Nuts About Nets http://nutsaboutnets.com Developers of Wireless Diagnostic Tools Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:53:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 WiFi Spectrum Analyzers – Optimally Configure and Troubleshoot 802.11 Wireless Networks http://nutsaboutnets.com/test/wifi-spectrum-analyzers-optimally-configure-and-troubleshoot-802-11-wireless-networks/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/test/wifi-spectrum-analyzers-optimally-configure-and-troubleshoot-802-11-wireless-networks/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:20:09 +0000 admin http://pharlink.com/?p=1947
1. Overview
2. Diagnostic Tools
3. Examples


1. Overview

With wireless systems it is very difficult to predict the propagation of radio waves and detect the presence of interfering signals without the use of test equipment. Radio waves don't travel the same distance in all directions — instead walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles offer varying degrees of attenuation, which cause the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation pattern to be irregular and unpredictable.  In order to achieve optimal reliability and throughput for your WiFi( 802.11) wireless network it is necessary to detect and identify sources of interference that impact negatively on its performance.

There are a multitude of electronic devices that transmit RF energy into the airspace.  WiFi(802.11 b/g) operates in the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band.  This particular range of frequencies (2.401 GHz through 2.473 GHz) is public and its use does not require licensing by the FCC.  As a result, this band tends to get rather crowded – not only with 802.11 devices but also microwaves, bluetooth devices, cordless phones, baby monitors, audio/video senders, wireless cameras, etc.

AirHORN transmitting on channel 6 - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer Figure 1.  In this figure the horizontal white lines show the boundaries of the 13, 22 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band (1-11 in North America, 1-13 in Europe). Notice how adjacent channels overlap with one another. 

Professional installers of wireless computer networks attempt to optimize their client’s WiFi network by strategically choosing a subset of the 2.4 GHz band for use by their wireless network devices.  The 2.4 GHz range of 2.401 – 2.473 GHz is separated into 11, 22 MHz channels.  Note that 2.473GHz – 2.401GHz = 72 MHz, yet 11 times 22 MHz is 242 MHz.  So, how does 242 MHz fit into 72 MHz?  Answer – the channels overlap.  An installer can configure the wireless router or access point (AP) to use channel 6, and then all data communication will occur over the range of frequencies associated with channel 6 (i.e. 2.426 GHz – 2.448 GHz).  But if other wireless devices (802.11 or non-802.11) are also transmitting over this range of frequencies then your wireless network will suffer.  So, when installing a wireless network or troubleshooting a poorly performing one, it is important to choose a channel that is not subject to interference from other devices – i.e. you don’t want your wireless network to compete with other devices for the same range of frequencies.



2. Diagnostic Tools

There are two categories or types of tools that are available for helping you choose the best WiFi channel for your wireless network – WiFi Scanners (i.e. 802.11 discovery tools) and 2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzers:

WiFi Scanner or 802.11 (WLAN) discovery utility:
The best known in this category is NetStumbler – we also recommend NetSurveyor. The discovery tool will report the Service Set Identifier (SSID) for each access point (AP) it detects, along with the channel used by the AP.  The way this works is that roughly every 100 mSec an AP sends an “I’m here” beacon – and the discovery tool (running on your laptop and using its 802.11 wireless adapter) picks up that beacon and adds the SSID to its list.  In addition, the discovery utility may report the SNR (signal-to-noise) ratio for each AP, which is approximately an indication of how close the AP is to your current location.  Though this is useful information, it doesn’t tell you anything about non-802.11 devices or even how busy the APs are.  That is, your laptop could be sitting next to a microwave oven, sending all kinds of RF energy into the room, and the discovery tool would be clueless to its existence.  The discovery tool only knows about 802.11 devices – that is, devices that transmit RF energy according to the 802.11 protocol — and can not see non-802.11 transmissions.  Here’s an analogy – you’re in a large auditorium and you hear someone across the room occasionally yell out “Hello, I’m Joe!”.  Joe is an access point and he occasionally sends a beacon to let whoever is out there know that he’s there.  It might be that Joe is really busy and talking with many people or he might be by himself.  Or there might be a lot of noise in the auditorium that would make it difficult to carry on a conversation with Joe from a distance.  The discovery tool can’t help you with that – it only hears Joe’s occasional beacon “Hello, I’m Joe!”.

