MetaGeek Software Announcements

Chanalyzer 2.1.6.0912

brian — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:47:00 +0000

This is a 2.1.x maintenance release. It fixes bugs with the preferences file, and re-enables support for WiFi channel 14.
Fixes and Updates:

Fix a bug with the preferences file
Re-enable support for WiFi channel 14

Chanalyzer 2.1.5.0905

brian — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:44:00 +0000

We've added channel reports to provide more information about Wi-Fi and Zigbee channels. A channel "grade" is also given, which is an indicator of how quiet the channel is. The channel with the highest grade should be the best channel to install a new network on (given a long enough data sample).

Fixes and Updates:

Scroll spectral view with the mouse wheel
Relative fast forward and rewind (speed based on timeframe)
Added Channel Reports (Wi-Fi and Zigbee)
Fixed startup race condition that occasionally caused crash

Grab it from our downloads page.

Chanalyzer 2.1.4.0621

brian — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:34:00 +0000

This is the final planned 2.1.x maintenance release. This version makes better use of screen real estate by clipping the views at -30dBm unless stronger signals are present. It also adds an error reporting mechanism and fixes some minor spectral view issues.

Fixes and Updates:

Clip Planar and Topo views at -30 dBm unless stronger signals are present
Automatically notify of new releases and provide details on new features/fixes
Catch unhandled exceptions (program crashes) and provide option to report them via email
Improve performance when changing timeframe in a long recording
Fix partial spectral data line when moving back in time via the playback bar
Fix playback position string getting clipped for large values

Chanalyzer 2.1.3

brian — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:00:00 +0000

This Chanalyzer release coincides with the release of Wi-Spy 2.4x (FINALLY!!!). I hope that this is the final 2.1.x maintenance release. We've fixed all the issues we're aware of, and we are hard at work on some cool new features for Chanalyzer 2.2.

Fixes and Updates:

Add support for Wi-Fi channel 14 (2473-2495 GHz)
Use calculated noise floor for spectral color mapping
Update noise floor after every minute of data
Improved "Save Recording as..." bounds checking
Don't allow opening USB tab after device is disconnected
Improved Playback bar usability
Use Time Frame from preferences in new tab when USB device is plugged in
Fix issues when rapidly switching playback position
Fix issues when reaching beginning or end of a recording
Fix amplitude labels at initialization
Fix behavior when Preferences dialog is closed

Chanalyzer 2.1 beta 1 (build 2007.4.30.0)

brian — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:13:00 +0000

This is the first public beta of Chanalyzer 2.1. In the process of adding support for the upcoming Wi-Spy 2.4x, we decided to rewrite the entire back-end of the application. Data processing is now less resource-intesive and some major bugs have been fixed.

Updates and Fixes:
Add support for Wi-Spy 2.4x
Data processing for views completely rewritten
- fixed major memory leaks
- fixed topoview data processing inconsistency
- less than half the CPU utilization of the previous implementation
New graphics implementation for Topo and Spectral views; further reduce CPU utilization
Single timeframe for all three views
Added ability to fast-forward, play backward and play half-speed in recordings
New recording file format; old recordings automatically updated
Can't create new recordings in this beta
USB data is spooled to recording file in directory
Added "Share w/ Friend" and "Upload to Library" functionality
Draw line on all views when dragging markers
Automatically determine color scale for Topo View
De-emphasize Topo View data below the noise floor
Added timestamp to image capture features
Many minor UI updates

Here We Go...

brian — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:32:00 +0000

I came to work at MetaGeek the first week of December, 2006. It has been an exciting, exhausting and fulfilling couple of months already. The last couple of weeks have been especially thrilling: launching our new website, releasing new software, sampling new hardware, and expanding our office. As much fun as that has been, were just scratching the surface of our potential, and things are set to really take off from here.

We have lots of work to do, but it is going to be a blast. Ive got a ton of work to do on Chanalyzer to get it ready to take full advantage of the capabilities of the new hardware. Ive also got some terrific new features lined up for Chanalyzer that I cant wait to get going on. I probably wont be posting a ton on the blog over the next couple of months, because Chanalyzer will be my mission.
I'll be checking in on the forum a couple of times a week to help out with any issues and share ideas.

I know the forum here on the new website isn't perfect, but bear with us. We're working with Blueline to make the forum great. Also, be sure to check out the Docs section of the site. The Docs content is Wiki, so feel free to contribute. Wed especially love it for folks to contribute Chanalyzer recordings to the recordings library.
Hang on folks, this is going to be a great ride!

Chanalyzer 2.0 Revision History

brian — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 23:20:00 +0000

build 2007.2.8.0:

Updated WiSpyHID to allow device disconnect/reconnect to any USB port while Chanalyzer is running

build 2007.2.1.0:

Chanalyzer 2.0 official release
Playback buttons don't assume XP "silver" look on mouse over
Better status bar tips for playback buttons and topo legend adjuster
Improved file dialog behavior

build 2007.1.31.0:

New application icon
New About dialog
Double-clicking a file opens it in the existing window
USB plug/unplug event maps to correct device
Unplugging Wi-Spy closes the USB tab
Fix help link
Spectral, Topo, Planar views in View menu checked/unchecked appropriately

build 2007.1.15.0:

Remove "Average" option in Spectral View
New percent per color adjustment UI in Topo View
Fix Pause/Play button behavior
Don't try to open files that don't exist
Double clicking a file opens it

build 2007.1.9.0:

Switched from multi-window to multi-tab/single-window application
New Start Panel with more explanation and options
Set better default keyboard shortcuts
Removed keyboard shortcut preference options
Finished purple color scheme; all items now match the color scheme
Moved color legends into control panels for Spectral View and Topographic View
Implemented Recent Recordings menu
Added option to open/close USB Tab
Update Marker data on movement when recording playback is paused
WiFi channel highlights are colored to better distinguish overlapping channels
Cursor switches to hand on clickable items
Fix config.ini path for Vista

build 2006.12.19.2:

