Let’s face it, we enjoy our Wi-Fi tools and apps. This episode talks about the apps we use in macOS. So if you’re a Mac guy, this episode is for you.

This episode is happily sponsored by Metageek

Wi-Fi Apps for macOS

Being a Mac user meant not having enough apps to do your job. As a Wi-Fi professional, we rely on many apps to help get our jobs done. Fortunately, we have developers who hear the cry for professional Wi-Fi apps on macOS. Here’s a list of apps Francois and I use on a daily basis. This is in no particular order.

Wi-Fi Explorer

Great app developed by Adrian Granados who was interviewed back on 007. Double 007! This is an excellent Wi-Fi network scanner that is simple to use and updated regularly. It has built-in search functionality so you can find the network you’re looking for. You have the ability to add different columns to fit your troubleshooting needs and you can see advanced details such as information elements. This is a paid application.

Airtool

Another powerful app from Adrian Granados. It’s a menu bar application capable of capturing Wi-Fi frames using the Mac’s built-in Wi-Fi network card. From the app you select a channel to capture frames from, select the channel width, and you’re off to the races. It can be used with Wireshark, Cloudshark, and Mojo Packets. This is the fastest way to capture frames using a Mac. One of my favorite apps to use. Also, it’s Free!

Wi-Fi Signal

Adrian Granados strikes again! This is a menu bar application used to easily check the status of the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to. It can display information such as quality of the received signal, signal in dBm, noise, SNR, and current channel. It can send notifications of when you connect/disconnect to a Wi-Fi network and even if you roam.

Debookee

We interviewed the developer, Thomas Baudelet, in episode 70. This is a great app with a wireless module which displays details of Wi-Fi networks, displays statistics such as retry rate and Tx and Rx throughput. This app makes it easy to analyze other clients’ performance. This is a paid app.

iPerf

A free application to test throughput of your Wi-Fi network. What else is there to be said!?

Metageek InSSIDer Office (beta)

Currently in beta, Metageek has a macOS application that can scan Wi-Fi networks around you. It contains a search functionality to get through all the networks on the list. If you plug in a WiSpy dBx you can get a lite version of Chanalyzer. This is a paid app.

Terminal/iTerm2

Use this to SSH into your devices. You can build aliases and scripts to help you manage your network efficiently.

TamoSoft Throughput Test

Can operate as a server or a client. The server can be ran from macOS or Windows. The client can operate on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. It’s very easy to use and provides a visual throughput tester. You have the ability to set QoS and perform TCP or UDP tests.

What tools are you using on macOS? Which are your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

Links and Resources

• Capacity Planner Version 2
• 3 New CWNEs
  • #230 – Robert Eubanks
  • #231 – Sean Sivak
  • #232 – Michael Lane
• Wireshark Online Courses
  • Wireshark Fundamentals LiveLessons
  • Wireshark for Wireless LANs LiveLessons