inSSIDer FAQ

What is inSSIDer?

inSSIDer is a replacement for NetStumbler. NetStumbler hasn't been actively developed for 4 years and is showing signs of its age. We have applied our user interface expertise to create an all-new Wi-Fi scanner application. inSSIDer is designed to be a companion to Chanalyzer.

Is inSSIDer free?

Yes! Not only is inSSIDer free, we are releasing it under the MIT open source license. We don't want inSSIDer to stop being developed if for some reason we were unable to continue work on it. Too many useful utilities are closed source and die a slow death when the creators stop working on them.

Why the Apache license?

There are so many OSS licenses to choose from that it is difficult sometimes to choose the right license. We felt the Apache license was a good fit for inSSIDer for the following reasons:

• Some of the code in inSSIDer is also used in Chanalyzer. The Apache license allows code to be used in open and closed source applications, so sharing code between inSSIDer and Chanalyzer won't "infect" Chanalyzer.
• The Apache license allows anyone to reuse parts of inSSIDer in any application they want, no strings attached.

Why can't I use my Wi-Spy with inSSIDer?

The Wi-Spy 2.4x reads activity only on the physical layer, and because of that it is able to display all activity such as microwaves, cordless phones, and what Wi-Fi looks like on the spectrum. inSSIDer uses the wireless card to read its information about available wireless networks.