In-System-Programming (ISP) data lines of the Mega168 are available at a standard 6-pin header on the microcontroller printed circuitry board.

• Q: Do I have to open the device to install the OpenSource firmware on it?
  A: Yes. Opening the case is easy. Just take a small screwdriver and carefully lift the two case-parts apart. Be careful not to destroy any electronics stuff inside, though.
• Q: Do I need some hardware equipment for flashing the new firmware onto the microcontroller?
  A: Yes. An Atmel AVR compatible In-System-Programmer is required. I use the AT AVR-ISP MK2, which has an USB connector. In Germany it's available from reichelt.de.
• Q: Do I need a soldering iron?
  A: Yes. You need to solder a pinheader or cables for the In-System-Programmer onto the microcontroller printed circuitry board. See the hardware specifications document for further information on the ISP header.
• Q: Why can't I flash it through the USB port?
  A: Because the device contains two printed circuitry boards. The USB port is connected to the WLAN board. But the microcontroller is on a seperate controller board. So there is no way to access the microcontroller through the USB port.

Note that recharging of the battery doesn't work correctly with this firmware, yet. To recharge the original firmware has to be flashed back.

The OpenSource replacement firmware has all of the features the proprietary firmware also has got. Though, if you notice that something is missing or not working properly, send me a short e-mail. And no, eyecandy is not a feature. We want to display as much information as possible on the tiny LCD. We don't want to waste space with graphics.

In addition to the original device features, the OpenSource firmware adds a few more:

• It displays the BSSID (Basic Service Set ID) for each AccessPoint
• It displays a count of scanned open networks
• It displays whether the scanned stations are Ad-Hoc or AccessPoints
• A more exact battery percentage value is displayed, in place of the 3 step graphic.

• wifiscanner release 001 .tar.bz2 archive
  23 December 2007

Latest bleeding edge wifiscanner can be downloaded using the Git version control system as follows:

git clone https://git.bues.ch/git/wifiscanner.git

or by downloading the wifiscanner snapshot archive.
To browse the Git repository online, go to the git web interface.
If you want to contribute to wifiscanner, please read the contribution guidelines first.

Latest version of the hardware specifications is available in the GIT repository and release tarballs or from GIT-web

Copyright (C) Michael Büsch
Licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 . See the sourcecode for details.