Wifi watching widget for Linux released by Xirrus

The Xirrus Wifi desklet in closed gadget form Xirrus has released an open source version of its Xirrus Wifi Monitor for Linux. Implemented as a gDesklet desklet, the Wifi Monitor shows details of current and recent connection quality, a "radar scan" of nearby networks as a summary view or a table view of full details, details of the configured adapter and performance statistics for the connection. The "radar scan" effect, though amusing, can be turned off, leaving the display positioning local access points in rings of signal strength, despite the appearance of physically locating access points.

The Xirrus Wifi monitor for Linux joins versions already available for Vista, as a native gadget, XP and Mac OS X, both of which use the Yahoo Desktop. The desklet version is written in Python and the code is readily visible, though we do note that that "COPYING" file in the archive is just an "As Is" disclaimer. Heise online UK contacted Xirrus to ask about this and were assured the code will be modified soon to include the GNU Public License.

Xirrus's main line of business is the manufacture of Wifi Array systems, which pack in from four to sixteen radios in an antenna array, to deliver high performance Wifi coverage, so a gadget like the Wifi Monitor is ideal for it to show how well their arrays are performing.

(djwm)