Presence and IntComm WG

[Candace Holman <>]

Here are my notes on AirMagnet.  I concluded that we shouldn't pursue it as 
a location aggregation tool at the moment because 1) it is not open, 2) 
looks quite difficult to integrate with pals, and 3) works only on the 
PocketPC.

Candace


AirMagnet Surveyor
------------------
url: www.airmagnet.com
Version: 2.0
Released: April 2004
Device: PocketPC

Performs site surveys on 802.11a/b/g networks. Only active survey solution 
- associate to specific access points or ssids, emulates client.  Gathers 
RF info with multiple data collection methods, generates detailed 
maps.  Also does normal passive surveying, and can merge active/passive 
survey data.

Surveyor PRO also does GPS outdoor and multi-floor surveys

PALS-pros:
Analize RF sources, interference, and noise (good for a network weather app?)
Identify roaming areas
Open data format
Generates maps

PALS-cons:
Data is logged to log file only
Only the PocketPC device
Not clear whether data is transmitted to a repository
Not clear how client data is uploaded

Comments:
Jamey mentioned that this might be adapted for use as location tracking 
device.  It can identify client roaming areas, so if it can identify 
individual clients and it performs well with updates, then it can do 
location tracking.  I had a short phone/email exchange with a local 
integrator and found that they don't support a stand-alone client, we'd 
have to work with the data as stored in an AirMagnet server repository.  It 
is closed software, not at all open.

The location data is stored and formatted as described in whitepaper 
"Performing a WLAN Site Survey with AirMagnet, Jan 2004, e.g. a csv log 
file which can be synced using Microsoft ActiveSync on the handheld.  It 
records Loc./Event, Time, AP, MAC, Signal%, Noise%, Signal(dBm), 
Noise(dBM), Speed(Mbits/sec), Channel, Packet Loss, Packet Retry.