2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer:
This is the instrument of choice for detecting and identifying sources of RF interference.  Spectrum analyzers are a basic tool used for observing radio frequency (RF) signals – they give you a better picture of the RF environment to help identify and find devices interfering with your Wireless LAN (WLAN).  Typically they’ll employ a 2-dimensional display where the vertical axis (Y-axis) represents the magnitude of a signal and the horizontal axis (X-axis) represents the frequency of a signal.  Dedicated hardware spectrum analyzers can run into the tens of thousands of dollars (they employ many arrays of analog-to-digital converters).  Recently, PC-based analyzers have appeared on the market.  Yet they are also fairly expensive – in the neighborhood of $4000.  AirSleuth is a low-cost 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer that displays RF data in a variety of diagnostic views that help you detect the presence of interfering devices and then choose the best channel for your wireless network.



3. Examples

Below are shown 4 examples of measurements taken with the AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer.   In each figure there are 3 items to take note of:

a. The maximum value on the Y-axis
b. The horizontal white lines that denote the boundaries of the 11, overlapping 802.11 channels
c. The location (i.e. frequency) and height (relative signal strength) of the major RF peaks

Background noise - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 2.  The air space is relatively quiet and there are no wireless devices transmitting in the 2.4 GHz band.  Notice the maximum value on the Y-axis has a signal strength of -90 dBm, which is very weak.  The reason you see peaks (and the output isn’t totally flat) is this display has enabled automatic scaling, such that the largest peak (regardless of how small it really is) will fill-up the screen.  We know this is what background noise looks like because the maximum value on the Y-axis is -90 dBm. 
Microwave RF energy - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 3.  A microwave oven is running.  Here you can see that it emits RF energy across the entire 2.4 GHz band. 
2.4 GHz cordless phone - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 4.  A 2.4 GHz cordless phone has been powered on.  Notice the height of the peak in the vicinity of channel 1 is around -60 dBm.  This is strong enough to knock-out wireless networks configured to use WiFi channel 1.  In addition, because of the way that channels overlap the first peak would probably also interfere with a wireless network using channel 2. 
Wireless network transmitting on channel 6 - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 5.  Shows the pattern of activity from a wireless network (configured to use WiFi channel 6) as it is actively transmitting a large stream of data. 
]]>
1. Overview
2. Diagnostic Tools
3. Examples


1. Overview

With wireless systems it is very difficult to predict the propagation of radio waves and detect the presence of interfering signals without the use of test equipment. Radio waves don't travel the same distance in all directions — instead walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles offer varying degrees of attenuation, which cause the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation pattern to be irregular and unpredictable.  In order to achieve optimal reliability and throughput for your WiFi( 802.11) wireless network it is necessary to detect and identify sources of interference that impact negatively on its performance.

There are a multitude of electronic devices that transmit RF energy into the airspace.  WiFi(802.11 b/g) operates in the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band.  This particular range of frequencies (2.401 GHz through 2.473 GHz) is public and its use does not require licensing by the FCC.  As a result, this band tends to get rather crowded – not only with 802.11 devices but also microwaves, bluetooth devices, cordless phones, baby monitors, audio/video senders, wireless cameras, etc.

AirHORN transmitting on channel 6 - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer Figure 1.  In this figure the horizontal white lines show the boundaries of the 13, 22 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band (1-11 in North America, 1-13 in Europe). Notice how adjacent channels overlap with one another. 

Professional installers of wireless computer networks attempt to optimize their client’s WiFi network by strategically choosing a subset of the 2.4 GHz band for use by their wireless network devices.  The 2.4 GHz range of 2.401 – 2.473 GHz is separated into 11, 22 MHz channels.  Note that 2.473GHz – 2.401GHz = 72 MHz, yet 11 times 22 MHz is 242 MHz.  So, how does 242 MHz fit into 72 MHz?  Answer – the channels overlap.  An installer can configure the wireless router or access point (AP) to use channel 6, and then all data communication will occur over the range of frequencies associated with channel 6 (i.e. 2.426 GHz – 2.448 GHz).  But if other wireless devices (802.11 or non-802.11) are also transmitting over this range of frequencies then your wireless network will suffer.  So, when installing a wireless network or troubleshooting a poorly performing one, it is important to choose a channel that is not subject to interference from other devices – i.e. you don’t want your wireless network to compete with other devices for the same range of frequencies.



