B4A Library Simple WIFI library

NOTICE :

I am looking for someone to take over development and maintenance on this and other libraries. I am just no longer interested in programming and don't know how long I will feel that way. Anyone interested in taking over this library or any of my others, let me know a bit about yourself by email to jem@mlsoft.org

Thanks,

--- Jem Miller

The Eclipse project and all source code has been attached below.


This is a very simple library that uses only 16 methods:

This is version 2.17. Don't panic, this version does not break anything!

I re-wrote the MACAddress method to handle Android M (API 23) and above. I also added the INTERNET and ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permissions which seems to be required in API 23, and added a new method getAPI() that returns the version of Android running on the device as an integer.

SEE THE NEW WIFITEST EXAMPLE included in the zip file for examples of how to use this library.


MLwifi
Author: Jem Miller - Missing Link Software
Version: 2.17

• MLScan
  Events:
  • ScanDone (Results() As String, Count As Int)
  Fields:
  • wifis As String[]
    A string array containing all scanned access points in the area of the device.
    These are comma separated entries consisting of the following:
    SSID, Security type, signal strength, and "Saved" if this network was previously saved for use on this device.
  Methods:
  • Disconnect As Boolean
    Disconnects the current wifi AP connection
    Returns True on success
  • WifiCap (EntryNumber As Int) As String
    Returns a String containing info about the entry. A startScan must have already been done. The string contains the SSID, the BSSID, and the capabilities of the network access point.
    Each item is separated by a comma (SSID,BSSID,CapabilityString). The capabilities part can be quite long.
    EntryNumber - If you display the string array wifis or the array returned in the getWifiList method UNSORTED, you can pass the Position variable from your ListView_Click event.
    Otherwise, you must pass the entry number from the string array since that is what is used as a reference.
    Returns a string of comma separated entries of SSID,BSSID, and capability string. Returns an empty string on error.
  • addAP (EntryNumber As Int, securityType As String, Password As String) As Boolean
    Adds an entry to the wifi manager and connects to it. This method saves the configuration of the new entry onto the device. Use the forgetAP method to delete them. Updated to handle quoted or unquoted SSID strings.
    EntryNumber - If you display the string array wifis or the array returned in the getWifiList method UNSORTED, you can pass the Position variable from your ListView_Click event.
    Otherwise, you must pass the entry number from the string array since that is what is used as a reference.
    securityType - The Access Point security type (returned in the scan result string array)
    Password - The password/phrase for the wifi access point. Pass "" for an open network. Handles WEP HEX or text phrases
    It is up to you to supply all information. The security type is found in the scan results array.
    
    Returns True if the connection is successful
  • connectToAP (EntryNumber As Int) As Boolean
    Connects to a network already configured on the device. The device will use saved values to connect. Updated to handle quoted or unquoted SSID strings.
    EntryNumber - If you display the string array wifis or the array returned in the getWifiList method UNSORTED, you can pass the Position variable from your ListView_Click event.
    Otherwise, you must pass the entry number from the string array since that is what is used as a reference.
    Returns true if successful
  • forgetAP (NetId As Int) As Boolean
    Forgets (erases) a stored access point on the device.
    NetId - The network ID number to forget (returned in the listSavedNetworks method)
    Returns True if successful
  • getBSSID (EntryNumber As Int) As String
    Returns the BSSID for the selected entry.
    EntryNumber - If you display the string array wifis or the array returned in the getWifiList method UNSORTED, you can pass the Position variable from your ListView_Click event.
    Otherwise, you must pass the entry number from the string array since that is what is used as a reference.
  • isStored (EntryNumber As Int) As Boolean
    Checks the stored networks on the device to see if this entry is a previously saved access point
    EntryNumber - The entry number in the wifis array to check. If you display the string array wifis or the array returned in the getWifiList method UNSORTED, you can pass the Position variable from your ListView_Click event.
    Otherwise, you must pass the entry number from the string array since that is what is used as a reference.
    Returns True if this is a stored network
  • listSavedNetworks As List
    Builds a list of all saved networks on the device.
    Returns a comma separated list of SSID's and their BSSID and network ID number.
  • startScan (EventName As String)
    Initializes all objects and scans for wifi networks. Builds a string array of results (wifis) that can be accessed directly or with a call to updateWifiList.
    THIS METHOD SHOULD ONLY BE CALLED ONCE!
  • updateWifiList
    Call only after startScan has already been called and a string array of Access Points has been built. This method returns a string array containing the access points from the most recent scan, including background scans done automatically by the Android WifiManager. *
    Calls the ScanDone event when a new list is ready.
    Returns the string array of comma separated wifi access points by SSID. Each entry may contain the following:
    SSID, Security type, Signal level (in DB's), and the word "Saved" if the network was previously saved for use on this device.
  Properties:
  • LinkSpeed As Int [read only]
    Returns the LinkSpeed of the connected wifi access point
• MLwifi
  Methods:
  • EnableWifi (Enabled As Boolean)
    Turns wifi on or off
    Pass True to enable wifi or False to disable.
    Example
    dim wifi as MLwifi
    wifi.EnableWifi(true)
  • IpAddress As String
    Get IP address from the wifi interface)
    Returns address or empty string
  • MACAddress As String
    Returns MAC address of the current interface
    
