SpecTools on the EeePC

You are looking at one SpecTools on the Eee PC. What is it? check it out here: http://www.kismetwireless.net/spectools/ if you are familiar with kismet, I believe Mike Kershaw authored SpecTools as well. SpecTools does not work like Netstumbler, or kismet. It uses the USB Spectrum Analyzer (Wi-Spy 2.4x from MetaGeek).

A Spectrum Analyzer basically will let you visually see what is happening in your local radio spectrum on the physical layer. Things like microwaves, and cordless phones can cause data loss in your wifi, which you will be unable to detect using a typical wifi card.

The EeePc is great for IT professionals to tote around and find the source of interference.

Unfortunately I have installed Ubuntu, so until I try it on a default Xandros installation, I won't have any instructions til later.

Requirements:

• A Wi-Spy analyzer
• LibUSB
• GTK 2.0 with Cairo support

Installation: (from the readme)

COMPILING:
Prepare the source using './configure', the standard autoconf configuration
should detect the presence of GTK, libUSB, etc. Review the
configuration output if a component is not detected.

To build the tools, simply run 'make' (or 'gmake', depending on platform).

INSTALLING UDEV RULES:
Udev is the dynamic device system for Linux. The file "99-wispy.rules" contains
the rules to make the wispy device accessible by users in the group "plugdev"
without requiring root access.

Typically udev rules go in /etc/udev/rules.d/ however it may depend on your
distribution. Those packaging wispy-tools for distros should modify this
location as necessary. Depending on your distro, it may be necessary to
restart udevd with "/etc/init.d/udevd restart"

That is a screenshot of my 802.11b/g wifi router (D-Link) on channel 6, and my wireless mouse on channel 3.

Free up Hard drive space.

If you're like me, you are pretty reckless with installing software-I swear, for me, linux was a pandora's box of free software.

Today when i installed the usual update from the ubuntu repositories... it told me that my hard drive was full....? All I had on my hard drive was my documents, no pictures, no music, no videos. I was shocked, and pretty upset.

Not to discourage anyone from buying an eee, I just recommend it as a second computer... Because everything you install or download adds up. (I believe the 8 gig eee is coming out soon, and they have hacked the eee to hold 20 gigs now).

But for those of you still using debian or ubuntu, might I recommend something to clear up some memory? This little code cleared up about a gig of archived packages located in var/cache/apt/archives/

sudo apt-get autoclean

Reboot the computer and you're done!

Ubuntu 7.10 on Asus Eee PC

Howto Install Ubuntu on the EEE PC (with only a usb drive)

First, this took me a really long time, and I really don't wish this headache upon anyone else. Before you get started, I should remind you that because Ubuntu is not made for the eeepc, you may not have every software program. Also, I'm trying to retrace the steps it took me. So they may not be 100%, so refer to the wiki here.

Note: you will need a computer with working internet nearb

1. Let's format your usb drive so it will run smooth without any major errors. Open a Terminal. If you're using your eee (CTRL ALT T). Plug in the usb

2. fdisk -l (remember whatever the /dev/sd*1, replace the * with that letter later).

3. sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n ubuntu /dev/sd*1

4. sudo apt-get install syslinux

5. wget http://kiwilinux.org/public/isotostick.sh

6. sudo chmod +x isotostick.sh

7. fdisk -l

8. Remember what your usb drive looks like, it should be something like
   

   /dev/sd*1 (replace the * with the letter of your usb drive)

9. sudo parted /dev/sd* set 1 boot on

10. sudo ./isotostick.sh /path/to/image.iso /dev/sd*1 (please change this to where ever you saved the iso image.)

11. sudo syslinux /dev/sd*1

12. Okay so now lets put ndiswrapper and the driver on. (if you have a wired connection available skip these steps, and just plug your eeepc in for internet.
1. Download these files to your usb drive
1. ndiswrapper-common

2. ndiswrapper-utils-1.9

3. WiFi Driver
1. Copy the folder called ndis5x to the usb drive as well.
   

13. sudo umount /dev/sd*1 (unmount if you are using a computer other than the eee pc)

14. if you used a different computer, it is time to put ubuntu on the eeepc! Plug it in!
15. Turn on the eeepc. In that first screen press ESC.
16. Choose the usb drive you put ubuntu on. It should start up like a livecd installation.
17. You will need to move the windows.
1. System>Preferences>Appearance>Visual Effects>None
2. use Alt and Click to drag windows that are too big by default
18. Go through the typical installation process.
    
