Re: Wifi Analyzer Download
Harold Yengo
I found out that using a WiFi analyzer helps the end user determine which bands to set the NightHawk routers to for minimal interference from a crowded WiFi environment. Thankfully I had my Nvidia Shield with the free WiFi Analyzer app for Android devices. How about in the next firmware / app update for these high-end NightHawk WiFi routers, we include a Network Analyzer to deconflict WiFi bands to give the end user optimal performance. Additionally, how about an "AUTO" function for selecting your WiFi bands in the 5 GHz frequencies. You have it on the latest firmware for the AC3200 in the 2.4 GHz frequency bands but how about including that on the 5 GHz bands. I greatly appreciate all of the work that you do, so please, by all means, keep it up. However, we need this functionality built into the routers so that we can maximize our setups in our respective enviornments. Thanks for hearing a newbie out.
It's certainly good to have these features built into routers but we still need apps for use on mobile devices in order to be able to move around the environment to measure Wi-Fi dead spots, ideal reception locations, fall-off of 5GHz signals, etc. This is why I raised another discussion asking why the Netgear WiFi Analytics app has been removed from the Google Play Store. I would far rather use an app from Netgear than rely on an unknown source, 3rd-party app. Certainly, the WiFi Analyzer (open source) from VREM appears to offer similar features but I haven't used it myself so can't vouch for it. Is this the one you're using?
I would really appreciate if you could share your experiences with any WiFi analyzer apps you've used on iOS. What app would you recommend to accurately measure WiFi signal strength and reliable network diagnostics?
Your question raises an important issue. How critical is it if the app is not available on iPhone, but rather as a desktop version on your Mac or Windows PC? The problem is that Apple has removed many essential backbone features needed for WiFi apps to function properly on iPhones and iPads, creating a significant disparity between iOS and macOS eco-systems. While there certainly are some WiFi analyzers for iPhone and iPad, you will either need to purchase an expensive hardware that would work with apps like WiFiman or Ekahau, or settle for the "average precision level" of apps like NetSpot (a big name in the category of WiFi survey and planning apps for non-experts, and in fact some experts, too). Essentially, you must choose between spending up to $15k for Ekahau, which may even require attending several webinars and taking a dedicated certification course to master all of their technicalities, or $15 for NetSpot. For a use case like yours, the choice is obvious IMO.
1. Router Placement: The location of your router significantly affects signal strength. Place the router in a central location, ideally on the same floor where you use WiFi the most. Avoid placing it near metal objects and appliances that emit electromagnetic waves, such as microwaves, refrigerators, and TVs. If your apartment has multiple levels, try positioning the router in the vertical center of your space. Again, generating a WiFi heatmap to see how your coverage changes with different router placements may help a lot (kudos, NetSpot).
2. Reduce Interference: Other electronic devices can interfere with your WiFi signal. Try to minimize interference by keeping the router away from cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, and microwaves (sorry for repeating myself). Also, consider the impact of thick walls and floors made of materials like concrete, which can drastically decrease your WiFi signal.
5. Upgrade Your Hardware: If your router is older, it might be lagging behind in sustaining high-speed wireless connection throughout a multi-floor apartment. Consider upgrading to a newer router that supports the latest WiFi standards (like WiFi 6E, or WiFi 7). Mesh WiFi systems are also a great solution for multi-floor homes as they provide seamless coverage over a large area.
Please explain to me the diagram in the attached file
How to determine which channel is noisy and which channel is the best
Example: Channel 6 with interference: -34, Noise: 90
Thank you for reading
Based on your photo, I'm thinking that channel 3,4 or 12,13 (if available in your region) would be the best channels to try to operate this AP on. Things are looking pretty noisy though across the board! I'd also make sure that you're using just a 20MHz channel width, and not 40MHz.
RSSI Means Receive Signal Strength Indicator: This is a value used to determine how best a radio link would perform with minimal or no interference on the link, RSSI value such as -30 dBm, -60 dBm is a good value.
Noise Floor of about -100 dBm and below is a good value, another good value is -106 dBm, Noise floor of about -89 dBm means the radio link will not perform at optimal service such link will have lots of interference.
I'd also be interested to know from Cambium exactly what this shows. I had always assumed that the blue was Wi-Fi interference and the red was non-wifi interference. But Eric suggestion of a total amount of interference over time is also plausible.
Regarding what channel to select I would suggest trying to avoid adjacent channel interference. From the table below your image you should be able to confirm but I believe you have APs on channel 1,6 and 9 in the surrounding area (with channel 9 perhaps on a 40Mhz wide channel)?
If that is true I would suggest selecting channel 1. Although other channels have less interference they also suffer from adjacent channel interference. Meaning that the AP will hear interference on some of it's own channel. The problem with this is because only some of the signal is being herd it can't understand the interfering signal.
In comparison with channel 1 which will receive co-channel interference, your AP and your neighbors AP will be able to understand each other. This means they will have the ability to know when each other will be transmitting and for how long. With this information they can try intelligently and avoid each other.
With all of that said in your network the 2.4GHz frequency is very congested and you might want to consider turning the 2.4GHz on this radio. This will force users to connect using the 5GHz radio only (assuming they have 5GHz capable devices).
I see there are several paid-for and free "wifi apps" in the Apple store, but we're specifically looking for one that shows both SSID, as well as the Received Signal Strength level in a dB measurement.
Hello Brett, I'd recommend you to consider NetSpot PRO for Mac. It is a professional Wi-Fi site surveyor, analyzer, and troubleshooter. Attached you can check out how it looks like. A free version is available as well, it helps you to get insight into the details of Wi-Fi networks around you and a channel overlap.
For some time I have been working with developers battling issues with the zigpy/zigpy-deconz component. At this point they have pretty much re-written the entire component and done a great job on it. One of the things that kept coming up was a lot off issues with devices going offline or becoming uncontrollable. One of the developers had a thought about radio interference with WiFi and asked if I could run a USB extension, which I already did. The question had me think about all my WiFi disconnections my router was experiencing though. Did some research and found the ConBee is by default on 2.4Ghz Channel 11 which overlaped into my router settings, not a very good thing.
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