thebaldgeek

I've run out of time for trying to get the Signal Sleuth sorted.
The OTA 'update' turned out to be a downgrade.
It removed the total display, which I heavily use for testing.
Also the unit factory resets first powerup after every config, wiping out the @wiglenet API key. I've IDE downgraded for now.

wardriving Added 'jump menu': Sept 25th 2025 Added radiation driving section: Oct 1 2025 Jump menu Why wardrive Links and resources tbg vs Kismet GPS A...

Thanks for the tip about the pigtails. I can swap them out very easily and test the result with my standard route. You might find my wardrive blog of interest: k6thebaldgeek.blogspot.com/2025/09/ward...

It finished after 8.5 hours and rebooted ok.
I've put in my Wigle API key and will be testing the auto upload.
Thanks for all your work on it. Just a bit of a shame the ESP32 RF sensitivity is so lacking.

Far out! The OTA update feature on the wardriver.uk is pretty cool, BUT, while the A.ino took about 3 minutes, the B.ino is going to take <checks calculator> EIGHT and a half HOURS!
That #wardrive I had planned, yeah, happening today...not today.

I've just added a short section to the bottom of my #wardriving blog about how I also do 'radiation driving'.
I figure since I am out and about, I may as well map background #radiation with my #radiacode #geiger counter.
k6thebaldgeek.blogsp...

#earthquake M 7.0 - 7 km W of Tagbubungang Diot, Philippines
Depth 10.0 km
Will be keeping an eye on news reports from this one. Hope the damage is not too extensive.

Trying to understand "New Samples". Does it tie into the number of GPS / signal strength readings per SSID?
In other words, does that data give the best insight into the wardriving rig?
The wardriver.UK (Signal Sleuth) seems very low vs the WiGLE Android app?
@jhewitt.net @wiglenet.bsky.social

The results are in. The panel antenna takes the top count.
I'm very happy to see that, as it's a lot easier to mount and looks less suspicious than the Yagi.
Now to re-jig the tripod so it's closer to the window and get driving to see the bump in absolute numbers.

#wardriving my standard loop to compare the panel antenna with the Yagi antenna.
Both have around 20 dBi gain.
Output into a 4-way splitter and then the top 4 channels (1,3,6,11) into the @lozaning #wifydra since the scan speed can handle the narrow beamwidth.

Just back from a 1am, 100 mile #wardrive.
Still tweaking the #SignalSleuth setup. Slowly getting the numbers up to beating the amazing Samsung S20 in a #WigleFin on the roof.
Lots of deer out and about on the roads tonight. #AllTheWiFI

wardriving Initial post: Aug 2024 Added Wigle scan speed section: Sept 16 2025 Updated Signal Sleuth build notes: Sept 17 2025 Updated the Signal Sleut...

One of the most detailed blog posts on the topic of #wardriving and getting #AllTheWiFi
Why #wardrive, setting #WiGLE to capture the most SSID beacons, phone placement, BLE, #signalsleuth, #wardriveruk, and much more.

#earthquake M 6.2 - 24 km ENE of Mene Grande, Venezuela
Depth 7.8 km
Looks to be a somewhat isolated / sparsely populated area, but I'm sure it was felt strongly in the nearby towns.

No idea where all these came from <grin>
They just seem to end up in the #wardrive collection drawer.
But it sure is nice to be able to quickly grab the right-sized antenna for the job at hand.
Still unpacking after the move. Missing the panel antenna collection.
#AllTheWiFi

Yuck. Here is trouble just lurking for the wardriver rig builder.
The GPS plug outer is grounded (as it should be).
The backup battery outer is positive (as it should be).
They can touch waaaaay to easily.
Make sure you route the GPS plug/coax away from the battery.

Took me a moment to find, but here are the specs for the Bias-T current out of this GPS unit.
50mA is not a lot, but at least now I know what my upper limit is and thus what sort of GPS LNA I can run without causing issues long term. Quality GPS is critical for #wardriving
7/

One thing I've not found mentioned anywhere is that the GPS board provides 3.3V DC Bias-T voltage. This means you can run an active puck GPS antenna on the roof of the car. @jhewitt.net did not mention it on the OP wardriver.uk build either.
This puck should really boost the lock for the unit.
6/

I love how compact the Signal Sleuth can be built.
I've got some plans for mounting it in the car, so I chose to put everything on one side, keeping the back of the PCB nice and flush.
5/

I've started testing the Signal Sleuth and found it lacking vs the droids.
I think it's a fundamental issue that the ESP32s are not very RF sensitive.
I'm currently working on a build to turn the volume up to 11 and see how it performs then.
Blog to come, no matter the results.

Simple pin retained lid comes off, phone with foam 'case' drops in, lid on and you are ready to rumble.
4 by 150lb pull magnets and some non-slip draw liner keeps it on the roof. Tested to 93mph on LA freeways (just moving with the flow officer).
What a leap in my numbers thanks to this.
4/

Running your phone or wardrive rig _in_ the car is about the worst placement you can do. Granted, not all cars have window tint, but many come with clear, UV-blocking glass from the factory.
Putting the phone on the roof doubled. YES DOUBLED, my numbers.
Thus, the 'wigleFin' was born.
3/

Folks who bought them would put them in a window and complain about the poor signal.
I quickly found that most double-glazed windows had a coating that blocked UV/RF.
Moving the antenna to look through the wall or roof brought the ACARS flowing in.
Turns out most car window tint does the same.
2/

#wardriving is the art of moving down a path and picking up as many SSID broadcasts as possible.
That's it. There is no connection made; it is a 100% passive event. (Just want to make that clear).
My #AllTheWifi breakthrough came from building and selling ~40 of the 7 turn L-Band helix antennas.
1/

wardriving Initial post: Aug 2024 Updated Wigle scan speed section: Sept 16 2025 Updated Signal Sleuth build notes: Sept 17 2025 thebaldgeek finds ward...

Yup, that's me! Thanks for the welcome. I hit 1 million and figured I do a pre-winter push and see if I could also crack the top 200. I'm working on a wardrive brain dump blog here if you'd like to check it out: k6thebaldgeek.blogspot.com/2025/09/ward...

Another massive #earthquake near Russia.
M 7.8 - 145 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Depth 10.0 km
It will be interesting to see if this one gets revised slightly down like the last quake in that area. Also, if any Tsunamis will be forecast due to these quakes' greater strength.

Because reasons, I've been doing more #wardriving of late than ACARS. Once winter hits, that will change, but I'm wondering if folks who follow me mind some Wifi RF stuff in their feed? It mostly centers around Android and @wiglenet tips.
Perhaps also some antenna/splitter/preamp stuff as well.

Keep an eye on the sky tonight/morning.
Might be some nice color to spot.
I've never really seen the Northern Lights, so I will be checking for gaps in the clouds a few times tonight.
We've had some haze in North Idaho the past few weeks, but the showers today have cleared it and dirtied the car.

Another huge #earthquake in the same area as the last M7+
This time, M 7.7 - 120 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Depth 10.0 km

Copy that.
Thanks for the update.
Good luck fending it off.

Hey @wiglenet
Just a heads up that your forums are down.
I'm getting a 404 from the phpbb URL.
Looking to post some feedback on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Spoiler - it's not a great #wardrive 'Droid - not even close to #AllTheWifi

Reminder that my map page uses squawk codes to filter by source. Weird, I know, but that is how the scrappy ally cat feeds the dumpster fire of ACARS.
This means you can quickly isolate aircraft by what ACARS mode they are using.
What other codes are there?
tbg.airframes.io/das...