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Remote Sensor Setup [DEPRECATED]

DEPRECATED: Starting in WiFi Explorer Pro 3.2, a remote sensor doesn't longer need the wifiexplorer-sensor script to enable the remote scanning function. For more information, see: Connect to a Remote Sensor.

WiFi Explorer Pro allows you to connect to a remote platform (e.g. Raspberry Pi) and perform a passive Wi-Fi scan using a capable Wi-Fi adapter. When a remote sensor is used, the scan results are sent back to WiFi Explorer Pro for its visualization.

To use a platform as a remote sensor you will need a Linux-based computer with a Wi-Fi adapter capable of using monitor mode, and a Python script that enables the sensor functionality.

Installation

  1. Download wifiexplorer-sensor and copy the script to the Linux-based platform that will be used as a remote sensor. We recommend you place the script under /usr/local/bin. Also, make sure it has executable permissions:
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/wifiexplorer-sensor
  1. Install python3 and python3-pip. If you're using a Debian-based platform you can type:
sudo apt-get install python3 python3-pip
  1. Install scapy:
sudo pip3 install scapy

Starting the sensor

Manual mode

If wlan0 is the Wi-Fi adapter to be used, type:

sudo nohup /usr/local/bin/wifiexplorer-sensor wlan0 > /tmp/wifiexplorer-sensor.log 2>&1 &

Automatic mode

You can make the script launch at startup by editing /etc/rc.local to include the line above. If your Wi-Fi adapter is other than wlan0, you need to change it accordingly. Also, the line above must be included just before the line that says exit 0, in case such line is present.

However, we recommend using a startup script. Startup scripts for System V- and systemd-based initialization systems are provided under the scripts directory.

System V

Copy scripts/wifiexplorer-sensor to the target platform, then type the following to enable it:

sudo install -p -m 755 wifiexplorer-sensor /etc/init.d/wifiexplorer-sensor
sudo update-rc.d wifiexplorer-sensor defaults
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

You can start the sensor by typing:

sudo service wifiexplorer-sensor start

Systemd

Copy scripts/wifiexplorer-sensor.service to the target platform, then type the following to enable it:

sudo install -p -m 644 wifiexplorer-sensor.service /lib/systemd/system/wifiexplorer-sensor.service
sudo systemctl enable wifiexplorer-sensor.service

You can start the sensor by typing:

sudo systemctl start wifiexplorer-sensor

Use

Once the platform is ready, go to WiFi Explorer Pro > Preferences > Sensors and click '+' to add the new sensor by entering its IP address. This address would be the wired (Ethernet) IP address unless you have a secondary Wi-Fi adapter you can use to connect to the sensor (the Wi-Fi adapter used for scanning will be switched to monitor mode while the scan is in progress!).

You can now go to the WiFi Explorer Pro toolbar and choose your remote sensor to start a scan.