Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#51

Post by somehnguy » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 2:33 PM UTC

deskr wrote: post #27

darkr wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheap stud finders are usually not great. The good ones are radar-based using similar frequency bands to wifi, but they cost lots of $$

You beat me to it. I'd say "usually not great" is putting it too lightly. They're awful and if you don't realize they're awful then you might make regretful decisions based on their slanderous output.

The key to using stud finders is never trusting them and using multiple methods as a sanity check. For example, if it says a stud is as position x I'll sanity check by checking x-16" and x+16" because there should also be studs there. If nothing, maybe I'll try x-15, x-14, etc with the key being looking for some repeating pattern. Test moving vertically as well.

Combine with some knocking to feel/listen for a stud right against the wall vs an erroneously detected pipe 1/4" away.

I'll also use a neodymium magnet in certain situations to look for drywall nails/screws in conjunction with the other methods.

I don't fully trust any of these methods, but together they'll get you as confident as you can be short of having a couple hundred dollar detector or taking the wall apart.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#52

Post by sleepybrett » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 2:40 PM UTC

darkr wrote: post #22

moi2388 wrote: post #7

Did you look into stud finders? They’re devices specifically made to detect pipes and electrical wiring in walls. I love that you immediately went to WiFi for this though. Gotta love us tech people over complicating things haha!

Cheap stud finders are usually not great. The good ones are radar-based using similar frequency bands to wifi, but they cost lots of $$

...and can be rented.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#53

Post by sleepybrett » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 2:45 PM UTC

greggsy wrote: post #25

Get an infrared thermometer camera. I have a FLIR add-on for iPhone that lets me see studs, gaps in insulation, leaks... it's amazing what shows up. It won't show cables, unless they're hot. You can use an AC stud finder for that. You can flip the photo between the actual and IR image, and it overlays an outline over the image. I make a video in and out of the house on the hottest and coldest days.

get a cheap 30$ endoscope from amazon. You can go in through power outlets/lightswitches etc. (probably want to cut the breaker first though). Handy tool to have around for all kinds of tasks.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#54

Post by sleepybrett » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 2:47 PM UTC

xyzzy_plugh wrote: post #36

thinkfaster wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it?

I have, it works ok, but I still use a regular stud finder most of the time, unless something bizarre is going on. It has been useful to find pipes and electrical with some confidence, when their location is called for.

There are slightly nicer stud finders that use magnetics to detect live wires.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#55

Post by sleepybrett » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 2:48 PM UTC

worthless-trash wrote: post #6

brudgers wrote: post #4

To me, WiFi is the X in an XY problem. An endoscope can be had for https://www.google.com/search?q=endoscope Good luck.

That requires putting holes int he walls, doesnt it?

you have tons of holes in your walls already you can probably use one of those. Power outlets, light switches, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#56

Post by pizzafeelsright » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 3:02 PM UTC

I have remodeled a dozen houses of and haven't hit anything of importance. How:

Study the building code to determine with >95% accuracy what is behind the wall based upon surrounding fixtures.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#57

Post by Quarrel » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 3:21 PM UTC

pizzafeelsright wrote: post #56

I have remodeled a dozen houses of and haven't hit anything of importance. How: Study the building code to determine with >95% accuracy what is behind the wall based upon surrounding fixtures.

You're going to be in trouble once you get to 20 houses :)

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#58

Post by mrgoldenbrown » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 3:56 PM UTC

amerkhalid wrote: post #44

darkr wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheap stud finders are usually not great. The good ones are radar-based using similar frequency bands to wifi, but they cost lots of $$

I bought a thermal camera as a fun toy, it is great at finding studs especially for walls that face outside. Also you can see pipes easily when hot water is running through them. But it was not cheap, cost about $300. If you just want to just find studs, use magnetic stud finder. Cost about $10. Very easy to use and accurate.

Cheap stud finders are only accurate for some wall construction types. They do not work on my older style plaster and lathe walls, for example.

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#59

Post by mrgoldenbrown » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 3:59 PM UTC

pizzafeelsright wrote: post #56

I have remodeled a dozen houses of and haven't hit anything of importance. How: Study the building code to determine with >95% accuracy what is behind the wall based upon surrounding fixtures.

How do you know the building code from 100+ years ago? And whether they actually followed it back then?

Re: Ask HN: Any tools to do generic WiFi imaging?

#60

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 4:06 PM UTC

hyperific wrote: post #12

For anyone trying to find and map electrical wires in their walls I recommend an inductive electromagnetic listening device like the FarField on Tindie. Plug a device into an outlet and you'll be able to hear the electromagnetic field of the wire in your wall via the FarField's stereo inductors. Soma Ether is also a good one but pricey.

[deleted]