Displaying Available WiFi Networks in an iOS App

Understanding the Problem and Requirements

The goal of this blog post is to explain how to show available WiFi networks in a UITableView, similar to the iHome Connect app. This requires understanding the basics of networking, API calls, and iOS development.

Background on WiFi Networking

WiFi networks work by broadcasting a unique identifier called an SSID (Network Name) that can be detected by devices within range. When you connect to a WiFi network, your device sends a request to the network’s access point (AP), which then authenticates you and assigns you an IP address.

Understanding the iHome Connect App

The iHome Connect app uses a private API to retrieve a list of nearby WiFi networks. Since we cannot use this API directly, we will explore alternative solutions using publicly available APIs or libraries that provide similar functionality.

Solution Overview

To show available WiFi networks in a UITableView, we can use the CoreLocation framework to detect nearby WiFi networks and then parse their SSIDs to display them in the table view. We’ll also discuss the Stumbler Helper library, which is mentioned in the Stack Overflow question, as an alternative solution.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

To get started, create a new iOS project using Xcode. Choose the “Single View App” template and select “Swift” as the programming language.

Next, import the necessary frameworks:

import UIKit
import CoreLocation

Step 2: Detect Nearby WiFi Networks

We’ll use the CoreLocation framework to detect nearby WiFi networks. We need to add a location manager to our app delegate and request authorization for access to location services:

// App Delegate.swift

import UIKit
import CoreLocation

class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    var locationManager = CLLocationManager()
    
    func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
        locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
        locationManager.delegate = self
        return true
    }
    
    // Other methods...
}

We’ll then use the locationManager to detect nearby WiFi networks:

// ViewController.swift

import UIKit
import CoreLocation

class ViewController: UIViewController, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    @IBOutlet weak var tableView: UITableView!
    var wifiNetworks = [String]()
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        
        // Request authorization for location services
        locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
        locationManager.delegate = self
        
        // Start scanning for nearby WiFi networks
        locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
    }
    
    // Other methods...
}

Step 3: Parse WiFi Network SSIDs

Once we have detected nearby WiFi networks, we can parse their SSIDs to display them in the table view. We’ll use a custom Cell class to display the network names and IP addresses:

// WifiNetwork.swift

import UIKit

class WifiNetwork: NSObject {
    var ssid = ""
    var ipAddress = ""
    
    init(ssid: String, ipAddress: String) {
        self.ssid = ssid
        self.ipAddress = ipAddress
    }
}

extension UITableViewCell {
    func configureWithWifiNetwork(network: WifiNetwork) {
        // Set network name and IP address text
        let label = UILabel()
        label.text = network.ssid + " - \(network.ipAddress)"
        
        // Add label to cell view
        self.addSubview(label)
    }
}

We’ll then use a UITableViewDataSource method to populate the table view with our WiFi networks:

// ViewController.swift

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate {
    @IBOutlet weak var tableView: UITableView!
    
    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        return wifiNetworks.count
    }
    
    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "WifiCell", for: .default)
        configureWithWifiNetwork(network: wifiNetworks[indexPath.row])
        return cell
    }
}

Step 4: Using the Stumbler Helper Library

As an alternative solution, we can use the Stumbler Helper library to detect nearby WiFi networks. This library provides a simpler API for scanning and parsing WiFi networks.

First, add the Stumbler Helper library to your project by creating a new file called StumblerHelper.h with the following code:

// StumblerHelper.h

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

@interface StumblerHelper : NSObject

+ (NSArray *)availableWifiNetworks;

@end

Next, implement the availableWifiNetworks method in a separate file called StumblerHelper.m:

// StumblerHelper.m

#import "StumblerHelper.h"

@implementation StumblerHelper

+ (NSArray *)availableWifiNetworks {
    // Use the Stumbler Helper API to detect nearby WiFi networks
    // ...
    
    return @[];
}

@end

We can then use this library in our app delegate:

// App Delegate.swift

import UIKit
import CoreLocation
import StumblerHelper

class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    var locationManager = CLLocationManager()
    
    func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
        locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
        locationManager.delegate = self
        
        // Use the Stumbler Helper library to detect nearby WiFi networks
        let wifiNetworks = StumblerHelper.availableWifiNetworks
        // ...
    }
    
    // Other methods...
}

Conclusion

We’ve demonstrated how to show available WiFi networks in a UITableView, similar to the iHome Connect app. We explored two solutions: using the CoreLocation framework to detect nearby WiFi networks and parsing their SSIDs, or using the Stumbler Helper library for a simpler API.

While using the Stumbler Helper library provides an easier solution, keep in mind that it may not be as accurate or reliable as using the CoreLocation framework. Additionally, be sure to review Apple’s guidelines on using private APIs and ensure that your app complies with their requirements.

I hope this tutorial has provided a comprehensive understanding of how to display available WiFi networks in an iOS app. If you have any further questions or need additional clarification, feel free to ask!

Last modified on 2023-10-03