well i have kismet installed however it gives me an error and i found out it is found here in the kismet.conf file
# Sources are defined as:
# source=cardtype,interface,name[,initialchannel]
# Card types and required drivers are listed in the README.
# The initial channel is optional, if hopping is not enabled it can be used
# to set the channel the interface listens on.
source=prism2_avs,wlan0,newprism2source
# Other common source configs:
# source=prism2,wlan0,prism2source
# source=prism2_avs,wlan0,newprism2source
# source=orinoco,eth0,orinocosource
# An example source line with an initial channel:
# source=orinoco,eth0,silver,11

so umm how do i fix this error??

I'll move this into the Wireless Sub-Forum.. better exposure there..

also has anyone noticed that the libntfs5 package does not install correctly. i have tried the apt-get way and by manually downlaoding it and using kpackage to install however it still returns an error message stating:
E: Sup-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an eroor code (1).

Based on your card type, I think this is the line you need to uncomment:
source=prism2,wlan0,prism2source

I'm making a big assumption, though. What wireless driver are you using with the SMC?
Are you running Kismet as root?
Can you post the exact error and the Kismet output leading up to it dying?

well i am using the prism2_cs driver. and i made the changes as you mentioned in the config file. also i have tried running as root and still recieve the same error which is:
Server options: none
Client options: none
Starting server...
Waiting for server to start before startuing UI...
Suid priv-dropping disabled. This may not be secure.
No specific sources given to be enabled, all will be enabled.
Enabling channel hopping.
Enabling channel splitting.
FATAL: Unknown capture source type 'prism2' in source 'prism2,wlan0,prism2source

so got any suggestions?

Hmm.

There are a couple of comments in the release notes about prism2_avs, so make sure you're using the latest Kismet (early June, I think). The config file format and default location have changed.

Make sure that the driver is loaded. Does the wireless connection work properly otherwise? (Sorry for asking such a basic question, just trying to be thorough.)

Kismet barfs if the interface is not up. Immediately before running it, try ifconfig eth0 (or wlan0) up.

ok i have a working net connection from the laptop using the wieless card as i am using it now. however as root i tried to do
apt-get upgrade kismet
and i recieve the same error i always do when upgrading or installing stuff now which is
root@darkstar:~# apt-get upgrade kismet
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
testdisk: Depends: libntfs5 (>= 1.9.0) but it is not installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.

i have tried using apt-get -f install and still have no luck so does anyone have any suggestions?

im thinking the error may be from knoppix using the sid release which isnt stable so i am going to install the regular debian with sarge to see if the error is still there

k the debian thing still didnt work got the same error and i have moved back to knoppix.

^help^

fine i did it myself lol but the correct source for the smc card should be set as
wlanng, wlan0 *or whatever your card is set as*, wlanngsource

Thank you for posting the fix. I have that card, but use it in my AP. The lesser-powered sister card works fine, but I use the orinoco driver so did not have a point of comparison.

Glad you got it going.