    Returns MAC address or empty string
  • SSID As String
    Returns the current SSID
  • WifiSignal As Int
    Returns the raw signal strength in decibels as an integer
    Returns 0 on error
  • WifiStrength As Int
    Returns an integer between 0 and 100 as a percentage of signal strength
    Returns 0 on error.
  • isOnLine As Boolean
    Checks for internet connection
    This method does not check or care what type of network is used.
    It can be wifi, 2g, 3g, 4g, wimax, etc. It just tests for internet connectivity.
    Returns True if internet is available.
  • isWifiConnected As Boolean
    Checks if wifi is connected. This only checks for wifi connection to a router.
    It does NOT test for internet availability. Use isOnLine() for that.
    Returns True if wifi is connected or False if 2g, 3g, 4g, wimax or no connection.
  Permissions:
  • android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
  • android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
  • android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
  • android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
  • android.permission.INTERNET
  Properties:
  • API As Int [read only]
    Returns the current devices Android API (the version of Android running on the device.) as an integer such as 19, 21, 23, etc.

There is a small test app included and a readme file as well. The whole mess is tiny and requires no other libs.

--- Jem

Version 1.00 - Initial release.

Version 1.01 - Added EnableWifi that I forgot in the initial release.

Version 1.02 - Using a different method to find IP address.

Version 1.03 - Adds getSSID

Version 1.04 - Removed "'s from getSSID. Renamed IsWifiConnected to isWifiConnected.

Version 1.05 - Adding AP scanning.

Version 1.06 - Adds getWifiSignal and getWifiStrength

Version 1.07 - Fixed an error in the test project and forced getSSID to return an empty string instead of Null if no SSID is found.

Version 2.00 - New connection manager methods in the MLScan class. Also changed the string array returned on a scan to include more information in a comma separated list of: SSID, security type, signal strength, and the word "Saved" if this network is saved on the device.

Version 2.01 - Added a new method WifiCap(SSID). This returns a string with comma separated fields of SSID, BSSID, and network capabilities. The capabilities refers to its security protocols. I also included a new version of the wifitest app. I forgot to add it to the version 2.00 library zip file. Tapping on a listed SSID will allow you to connect to that network.

Version 2.10 - Added Disconnect, isStored, and LinkSpeed and changed the way you must call several methods.

Version 2.11 - Removed WifiList and added updateWifiList. Fixed the connectToAP and isStored methods. Added a ScanDone event to automate scan results (no more timers needed). Added error correction and more speed.

Version 2.1.2 - Updated ScanDone event to allow real time scan results.

Version 2.13 - Updated the connect methods to handle either quoted or unquoted SSID values so in theory any version of the API should now work correctly for connecting to an AP.

Version 2.14 - Fixed the ConnectToAP method (Hopefully). Also updated the wifitest app to fix a few minor bugs.

Version 2.15 - Corrected a null pointer error if wifi is turned off during operation.

Version 2.16 - Added some error checking an changed the connecttoAP method slightly. It now checks both the SSID and BSSID to ensure that correct AP is connect to.

Version 2.17 - Added permissions for API 23, Re-wrote the MACAddress method so it returns a valid MAC address on Android M OR any lower version of Android. Added the getAPI method to get the current version of Android on the device.

.

 

[FrankBerra]

Any news about the error reported some days ago?

 

[HotShoe]

Version 2.15 is mow attached to the first post. It fixes the null pointer error if wifi is turned off during a scan.

--- Jem

 

[FrankBerra]

Great!!
I tested it and now it seems working perfectly!
Good job Jem!

 

[FabioG]

Thanks!
can add an function to disconnect the phone to the WiFi Network ?

Thanks

 

[HotShoe]

There is a Disconnect method, is it not working for you?

--- Jem

 

[welu1805]

Hi all,

I tried the example from HotShoe in mlwifi-2.15.zip. If there is a new Wifi AP (e.g. "Musikus") it is shown in the listbox without "Saved". This is correct because there is no password stored yet.