19. Time to set up the internet. if you have a wired connection skip these steps.
1. navigate to the .deb you put on the usb called ndiswrapper-common. Install it
2. do the same for ndiswrapper-utils
3. Copy the folder ndis5x to your desktop
4. Open a terminal and type:
   

1. sudo modprobe -r ath_pci

2. sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-common

3. add this line:
   

   blacklist ath_pci

4. Reboot

1. Navigate to where you saved the .deb files of ndiswrapper-common and ndiswrapper-utils and doubleclick them to install
2. Open a terminal
3. cd Desktop/ndis5x

4. sudo ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf

5. sudo ndiswrapper -m

6. sudo ndiswrapper -ma && sudo ndiswrapper -mi

7. reboot
1. Now lets get the native madwifi drive running

1. sudo apt-get install build-essential

2. wget 'http://madwifi.org/attachment/ticket/1679/madwifi-ng-0933.ar2425.20071130.i386.patch?format=raw'

3. wget http://snapshots.madwifi.org/madwifi-ng/madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018.tar.gz

4. tar zxvf madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018.tar.gz

5. cd madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018

6. patch -p0 < ../madwifi-ng-0933.ar2425.20071130.i386.patch\?format\=raw

7. make clean

8. make

9. sudo make install

10. reboot

2. Next let's fix some of the known issues.
1. sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
1. add this: options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig
2. (that will get your mic working)
   
2. sudo gedit /etc/default/acpi-support

1. SAVE_VBE_STATE=false

2. SAVE_VIDEO_PCI_STATE=true

3. USE_DPMS=true

4. # Add modules to this list to have them removed before suspend and reloaded
   # on resume. An example would be MODULES="em8300 yenta_socket"
   #
   # Note that network cards and USB controllers will automatically be unloaded
   # unless they're listed in MODULES_WHITELIST
   MODULES="ndiswrapper"

1. I don't know if that last line is necessary... because you should have madwifi up and running.
2. all of this fixes the suspend issues
   
3. save and close. now to fix the shut down.
   

4. sudo gedit /etc/init.d/halt

5. add to the TOP:

   rmmod snd-hda-intel

3. If you want Compiz-Fusion enabled, I recommend this:
1. ALT F2
2. apps > Compiz > plugins > move > allscreens > options
3. uncheck constrain y.

I think that should be it!! Hopefully it worked for you!

ubuntu on the eee

I want this:

Simple Mode Frustrations.

I consider myself a beginner linux user. So maybe my input will have some meaning to those of you who are just now purchasing the eee. You're getting your feet wet, and you're discovering that sometimes software installs take you back to the command line.

Lame. I wish there was an alternative. But to my research, I still haven't seen a way of doing things the easy way, while maintaining Asus easy mode.

Why do i want to stick with the easy mode? Because even though the xandros set up looks nicer, I get so frustrated trying to navigate through the start menu options. Try using a super small touch pad and a super small screen to navigate and you will see what I mean.

The eee's gui is great simple, I just wish I could easily add my own installed software onto it VIA SYNAPTIC.

If you don't know what synaptic is, its cool, basically it is a library of anything you would want to install, you just click, and it will set it up for you automatically. That is probably a little too simple.

because somehow the eee is blocking synaptic, I have to look up the file I want in synaptic and then go into command line. This is really really dumb.

Even though i like the eee's user interface, as soon as they get those wifi drivers for ubuntu,... i'm so out of this, and you will see a whole new blog section.

Carrying Case for the eee

Found here: http://forum.eeeuser.com/

http://www.rei.com/product/733023

Made by Eagle Creek, very well made. Holds the Eee perfectly, with room for power supply, mouse, headphones, even a paperback or little sketchpad. Many pockets and storage places.

I like it cause it's a shoulder bag, dimensioned like the Eee, and especially because it doesn't look like a computer bag--better security if folks don't know what's in there.

Amazon.com This case looks pretty solid.