Custom wardriving van for sale on eBay

Under normal circumstances, a 1984 GMC Vandura van with 130,000 miles on it would probably go for about a grand. So why is a version of this vehicle listed on eBay with a starting bid of $3,500? One word: wardriving. The van, a custom job with a $1,200 alarm system, $1,200 sound system, GPS, police scanner, 160 watt power inverter and a homemade WiFi dish, was designed for one thing: driving around looking for WiFi service that you can snarf. While we assume that this van is a better solution than a $25 WiFi detector, we still have to wonder whether it's worth all that just to find open networks that you can use. Perhaps that's why the current owner (who says he spent over $10,000 to outfit the van) suggests that a better use might be to "transport very valuable stuff " — and why, as of April 5th, one day before the auction's close, there were no bids posted.

[Thanks, wifigod]

[desk003 aka Cameron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

look at his site. He's either a theif or a goddamn rich asshole. (i hate rich people, mainly because i am not one)

[All Music Site @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

It's a nice idea though

[Marv @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Call me crazy, but would you want a wardriving van that, from the outside, looked like a wardriving van? I know I wouldn't. (see the writing on the sides)

[Martey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

The writing on the side (see http://www.tjack.com/moving/assets/images/Van-800x600-11062004.jpg) has to do with security in general, not wardriving.

[Keith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

If it looked more like the A-Team van, I'd buy it in a hot second...

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

*sigh* My own wardriving product had to be scrapped due to my impending return to school. I had a nice little Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo I picked up for $700 that was going to get a Car-PC, power inverter, dash mount lcd, external antenas, a hood scoop for the intercooler, a new skirt for the stick shift so you couldn't see the ground, etc. etc...

And when I get back from school THIS time I'll have to start being responsible with money and look for a house to buy and stuff.

Ah well, maybe when I get back I'll be able to find that Mitsu EXPO LRV or Nissan Axxess that I really wanted instead of the Cordia...

That will be a year from July though. Anyone out there been following the evolution of wifi a little more closely than I have and can tell me how 802.11n will change/alter war driving/walking ?

[karmaghost @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

A good wardriving vehicle is only as good as the vehicle itself. In other words, the van's a piece of shit, no matter how much technology you've crammed in there

[jrat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Yeah but where are the roof mounted rocket launchers? Maybe some oil slicks and smoke screens?

[Scotty @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

actually the real intent reads (from owner's personal website):

"I built this (2nd) prototype for the wireless WiFi security service business. Equipped with special high-load-bearing tires, a huge alternator (custom made), a 12V-to-110V power conversion, 4 add'l gel-cell batteries, special antennae and two racks full of computers to scan any WiFi network in a 1-mile radius around the van, and crack any 128-bit encryption on the spot (to demonstrate to clients how easy it is, so they properly secure their WiFi networks), it turned out that the market was not ready for these high-end services in 2001."