I click at the item "Musikus" press OK to connect and enter the correct password. After OK I get "Could not connect to Musikus"

I think the problem is with a not "Saved" AP the command scan.AddAP() is used. Here can I put also the password. But the problem is that an AP with the same Name is already in the Wifi-Manager. It should not be possible to add a new AP with the same name.

To bypass this problem it should be able to put the password for "Musikus" to the AP and store it. During the next scan.StartScan or scan.UpdateWifiList this AP would have the attribute "Saved" and I could use scan.ConnectToAP. This should work.

Has anyone an idea?

Thanks
Lutz

 

[HotShoe]

Thanks, I'll look at it this weekend. I thought I had already fixed that, but you know what they say about getting old...

--- Jem

 

[HotShoe]

Hi all,

Has anyone an idea?
Lutz

I have looked through the code and I don't find any problems, but I did add some error checking and correction to several methods. Be sure to run the startscan method only once to initialize the library. From then on run the updatewifilist method.

I have added version 2.16 to the first post in this thread.

--- Jem

 

[SimonElck]

Hi, I'm using MLWifi combined with jkSSH2 to create an SSH link with raspberry pi 3.
Works great, but my phone keeps reconnecting to my home-router.
Is there a way to bind MLwifi to one SSID? I now use a timer and:

sub timeout
            If wifi.SSID<>"MySSid" Then
            w=scan.addAP(storedid,"WPA2","mypassword")
            end sub

But this breaks the SSH connection, not to mention the fact that I think this is very ugly.

 

[HotShoe]

It shouldn't disconnect unless their is a signal strength problem. I don't know of any reason why wifi would have to keep reconnecting. Make sure that you are only calling the StartScan method once since it initializes the library.

--- Jem

 

[SimonElck]

I checked and double checked. Startscan is called but once. Signal strength is not the problem, but the RPi3 does not supply good internet, so the phone, that wants to check for email and do other phone things, tries to find a better access point, even switches to 4g. Thought that I saw some java function to bind to one specific access point, but I don't speak Java.

 

[HotShoe]

I'll look around and see what's out there.

--- Jem

 

[SimonElck]

Thanks,I hope you will find something, much appreciated.

 

[Christian García S.]

Hello, thanks for the library some months ago worked perfectly, now when I try again I receive this MAC 02:00:00:00:00:00.

I have Android 6.0.1, I read about the changes and said you have to set new permissions: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION

But I tried with new permissions and doesn't work.

This is my manifest:

AddPermission(android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE)
AddPermission(android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE)
AddPermission(android.permission.INTERNET)
AddPermission(android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE)
AddPermission(android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION)
AddPermission(android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION)

Can you help us.

Thanks,
Christian

 

[Erel]

Adding permissions will not help. You can use the code I posted here: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...s-with-serial-on-android-6.60452/#post-420300
My guess is that it will stop working in the future as well.

 

[leongcc]

Great library HotShoe.
I encounter an issue hopefully there is help.

While the phone is connected to WiFi, the app calls startScan once and then updateWifiList once, this triggers ScanDone once. The is correct.

When I walked outside and losing WiFi connection, the ScanDone triggers itself repeatedly eventhough the app does not call updateWifiList. Is this normal ?

 

[HotShoe]

Great library HotShoe.
I encounter an issue hopefully there is help.

While the phone is connected to WiFi, the app calls startScan once and then updateWifiList once, this triggers ScanDone once. The is correct.

When I walked outside and losing WiFi connection, the ScanDone triggers itself repeatedly eventhough the app does not call updateWifiList. Is this normal ?

Yes it is. The library monitors the background scans that Android does automatically in the background. This was a new feature in the last release.

--- Jem

 

[HotShoe]

A new version is attached to the first post. This version (2.17) adds the ability to get the MAC address on android M (I hope). I do not currently have a device with API 23 on it, so I hope you that do will try this version and let me know if my solution works.

--- Jem

 

[NJDude]

A new version is attached to the first post. This version (2.17) adds the ability to get the MAC address on android M (I hope). I do not currently have a device with API 23 on it, so I hope you that do will try this version and let me know if my solution works.

--- Jem

It seems to work.

 

[Dey]

A new version is attached to the first post. This version (2.17) adds the ability to get the MAC address on android M (I hope). I do not currently have a device with API 23 on it, so I hope you that do will try this version and let me know if my solution works.

--- Jem

Hello,
Tested version 2.17 of Genymotion Android emulator 6, returns an empty string
to return the MAC I changed
InterfaceName String = "wlan0";
in
InterfaceName String = "eth1"; so it's ok
JAVA
You can check?
Thank you