Positioning of a Wireless Router. Physical obstacles. Frequency Interference Other wireless appliances. Interference from competing Wi-Fi networks. Other Obstacles. Wireless interference explained Your wireless network is most probably affected by wireless interference when the following symptoms occur: an intermittent connectivity or unexpected disconnections, delays in connection and data transfer, slow network speeds, and poor signal strength.
The reasons can be different: The way wireless router is positioned. Physical obstacles, like walls and floors Any other wireless appliances baby monitors, garage door openers, etc. Kitchen appliances, such as microwave or fridge Other Wi-Fi networks in the same space.
Positioning of a Wireless Router Obviously the way you position your wireless router will have effect on your coverage area and WiFi signal strength. How to troubleshoot : Put the router in the middle of the space where network is. If the router is placed off the middle, then the signal won't be even. Make sure the router antenna is vertical. Many antennas are adjustable and can be horizontal, but the straight up is usually the best position.
Put your router on an elevated surface. The reception will be better on the desk rather than on the floor. Physical obstacles The building of the space be it a home or an office affects wireless communication range and speed. How to troubleshoot : Try moving the wireless device to a different spot. Even a couple of feet can make a huge difference in WiFi signal strength. Some wireless devices, like Wi-Fi routers or cordless phones have adjustable antennas. Try and point that antenna in a different direction to see if it can reduce WiFi interference as well.
Add a Wi-Fi extender to your network. These devices re-transmit the signal from your router even if it is on a different room thus providing better connection to a device that was receiving a very poor signal or was cut off at all.
There are also Powerline adapters to consider. These are very good for larger spaces with thicker walls and floors. These adapters use your existing electrical Ethernet wires sparing you the need of buying new expensive wiring. Connecting a powerline adapter to a Wi-Fi extender is an efficient method of extending WiFi connection to the most remote spots in your space.
Frequency Interference Other wireless appliances Even if the devices are not Wi-Fi related they may be working on the same 2. Microwave — the closer the router is to microwave the more network interference you can expect to occur when the microwave is in action.
Try one of the following WiFi analyzers for Android:. WiFi analyzer apps scan the environment to discover the signals that are of sufficient strength to be picked up by a receiver.
It then displays the signals arriving from each WiFi access point, displaying its available channels and the signal strength of each. There are many apps to test WiFi signal strength, these are written to work with specific operating systems, so there will be a different list for each. All WiFi enabled devices have their own built-in WiFi signal strength detectors for the current connection. These show a ripple of bars in a quarter circle or a cone, In either design, the outer areas of the icon light up when the WiFi signal gets stronger.
To improve the strength of WiFi signal that your device receives:. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Comparitech uses cookies.
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Looking for ways to maximize WiFi connectivity on your network? Need tools to help troubleshoot bad WiFi connections and signal dropouts? Tim Keary Network administration expert. What does a WiFi analyzer do? Evaluate on a day free trial. NetSpot — Built for Windows and Mac OS, this wireless monitoring system includes autodiscovery and live performance maps. WiFi Analyzer — A Microsoft product to analyze wireless networks that is available in both free and paid versions.
Vistumber — A nifty free WiFi analyzer that can overlay signal footprints on a Google map. Wireshark — A very well-known wireless packet sniffer that aids hackers and system administrators alike.
OpenSignal — A WiFi and phone signal analyzer for Android that includes geographical maps with signals imposed. Why use a WiFi Analyzer? Troubleshooting WiFi issues Troubleshooting a problem requires data collection and analysis. Sharing the same WiFi Channel with Neighboring WiFi networks Sharing the same channel with nearby devices results in low connection speeds, interference, and disconnection. What is a WiFi Heatmap? What should you look for in WiFi analyzer apps and tools?
We reviewed the market for WiFi analyzer apps and tools and analyzed the options based on the following criteria: A graphical representation that shows all of the channels within range An indicator of signal strength Analysis functions that indicate signal overlap Alerts to indicate the loss of signal or performance problems Identifiers for each access point transmitting signals A free tool or a free assessment period A good price that is worth paying or a free tool that is worth installing.
Pros: Takes a holistic approach to wireless monitoring using a number of tools to monitor and test WiFi networks Supports auto-discovery that collects new devices and immediately starts tracking their connectivity and performance Includes root cause analysis tools to help improve the troubleshooting process Great for wireless heat mapping as well as onsite surveys for gather data post installation Build to support enterprise networks and large companies.
Cons: A feature-rich tool that requires some technical expertise to fully use all the available features. Pros: Can operate on both Windows and Mac platforms Is very user friendly, and allows user to easily upload their own maps for site surveys Balances technical features with ease of use that finds a nice middle-ground for most users. Pros: Free tool with a paid option for more in-depth features Supports a monitoring mode for packet capture.
Cons: Interface can feel overwhelming and cluttered when scanning larger networks Difficult to get started, could benefit from a simple tutorial or additional support. Pros: Simple yet efficient interface Easy to use, even for non-technical users. Cons: Lack enterprise functionality, reporting, robust alerts, etc Limited features make this not the best option for sysadmin Could use better spectrum analysis coverage.
Pros: Supports a free and pro version Simple interface makes the tool easy to use and beginner-friendly Pro version offers an audible signal when performance issues occur. Cons: Better fit for small networks and home users, not detailed enough for larger networks Sacrifices technical metrics to become more user friendly. Pros: Completely free tool Supports built-in graphing that is automatically created based on devices in the area.
Cons: Interface is limited and not ideal for enterprise-size networks Not as user friendly for non-technical customers Steeper learning curve than most other WiFi analyzers. Pros: One of the most in-depth tools for wireless technical analysis Lightweight application that can run on nearly all machines Supports verbose live data capture Can integrate into more robust data collection systems Is completely free.