2. Diagnostic Tools

There are two categories or types of tools that are available for helping you choose the best WiFi channel for your wireless network – WiFi Scanners (i.e. 802.11 discovery tools) and 2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzers:

WiFi Scanner or 802.11 (WLAN) discovery utility:
The best known in this category is NetStumbler – we also recommend NetSurveyor. The discovery tool will report the Service Set Identifier (SSID) for each access point (AP) it detects, along with the channel used by the AP.  The way this works is that roughly every 100 mSec an AP sends an “I’m here” beacon – and the discovery tool (running on your laptop and using its 802.11 wireless adapter) picks up that beacon and adds the SSID to its list.  In addition, the discovery utility may report the SNR (signal-to-noise) ratio for each AP, which is approximately an indication of how close the AP is to your current location.  Though this is useful information, it doesn’t tell you anything about non-802.11 devices or even how busy the APs are.  That is, your laptop could be sitting next to a microwave oven, sending all kinds of RF energy into the room, and the discovery tool would be clueless to its existence.  The discovery tool only knows about 802.11 devices – that is, devices that transmit RF energy according to the 802.11 protocol — and can not see non-802.11 transmissions.  Here’s an analogy – you’re in a large auditorium and you hear someone across the room occasionally yell out “Hello, I’m Joe!”.  Joe is an access point and he occasionally sends a beacon to let whoever is out there know that he’s there.  It might be that Joe is really busy and talking with many people or he might be by himself.  Or there might be a lot of noise in the auditorium that would make it difficult to carry on a conversation with Joe from a distance.  The discovery tool can’t help you with that – it only hears Joe’s occasional beacon “Hello, I’m Joe!”.

2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer:
This is the instrument of choice for detecting and identifying sources of RF interference.  Spectrum analyzers are a basic tool used for observing radio frequency (RF) signals – they give you a better picture of the RF environment to help identify and find devices interfering with your Wireless LAN (WLAN).  Typically they’ll employ a 2-dimensional display where the vertical axis (Y-axis) represents the magnitude of a signal and the horizontal axis (X-axis) represents the frequency of a signal.  Dedicated hardware spectrum analyzers can run into the tens of thousands of dollars (they employ many arrays of analog-to-digital converters).  Recently, PC-based analyzers have appeared on the market.  Yet they are also fairly expensive – in the neighborhood of $4000.  AirSleuth is a low-cost 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer that displays RF data in a variety of diagnostic views that help you detect the presence of interfering devices and then choose the best channel for your wireless network.



3. Examples

Below are shown 4 examples of measurements taken with the AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer.   In each figure there are 3 items to take note of:

a. The maximum value on the Y-axis
b. The horizontal white lines that denote the boundaries of the 11, overlapping 802.11 channels
c. The location (i.e. frequency) and height (relative signal strength) of the major RF peaks

Background noise - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 2.  The air space is relatively quiet and there are no wireless devices transmitting in the 2.4 GHz band.  Notice the maximum value on the Y-axis has a signal strength of -90 dBm, which is very weak.  The reason you see peaks (and the output isn’t totally flat) is this display has enabled automatic scaling, such that the largest peak (regardless of how small it really is) will fill-up the screen.  We know this is what background noise looks like because the maximum value on the Y-axis is -90 dBm. 
Microwave RF energy - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 3.  A microwave oven is running.  Here you can see that it emits RF energy across the entire 2.4 GHz band. 
2.4 GHz cordless phone - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 4.  A 2.4 GHz cordless phone has been powered on.  Notice the height of the peak in the vicinity of channel 1 is around -60 dBm.  This is strong enough to knock-out wireless networks configured to use WiFi channel 1.  In addition, because of the way that channels overlap the first peak would probably also interfere with a wireless network using channel 2. 
Wireless network transmitting on channel 6 - as displayed by AirSleuth 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer  Figure 5.  Shows the pattern of activity from a wireless network (configured to use WiFi channel 6) as it is actively transmitting a large stream of data. 
]]> 0 Troubleshooting Tips – AirSleuth Spectrum Analyzer http://nutsaboutnets.com/test/troubleshooting-tips-airsleuth-spectrum-analyzer/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/test/troubleshooting-tips-airsleuth-spectrum-analyzer/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:27:19 +0000 admin http://pharlink.com/?p=1939
Question:
Which products support an external antenna?

Answer:
The PC Cards that come with the PCMCIA versions of AirSleuth-Pro have an MMCX connector that can be used with an external antenna.  We recommend replacing the snap-on antenna with the external, omni-directional antenna provided in the package.  We have found that both laptop and desktop machines may generate RF signals in the 2.4 GHz range and if the antenna is too close to the machine (e.g. the PC Card's snap-on antenna) then it becomes more difficult to interpret the frequency data (since you'll need to take into account that the source of some signals may be the machine's internal components).  By locating the external antenna several inches from the machine you'll achieve more accurate results.


