Packet sniffer network

[networkmage]

This is one of those questions that is so basic it is never addressed, sorry but I need the answer: Can a packet sniffer, like wireshark, sniff packets on NON- CONNECTED networks? So if I am NOT connected to another nearby secure wifi network, can it still capture and sniff from my network(wireless) in prom. mode?
Thanks

 

[failboat]

any wireless waves can be picked up with the right tools.
the encryption would make all the data useless.

 

[bill001g]

Yes and kinda no. Now of course microsoft blocks your ability to put a wifi chipset in promiscuous mode even if it has that feature. This used to work ok because you could just load a linux image and use chipset that support it. The newer wifi using mimo feature makes it much harder. Since you are in a different location that the router and the end machine you will not get the same mix of overlapping signals. Those devices maybe able to detect and extract the different radio feeds but your device may not. The chipset do not give you partial or damaged packets so even if it is not encrypted many times you can not get any data because your radio is only receiving part of the data.