Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views, policies, or positions of my employer or any organization with which I am affiliated.
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My current wardriving setup is a Pixel 4a 5G, a Pixel 7a, a Pixel 10 Pro XL, and a Raspberry Pi 4B with three external antennas.
The phones run Wardriver Go and WiGLE, and the Pi runs Kismet. The Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 7a have been part of the setup for a while, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL joining as the newest. Having three generations of hardware gives me a chance to compare what each records under similar conditions. In earlier tests, the Pixel 4a 5G recorded more SSIDs. I want to see whether that result holds up over repeated runs. Placement, scan timing, app settings, and conditions along the route affect the results.
The Raspberry Pi 4B adds another collection platform to test. Its hardware includes three Wi-Fi adapters and a GNSS receiver:
| Device | Role |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MediaTek MT7612U adapter | Wi-Fi adapter |
| NETGEAR A6210 | Wi-Fi adapter |
| Techkey AC1200, identified as Realtek RTL88x2bu | Wi-Fi adapter |
| u-blox 8 USB receiver | GPS/GNSS receiver |
With the Pi, I have more control over the collection setup and antenna placement.
For the next round of testing, I plan to run everything over the same route and compare the logs. The phones will provide a baseline while I develop the Kismet setup and external antenna arrangement. Total observations will be one measure. Getting useful results means making the equipment manageable. Mounting, cable routing, power, and access all matter when I want to use the setup regularly. It needs to start reliably, keep collecting, and leave me with logs I can compare without making every outing a troubleshooting session. The Bronco installation will be a project of its own. I plan to use the existing mounting points for antennas, route wiring through the existing firewall pass-through, and integrate switched, fused power with the auxiliary switches. Exterior equipment will need protection from rain, dust, and vibration, with mounts and wiring I can inspect and service. Long term, I want to wardrive all 50 states. A dependable setup is part of making those trips possible. Documenting the work matters. For now, the build is three Pixels, a Raspberry Pi 4B, and three external antennas. The next update will be the comparison results and what I learn while getting everything to work as one manageable setup.
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