Wi-Fi Apps for Windows

We couldn’t do our work without the valuable apps used in the Windows operating system. That’s what we’ll discuss in this episode. Wi-Fi apps for Windows.

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Here are the Wi-Fi apps for Windows that Rowell and I use regularly when we are working at client sites or for any other Wi-Fi project. We certainly have our favorite apps and there are some we use on special cases but take a look at the list below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Metageek Chanalyzer

• Spectrum Analysis software (For more, listen to CTS066, CTS039, CTS073)
  • Required a piece of hardware to feed spectrum information to the software
    • Wi-Fi Spy dBx
    • Cisco CleanAir AP (much better resolution)
• Simple and user friendly interface
  • Different views
    • Waterfall view
    • Current spectrum view
• Ability to record spectrum analysis
• Can scan both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time (if proper adapter is used)
• Built-in Wi-Fi network scanner
• Present channel utilization
• Link to Chanalyzer

Metageek Eye P.A.

• A different way to analyze a Wi-Fi network
  • Very visual
• Ability to capture packets (if proper Wi-Fi adapter is used – Airpcap Nx) and display different valuable statistics
  • How much the airtime is used? By who? You will see how much your neighbours affect you!
  • Compare size of packets with amount of data transfered. Helps to visualize that Wi-Fi generate tons of management traffic
• Ability to import packet capture taken from other programs (Wireshark, AirTool, CommView…)
• Ability to see the packets
  • With filter capabilities
• Great to visualize issue and present to customers
• Geat to gather statistics on how a Wi-Fi network is performing
• Side note: Great tool to use to learn more about Wi-Fi
• Link to Metageek Eye P.A.

Ekahau Site Survey

• Swiss Army knife of Wi-Fi (for more listen to CTS069, CTS009)
  • Site Survey tool (Design, validation, troubleshooting)
  • Wi-Fi scanner
  • Spectrum Analyzer
  • Complete solution meeting the needs of Wi-Fi Engineers
  • Updated on a regular basis
  • Take advantage of the Wi-Fi community to improve the tool (#ESSRequest)
  • Reference in terms of Wi-Fi design and site survey tool today
• Looks way way way better than AirMagnet
• Complete set of features
  • 3D Wi-Fi design
  • Reporting and Reporting customization
  • Spectrum Analyzer
  • macOS version (beta)
• Link to Ekahau Site Survey

Metageek InSSIDer Office

• Wireless network scanner
• See what channels are used by other networks
• RSSI
• Data rates
• Protocol
• Plug in WiSpy dBx for Chanalyzer lite
• Link To Metageek InSSIDer Office

Savvius Omnipeek

• Heavy Duty Network Analyzer
  • Use to troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks
• Capture packets and provide insight on the quality of the network (more than just Wi-Fi)
• Ability to drill down into the packets
• Ability to use multiple adapters to captures on multiple channels to analyzer things like roaming behaviours
• Can be overwhelming at first but very powerful
• Link to website
• Video from WLPC2016

Netsh Tool

• Provide information from the Wi-Fi NIC on Windows
  • BSSID associated to
  • Association events (roaming & disconnections)
  • Signal Level
• Used for troubleshooting purposes (especially when being remote)
• Useful commands used for Wi-Fi analysis
  • netsh WLAN show interfaces
  • netsh WLAN show networks
  • netsh WLAN show drivers
• Useful References from the community
  • Using netsh WLAN show interfaces to Monitor Association/Roaming from Matt Frederick
  • Getting Data Out of the Windows ‘netsh wlan show interfaces’ Command from Nigel Bowden
• Official Windows documentation

Some other programs worth talking about

• Packet Capture Tool: Wireshark – Free (We talked about it in CTS080)
  • Use AirPcap to gather frames
• Tamograph Throughput Test – Free (We talked about it in CTS080)
• Wi-Fi Network Analyzer: Tamograph CommView for Wi-Fi – 500$
• For the Cisco Guys: WLC Config Analyzer – Free
• Open CAD file: Autodesk DWG TrueView – Free
• Cisco Spectrum Expert
• WiFi Tool – http://wifi-tool.com/

What apps are you using in Windows? Did we miss any?