A WiFi analyzer shows you what's actually happening on the airwaves in your home. Here's how to use one to find dead…
On the crowded 2.4GHz band, only channels 1, 6, and 11 don't overlap with each other in most regions, so if the analyzer shows several neighboring…
What's a good WiFi signal strength reading?
Readings from -30 to -50 dBm are excellent, -50 to -60 dBm are good, -60 to -70 dBm are fair but usable, and anything worse than -70 dBm typically…
Unlike a speed test, which measures throughput at one point in time from one location, a WiFi analyzer app scans the airwaves continuously, showing signal strength…
5GHz has more available non-overlapping channels than 2.4GHz, making interference generally less of an issue on that band, though in very dense apartment…
Which 2.4GHz channels should I use to avoid interference?
Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping options in most regions on 2.4GHz, so manually selecting whichever of these three shows the least local…
One of the most popular free Android options, showing a visual graph of nearby networks' signal strength and channel usage, making it easy to spot which channels…
Do I need a paid WiFi analyzer tool?
For typical home troubleshooting, free tools are generally sufficient. Paid professional tools offer more precise heatmapping, which matters more for…
NetSpot's free tier lets you create a basic heatmap of your home by walking around with a laptop, visually showing exactly where signal strength drops off, which is…
Many modern routers include a basic WiFi analysis or "site survey" feature directly in their admin panel, showing nearby networks and suggesting a less congested…
Walk through every room in your home with the app open, noting signal strength (usually shown in dBm, where numbers closer to 0 like -30 are excellent and numbers…
A WiFi analyzer shows you what's actually happening on the airwaves in your home. Here's how to use one to find dead zones and interference for free.
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