Free Handheld Wi-Fi Analyzer
How would you select the right Wi-Fi hotspot all the people your phone lets you know can be found, produce a detailed coverage map of the SOHO (Small Home/Small Office) network or decide which is the better channel for this? You simply need an Android mobile phone plus a Wi-Fi analyzer app.
Search Google Play for any listing of Wi-Fi analyzer apps. Wi-Fi Analyzer, produced by Kevin Yuan of farproc, heads the list using more than 10,000,000 downloads. Among its many features would be the ability to display a visible graph of most active access points locally, their SSID names, signal strength, channel numbers, MAC addresses and also the kind of security encryption they will use. The app is easy to function even though you aren't technically inclined. Measurements might not be lab quality, but all we need to solve troubles are consistent relative readings.
If you're looking to do this with your iPhone you might be disappointed. Recent changes to the iOS operating-system block usage of private frameworks that app writers need to duplicate these functions. If you have an older iPhone that has not been upgraded beyond iOS 4 there are similar apps you may use. Like a last resort, you can find applications for desktop and laptop Macs that will carry out the same job. You'll simply have to lug bigger equipment around. To help keep things simple, I'll give instructions according to farproc's Wi-Fi Analyzer app. The other apps should work almost the same in the event you read through their menus for similar features.
Make use of the 'Channel Graph' view to discover a good hotspot. It is the default screen that comes up when you facilitate the app. In case it's not, press recption menus soft key (it looks like a watch) and judge 'Channel Graph'. You will now view a graphical display of most available networks. Needless to say you will want strong one that rises that beats all others however if you also want one which doesn't need a password, look for a '*' beside the SSID. This is an option to need to use it within the 'Settings' menu. If you have no obvious choice, such as the one operated by the place of commercial you are in, watch the screen for some time to determine which ones give a consistent signal. Weaker ones could drop out completely after a couple of seconds. Hopefully it will have a suitable network, on a single of the three channels using the smallest amount of overlap (1, 6 and 11), around the 2.4 GHz band. You can even examine what are you doing on the 5 GHz band by tapping the very best left corner. For whatever reason there isn't any icon there unless you touch it.
Now that you've recommended how to use Wi-Fi Analyzer, try building a coverage map of your house or office wireless network. It may seem much easier to change to 'Signal Meter' mode. Its dimensions are just one signal at any given time so ensure it's yours. Or even, press and hold the network name, choose 'Select AP' from the menu then select your network.
Use a printed layout of your all of your rooms then go from place to place and take readings at each one. Make sure you allow the meter to stabilize prior to deciding to record a measurement. That may take 15 or more seconds. Whether it keeps increasing and down make use of the lowest reading for the map. Make sure all your readings come from the same phone so things are in accordance with the identical place to start. When you are done you'll easily see the location where the problems are. It's simple to take the necessary steps to repair them.
To see if it is possible to improve wireless network performance, visit the 'Channel Rating' screen. It rates every one of the available channels on the scale of a single to 10. The higher the rating, the less interference on that channel. Monitor the screen as it rates all channels in real-time, updating continuously as conditions change. Yet again, ensure it's set in your network. Press and support the network name to change it.