iwconfig: Link quality? Sensitivity?

amelielin · 08-12-2006, 12:31 PM

Hi, all.

I am confused with some information deplayed by iwconfig.

# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

wifi0 IEEE 802.11-DS ESSID:"GentooNode"
Mode:Managed Channel:1 Access Point: 00:09:5B:11:CC:F2
Bit Rate=11 Mb/s Tx-Power=13 dBm Sensitivity=199/3
RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality=100/92 Signal level:-60dBm Noise level:-256dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

So, my question is what "Sensitivity=199/3" means, what
"Link Quality=100/92" means, and what "Noise level:-256dBm" means.

any ideas?

Thank you.

-- Amelie

Penguin of Wonder · 08-12-2006, 11:03 PM

sensitivity is the minimum magnitude of input signal required to produce a specified output signal having a specified signal-to-noise ratio, or other specified criteria. (wikipeidia)

If you can still connect don't worry about it.

Link Quality is exactly what it sounds like. Its how good a signal you have.

Noise Level is how much interference you have. You don't have a lot.

Rayman411 · 08-13-2006, 03:32 AM

Hey amelielin lets see some encryption on that wireless internet. Also type iwspy and copy what you see to this forum.

slackhack · 08-13-2006, 02:21 PM

i need some help with setting up encryption, too - can i jump in here? iwconfig says:

Code:

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      IEEE 802.11b  ESSID:"SMC"  Nickname:"beamer"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.437 GHz  Access Point: 00:04:E2:FF:EC:E5   
          Bit Rate=11 Mb/s   Tx-Power:16 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=100/100  Signal level=-48 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

and for some reason iwspy reports:

Code:

lo        Interface doesn't support wireless statistic collection

eth0      Interface doesn't support wireless statistic collection

eth1      Interface doesn't support wireless statistic collection

lspci -v:

Code:

02:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter (rev 04)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation: Unknown device 2551
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
        Memory at c0204000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2

thanks for any help

Rayman411 · 08-13-2006, 08:26 PM

Allright slackhack are you connected to the internet with that? I need to clarify your problem exactly.

slackhack · 08-13-2006, 09:38 PM

yep, connected and working great. lmk what other info you need.

Rayman411 · 08-13-2006, 09:44 PM

Okie dokie. Open up your browse i.e. Mozzila firefox or whatever. Type in: 192.168.2.1
This will connect to your router, this is what you want to do it is possible this is not the address to your router in which case you probably already know the address. Tell me once you've done that and tell me what you see specifically the tabs... The things you can click on

slackhack · 08-13-2006, 09:48 PM

okay - i see. i can just set up wep/wpa in the router. looks like i can also limit connections to certain mac addresses, which is probably good enough around here. thanks.

Rayman411 · 08-13-2006, 09:54 PM

Yea you can create encrytpion from the router you see.... If you had an encryption key from your router you would not be connected to the internet because you would be locked off from your router because you have to enter in your encryption key to access the router.

So basically anyone in your neighborhood who had a laptop or desktop with wireless capabilities and could detect and get a strong enough signal could access your internet. You were basically trying to create a key when there was no lock in the first place. Now you can lock your router and then use the key that you create yourself to access the router to gain internet access and cut everyone out of the picture...... Get a sticky note, or a journal you've had since puberty and write down your encryption key.

Let me know how it works out.