Cons: Technically a packet analyzer and not a WiFi analyzer, makes it more difficult to configure specifically for wireless devices Has the highest learning curve when compared to its competitors Requires deep technical knowledge, not user friendly. Key Features: Measures wireless traffic volumes Spots device problems. Pros: Features autodiscover which builds lists and wireless maps based on devices in the area Collects data through SNMP and packet sniffing Features a host of reporting templates and dashboard configurations making the tool very customizable Uses simple builtin visualizations to assist NOC teams in monitoring Supports free sensors for an ample trial period Pricing based on the number of sensors makes the tool both flexible and scalable for any size network.
Cons: PRTG is feature dense, requiring time with the product to fully utilize its features and options. Pros: Great option is only using a Mac Calculates WLAN interference and can help guide changes based on neighboring signals Uses simple color-coding to guide users for best device placement and channel selection Features a free mobile app. Cons: Not designed for enterprise networks Mapping features could be easier to use. Key Features: Displays signal strength Covers 2.
Pros: Provides a solid balance between functionality and in-depth WiFi metrics Full channel analysis for both 2. Cons: Requires some networking knowledge to use, not the best non-technical option available. Pros: Competitively priced Can help administrators detect rogue access points and unauthorized devices on the network Better suited for small LANs and home users. Cons: Not the best fit for enterprises Lacks in-depth reporting and auditing features. Pros: Automatically pulls wireless network information into a list in real-time More beginner-friendly than some other Mac-specific products.
Cons: Aimed more towards professionals, can be challenging for beginners Visualization feature could benefit from more options A more functional reporting feature would be a welcomed feature. Pros: Available for Linux, Mac, and OpenBSD Can scan for Bluetooth signals along with other wireless protocols outside of Wifi Allows for real-time packet capture that can be forwarded to multiple team members Uses plugins for additional features keeps the base installation lightweight Free to use.
Cons: Designed for smaller networks Lacks enterprise-level reporting capabilities Reliant upon the open-source community for support and updates. Key Features: Open source and customizable Easy to install Free to use.
Pros: Lightweight tool, great for resource-strapped system Autoconf can help the user get started upon installation Project is open-source. Cons: Command-line interface, no GUI Installation can be more complicated than similar tools Lacks detailed visualization capabilities Lacks advanced reporting features Bug fixes and support is tied to the open-source community. Pros: Can scan and detect Bluetooth networks alongside WiFi Offers a graphical interface, unlike some other Linux-only tools Supports GPS tracking for more accurate mapping of devices and networks.
Cons: Interface is barebones and feels lacking at times Is designed with more advanced users in mind. Definitely a must-have for any in-depth network analysis. Network Signal Info is a great alternative to Wifi Analyzer for people who to see as much information about the currently used network as possible.
Among the main features of Network Signal Info is accurate signal strength indication with useful visualization. The Connection tab displays information about the current WiFi network, the Networks tab allows comparison of all available WiFi networks by various parameters.
The Channels tab displays the current WiFi channel traffic distribution, the Strength chart is useful for identifying the areas of weak signal, and, finally, the Speed chart displays information about transmitted and received data. With ScanFi , you can turn any compatible Android device into a powerful wireless network analyzer with an abundance of advanced features that make WiFi analysis effortless. The app allows you to retrieve information about nearby wireless networks, visualize their activity on graphs, and see historical information about their strength, speed, and so on.
The app offers all WiFi analysis capabilities you may possibly need to troubleshoot and fix common WiFi issues in a highly intuitive package, making it perfect for home users who want to get rid of signal weak spots and solve issues with interference, just to give two examples.
The app is split into four main tabs. The first tab shows WiFi channel distribution, allowing you to see at a glance which channels are used the most and which are used the least. The second tab focuses on WiFi interference, while the third tab is all about signal strength.
WiFi Analyzer and Surveyor can also create wireless surveys, showing WiFi signal strength distribution on a map and making it really easy to find and eliminate the so-called signal dead zones.
Best of all, WiFi Analyzer and Surveyor is available free of charge and without any ads. The WiFi analyzer portion of the app shows everything from signal strength to download and upload speed, and you can also use it to visualize overlapping channels to quickly and easily determine the best settings for your router. Included with NetX Network Tools is an SSH client, which you can use to, for example, put a remote device to sleep or shut it down from any location, as long as your Android smartphone or tablet is connected to WiFi or cellular.
The app is compatible with Android 4. Fing is a WiFi analyzer apk created specifically to meet the needs of users who have purchased the Fingbox, a smart home network security device with built-in intrusion detection, monitoring, and parental control capabilities. The Fing WiFi analyzer app for Android can discover all devices connected to your network, reveal hidden cameras and other unwanted members of your network, check your internet speed, and provide helpful network security tips and recommendations.
All these features are available even without the Fingbox, but features such as parental controls, per device bandwidth analysis, or in-depth network vulnerability analysis are not. The subscription unlocks intruder detection, enhanced troubleshooting tools, router and DHCP checks, timeline of events, and local API.
Based in San Jose, California, Netgear is one of the largest manufacturers of networking hardware for consumers, businesses, and service providers in the world.
As such, it only makes sense for Netgear to release its own WiFi analyzer and surveyor app for Android. The user interface of Netgear WiFi Analytics is conveniently split into multiple tabs, so you can quickly explore all features the app has to offer without having to dig deep inside nested menus. Especially worth mentioning is the channel graph tab, which shows WiFi channel distribution of individual networks, allowing you to see which channels are best avoided and which are underutilized.
Office Free. What's new in this version You'll find information of the changes on my website. Features See all the networks around you which could interfere with your connection. Find the best channel via star rating incl. Refine found network results by filters. Additional information Published by Matt Hafner. Published by Matt Hafner. Approximate size Age rating For all ages.
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