Wireless software for signal strength testing on the mac

[Dexi]

Are there any that come recommended for doing a site survey?

I have tried iStumbler and Kismac but both seem unreliable with regards to signal strength. They both give a weakened signal strength and different results when standing in the same spot. Even next to the AP they will only give 65-75% signal read out when the windows laptop with netstumbler says 99%.

Any suggestions or is it just my mac picking up a weaker signal anyway???

[SYNACK]

Could be the Mac in question, we had a presnter in who's Powerbook would only pick up an AP when it was about 10m away and screaming at max power in comparison to the other machines which picked it up at lower power levels from five times the distance, In this instance I am sure that it was just the particular Mac that the guy had (not that he would admit it) but from the total lack of wireless range I think that one or more of the anntena connectors on anntennas themselve may have been damaged.

This could be a simmilar situation to your own with a slightly busted wireless setup either from wear or a mess up at manufacture.

[Dexi]

If it is, then it is a manufacturing fault as it's a brand new macbook pro... hope not though. Seems ok!

[SYNACK]

If it is, then it is a manufacturing fault as it's a brand new macbook pro... hope not though. Seems ok!

Not as unlikely as it could be:
iFixit tears new MacBook Pro to shreds, finds build quality issues - Funky Kit
Apple's new MacBook Pros raise quality concerns - Computerworld

[psydii]

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/A/Resources/airport -h

Don't forget that the 'signal strength' measurement isn't really standardised. Different software/hardware combinations can/will return differing results. That said, a massive variation in signal strength if coupled with a similar drop in actual throughput would suggest a hardware issue. What does the AP say about the connection?

[Arthur]

You can also view the wireless signal strength if you hold down the CTRL key prior to clicking the AirPort icon in the menu bar...

http://www.tidbits.com/article/10506