WiFi Channel identification

There are numerous wi-fi channels in use near me. I have set my BT Homehub 3 to auto select the channel but frequently have to manually reset it which may be because of interference. I would like to be able to see what other channels are in use near me.
Neither Linux nor Win Vista network settings show the channels in use.
What app would you advise?

thanks

Inssider

Or NetStumbler. I use the Mac version (iStumbler)

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Inssider

or to use the correct format:

inSSIDer

Most things that cause issues can't be seen

Scenario A
2 routers on the same channels - normally ok

Scenario B
A router, 3 cordless doorbells, a wireless tv sender, a baby monitor and a few wireless keyboards all on the same channel - this is mayhem

Inssider only shows the routers so you would choose scenario B even though its actually worse than scenario A. As inssider would make scenario Bs channel look less crowded

You often find routers all go on the same channel. Often as its the one less crowded in reality.

Doorbells etc are the things that cause major wireless issues not routers. They're often not very kind in the way they operate compared to routers & can easily make a wireless channel unusable. Multiple routers are much less likely to do this.

It's what you don't see that you need to be worrying about.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 27-Jun-13 15:41:07)

Netstumbler runs in both Windows and Linux (Wine) but won't recognise my Atheros AR500 in Windows - the Atheros is visible but greyed out. On Linux machine it reports "no wireless adaptor found".
Anything I can do about this?

Can't help I'm afraid, I'm exclusively Mac here- the only reason I've even heard of NetStumbler is because of iStumbler.

iwlist eth1 scan

should list APs it can see, with appropriate interface specified where eth1 is indicated

as sudo or root it actively scans, otherwise you get a residual result.

Edited by yarwell (Sun 30-Jun-13 22:05:09)

sudo iwlist eth1 scan

returns:
Interface doesn't support scanning

Check the WiSpy add-on for inSSIDer.