Is there a command or configuration setting that will put a WRT54G/S/L, Ubiquiti RocketM2, BulletM2 or Nanostation into a "test mode" that emits a steady signal in order to measure the power output?  I am putting a new Rig Expert IT-24 Universal Tester through hoops in order to write a review to submit here but the output of all the nodes I have are transmitting/receiving so fast, it's hard to lock on to a single "carrier", so to speak, for a reading.  Thanks for any help/guidance.

Boyd Prestwood, K5YKG Near Houston, TX

As you can imagine a "RF Jammer" is not very fondly looked upon by government so such a feather would not be in a stock build.

Linksys: None, and not doable at all due to the closed source nature of the driver.

Ubiquiti: Maybe if you hack the Kernel driver you could make something happen but nothing in the stock code.

Best Chance without modification:  Transmit large packets out the WIFI interface, You will still have spaces. but this will give you longer pulses. Most pulses on the nodes are probably around <100B The MTU is around 1KB so you could make packets around 10x larger than most average packets we transmit without forced data.

 Use of a "packet spammer" may help (there is some code online to make one) but would need something to be compiled by you on your own.

Yes, I read about that in the IT-24 manual and used the mesh node's Set-Up page to put the node into the AP mode but didn't know how to invoke the "Beacon Mode", figuring that might give me longer transmissions. Any suggestions or info about the "Beacon Mode"?

Thanks Boyd Prestwood, K5YKG

Near Houston in NW Harris Co

Beacon's in WIFI are short bursts that send out basic wifi details.  As notes by me before they are very short packets.

We do not disable beacons. Any AP or Mesh node will send beacons.

With an IP camera hooked up to a mesh node (WRT54Gv4), with one antenna removed and the IT-24 connected to the other antenna output (RP-TNC male) and the 'Set_up' screen directing T&R packets to the left connector, I am measuring 13.8 dBm (23.7 mW) per the IT-24 which displays both dBm and mW values.  The IT-24 is "supposed" to measure PEAK power.  The Linksys advertizes 19 dBm.  If this is all the proper way to do the measuring, does this seem typical?

I am assuming (ass u me !) that the camera will cause the node to generate longer packets.  Is my thinking correct?

Boyd

The camera itself will not generate any content unless another client is pulling that data.

The frames may be small if it's real time video or may be large all depends on settings.

Power output is affected by other nodes.

The only true proper way to do this is in a faraday cage and you MUST know low level commands to control RF settings (more controllable under Ubiquiti than Linksys) to control the device under test.

WIFI devices will vary the power up and down based on the speed they are transmitting at.

Wow, so much to know and learn.  Thanks to Joe and Conrad for their help and insight.  It looks like my evaluation of the IT-24 may not be truthful/accurate because of all the variables involved... not like the days of a Bird-43, steady carrier transmitters and dummy loads!

I'll keep researching away... gotta learn somehow!

Boyd, K5YKG

Interesting and educational, Joe.  Maybe I can dash off a quick email to the manufacturer to ask for more informational pieces to the puzzle.  Thanks for your insight!  I'll keep the forum posted on responses.

Boyd K5YKG