Fixed USB unplug bug (caused CPU thrash)
New marker UI and colors
Marker size now scales with window width

build 2006.12.18.0:

Now remembers window location and size
Fixed OnScroll exception caused by recording playback time slider

build 2006.12.16.0:

Reduced CPU usage of Planar View markers
Fixed Planar View background in Purple color scheme
Don't allow Chanalyzer to open version 1 recordings (incompatible)

build 2006.12.14.0:

Major modifications to recording controls
Added status/tooltip bar in footer
Replaced cyusb.dll with WiSpyHID.dll
Correctly runs on 64-bit Windows (as a 32-bit application)

build 2006.11.24.0:

Implemented recordings

build 2006.11.14.1:

Corrected amplitude calibration
Adjusted default color scheme (blues are now darker)
Added purple color scheme (optimized for color blindness)
Added color legends for Topographic View and Spectral View
Modified Wi-Fi channel highlighting to allow multiple channels to be highlighted

build 2006.10.19.0:

Initial release of Wi-Spy Chanalyzer 2.0 beta

Boise, Id - Center of the College Football Universe

brian — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:49:00 +0000

2007 Fiesta Bowl: Boise State University Broncos: 43 - Oklahoma University Sooners: 42 - OT

I still cant believe it, and I was there. That was, without a doubt, the most entertaining football game I've ever seen. If you missed it, heres the story. Boise State, a Division 1A football program for only 11 years is playing on its biggest stage ever against Big-12 champion Oklahoma, which is essentially one of the founding fathers of college football.

The oddsmakers (who really know their football) had Oklahoma as a 7 point favorite. Fans of Oklahoma and other big-time college football programs (who may or may not know football, but certainly didnt know the Broncos) thought it would be a blowout. After all, Oklahoma gets the blue chip high school athletes, and Boise State gets the rejects, right?

Uhno. Boise State had their way with Oklahoma for 3 quarters, dominating the line of scrimmage and running out to a 28-10 lead. Oklahoma wouldn't go quietly, though.

Momentum shifted when Boise State forced Oklahoma to punt (again) midway through the third quarter, but the punt took an odd bounce and grazed a Boise State player &mash; LIVE BALL! and Oklahoma recovers inside the 20. They quickly punch in the touchdown28-17. Now Oklahoma begins to impose their will on a tired Boise State defense, and quickly ties the game.

No big deal 1:07 left, all Boise State had to do is drive down the field and kick the winning field goal. Then disaster! Boise State QB Jared Zabransky throws his first pass of the drive directly to an Oklahoma DB and he jogs untouched into the endzone for a pick-six and a 28-35 Oklahoma lead. Boise State fans are stunned. Well, at least we made a game of it, right? There is no shame is playing the Big-12 champs tough and coming up short.

No. Boise State is here to WIN. 54 second on the clock, and a touchdown needed to tie. Zabransky shakes off his brutal mistake and comes back on the field to lead the Broncos on an inspired drive. He is shredding the Oklahoma defense, but the drive stalls at the 50, and Boise State faces fourth and 18 for all the marbles. First year coach Chris Petersen calls circus. Zabransky completes the 15 yard pass to WR Drisan James, but hes 3 yards shy of the first down, and the entire Oklahoma defense is converging on him. Suddenly, he pitches the ball to another WR, Jerard Rabb, who is streaking by on the outside. The Oklahoma defense is not in position to catch him and he runs all the way in for a touchdown! Tie game 35-35 and were going to overtime!

I'm bearhugged by a complete stranger at this point, and I now realize he may have cracked a rib, but I couldn't feel anything right then. We Boise State fans are flipping out. Boise State wins the overtime coin toss, and chooses to defend first. Things are going our way. On the first play of overtime, Oklahoma all-everything RB Adrian Peterson goes 25 yards untouched for a touchdownugh. The Boise State defense is completely out of gas. 35-42 Oklahoma.

Boise State moves the ball much more methodically on its first possession of overtime. The drive stalls at the 5 yard linefourth and 2 for the game. Whats this? Zabransky goes in motion to a slot position, and the ball is directly snapped to Vinnie Peratta, a backup RB? He takes off as if to run for the first down, then pulls up and throws a perfect touch pass to TE Derek Schouman (who had a MONSTER game, by the way) in the back of the endzone — TOUCHDOWN! At this point, everyone in the stadium knows Boise State is going for 2 and the win. Our defense is too exhausted to put them back out there. Oklahoma takes a look at the Boise State alignment for the 2 point attempt and calls timeout.

After the timeout, Boise State comes out with the exact same alignment. What happened next is the stuff of legend; statue left. 3 WRs streak toward the endzone on the right side, and Zabransy fakes a pass to them. As the Oklahoma defense tries to figure out who has the ball, Zabrasky passes it BEHIND HIS BACK to our own all everything RB, Ian Johnson, who scampers into the left corner of the endzone untouched behind devestating blocks by LT Ryan Clady and TE Derek Schouman — BOISE STATE WINS 43-42!!!

As if The Greatest Game Ever Played wasn't enough, Ian Johnson proposes to his girlfriend, the head cheerleader during the post game festivities; she says yes. It is just an incredible story. I drove home to Boise from Phoenix, and everywhere I stopped, people would see my Boise State hat and talk about that unbelievable Fiesta Bowl win. Everyone is Boise State fan, at least for the moment. We at MetaGeek are affiliated with Boise State because we are a client of the BSU Technology and Entrepreneurial Center. I am also a BSU alum. It is a great time to be a Bronco. GO BRONCOS!