Security Basics mailing list archives

Re: External Wireless Card for Cantenna


From: Todd Haverkos <infosec () haverkos com>
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:20:46 -0500

"Kurt M. John" <kurt.md.john () gmail com> writes:

Hey Guys,

I'm have some wireless vulnerability assessment to do and its the first
time I'll be using a cantenna to get the job done. I am looking for
PCMCIA or USB wireless cards with an external antenna jack so I can use
it with cantenna.

thanks,

Kurt M. John, CISA, C|EH, CPT

Hi Kurt, 

I have been well served in the past with atheros based cards which
enjoy great driver support in linux.  One high-powered go-to in the
A/B/G space is the Ubiquiti SSRC a/b/g.  You'll want the appropriate
pigtail to get to your n-female (I believe) cantenna connection.

 Ubiquiti a/b/g Cardbus adapter (which includes the 2.4/5.4Ghz
 omnidirectional antenna).  Has dual MMCX antenna connectors ~$125
    http://ubnt.com/products/src.php
    http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-44/Ubiquiti-SRC-300mW-802.11G/Detail.bok
    among other places...

  L-Com MMCX to N-Male, Pigtail 19" 100-Series  connector.   $10.49 
    http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=22586

While shopping L-Com you might also consider a directional 802.11 A
antenna as well.  A is in a different frequency band and physics
demands a different antenna. 

Alfa has a very high powered USB based card that does b/g only that
also remains popular for wireless assessments especialy for folks who
leverage a virtual machine for whom cardbus would be a non-starter.

And as a final idea, you might consider a rig where you have 3
idential (perhaps low cost) USB cards with rubber duck external
antennas hanging off a USB hub.  This makes drive-arounds quick and
easy without the need for channel hopping on 802.11 b/g bands.  Lock
each of the 3 card to channels 1, 6 and 11, and I've had decent luck
iirc picking up everything in one pass, even things on intermediate
channels.  Finally, don't forget some sort of GPS device/puck so you
can have GPS data of discovered AP's.  Very handy for making pretty
maps...   


--
Todd Haverkos, LPT MsCompE
http://haverkos.com/

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