Look for a WiFi Signal Strength Meters

[ICGengineerTech]

I'm looking for recommendations for decent handheld WiFi signal strength Meters. I don't want apps unless it is PC base, simple, and does some decent analyzing. I wanted to get something ideas for what I could use or build.

Thanks so much..

Bill

 

[(*steve*)]

How about this?

I also saw (a week or so ago) a design for a spectrum analyzer using an NRF24L01+, but I can't find it now

 

[davenn]

How about this?

haha thats pretty cool

and to Bill ... what is your definition of ..

I don't want apps unless it is PC base, simple, and does some decent analyzing.

you need to define that really well, else we have no idea on what to suggest
"simple, and does some decent analyzing" do not go in the same sentence
decent analyzing, requires a spectrum analysers with built in data monitoring and will set you back many many $1000's


Dave

 

[ICGengineerTech]

LoL! That's a good one. I'll send that up to the engineers as my first suggestion.

What I'm really looking for is something that measures dBm. For the analyzing part I was thing some basic WiFi tests. A probe option would be nice as well but not necessary. What I'm going to use it for is to develop a test to measure the signal strength of devices and come up with some pass & fail criteria. I'm trying to find a good tool to use. It's going to be sued in a production in the feature (hopefully) for testing and verifying the incorporated WiFi part is working properly. I currently have a test in place that check for the WiFi but I need something that will detect it's dBm.


Unless there is another way to do it other then dBm that I'm unaware of. I know that the industrie standard is around -70 dBm for a WiFi to be in a "excellent connection".

Sorry if this doesn't make sense ... i'm half asleep. I keep falling on my keyboard.

I'l post more specifics tomorrow. Thanks for the help ... and a good laugh.

~Bill

 

[ICGengineerTech]

I ended up coming up with some solutions. I have listed them below if anyone was fallowing this or looks this up later.



- Mapping WiFi coverage: http://www.ekahau.com/products/heatmapper/overview.html

- Free Network Analyzer: http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

- This free app provides, in addiction to Analyzing the signal strength, performs connection, quality, and speed tests: http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.aspx

-Expensive solution would be this dedicated handheld tool from Fluke: http://www.flukenetworks.com/content/aircheck-wi-fi-tester-wireless-troubleshooting-made-simple-demo It looks like this thing has a 5 day evaluation period too.

 

[ICGengineerTech]

For Mac users a good mapper is NetSpot:
http://macenstein.com/default/2011/10/trouble-shoot-your-wifi-network-with-netspot/