Question:
During the software installation process the Setup wizard complains about not being able to create files or access the Registry.

Answer:
If this occurs it probably indicates you’ll need to repeat the installation from an account that has Administrative privileges.


Question:
Does AirSleuth interfere with my existing wireless network?

Answer:
No.  When the AirSleuth application is running the wireless device that it communicates with is operating in a “passive” mode – hence, it will not interfere with your existing wireless network.


Question:
When using an external antenna, does it's location or orientation make a difference?

Answer:
Whether using the PCMCIA or USB wireless device, the orientation of the antenna may influence the strength of RF signals measured by the device. From the ‘Traces’ view, experiment by changing the orientation of the antenna to see what affect that has on the frequency spectrum displayed by the application.


Question:
How can I verify that the analyzer is working?

Answer:
As a quick check you could turn on a microwave oven. This will generate radio waves across the entire 2.4 GHz spectrum. An even better test would be a 2.4 GHz cordless phone – most seem to transmit a continuous signal in the vicinity of 2.41 GHz (i.e. approximately in the middle of 802.11 channel 1).


Question:
What is the relation between frequency and 802.11 or WiFi channels?

Answer:
The 802.11 wireless protocol divides the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum into 14 channels.  Moreover, there is a lot of overlap between channels – that is, a particular frequency will belong to more than one channel.  An access point (AP) is configured to use one of the WiFi channels. When an AP communicates with its client stations it uses a range of frequencies within the channel – not just the ones in the middle of the channel.


Question:
At my office (or home) I have an AP configured to use channel 6. I expect to see a big peak of activity around channel 6 on the analyzer – but I don’t. Why is that?

Answer:
802.11 is a robust, wireless communications protocol that was designed to accommodate multiple 802.11 devices within close proximity. You could install multiple APs within a building and they would all work fine (for the most part) — even if they were configured to use the same channel. That is, 802.11 devices and networks know how to play nicely in a crowded backyard. (NOTE: problems do arise, though, when large files are transferred or someone streams video images).

For a spectrum analyzer to detect a wireless device, that device has to (a) transmit continuously, and (b) the transmitted signal has to be strong enough and within range of the receiving antenna. 802.11 APs satisfy criteria (b), but unless the network is actively transmitting data between devices then the only transmissions are occasional beacon signals from the access point. The beacon signals alone are not sufficient for the analyzer to pick up — they are short in duration and occur approximately once every 100 milliseconds. As a result of their "bursty", intermittent pattern of beacon transmission then 802.11 access points don't generate a lot of signal activity that could interfere with other types of wireless devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz band.

When a 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer is combined with an 802.11 discovery utility — such as NetStumbler or NetSurveyor — the two complement one another to provide a powerful diagnostic tool for setting up and trouble-shooting WiFi networks. Keep in mind, however, the 802.11 discovery tool picks-up the intermittent beacon broadcasts from an AP and reports the signal strength of that broadcast transmission. This does not necessarily mean you will get good 802.11 performance when connecting with that AP — since after connecting to the AP there could be interference from other devices in the vicinity or there could already be many clients already associated with that AP.


Question:
What kinds of devices could interfere with a WiFi(i.e. 802.11) network?

Answer:
When setting up a wireless network or trouble-shooting a poorly performing one –usually its the non-802.11 devices that you have to worry about most.  Things like wireless video or security cameras, bluetooth devices, cordless phones, wireless (baby) monitors, security systems, RF Excited lighting (Fusion lighting), wireless broadband (i.e. WiMAX), etc. Also, large file transfers and video streaming between 802.11 devices could degrade the performance of other wireless networks in the vicinity.


Question:
In general, what kinds of things affect how a signal from a wireless device is displayed by the analyzer?

Answer:
Using a 2.4 GHz cordless phone as an example, 3 important parameters that will affect how a device appears to the analyzer include the following — the strength of the phone’s transmitted signal, the phone’s distance from the analyzer’s receiving antenna, and the orientation of the analyzer’s antenna relative to the radio waves transmitted by the phone. Changing the orientation of the analyzer’s antenna by rotating the device could change the results that are displayed. Another subtle effect, which is difficult to quantify but which you should keep in mind, is that when you move the transmitting device to different locations this will change the way the RF waves bounce off of objects and walls — which could affect the power of the waves on the receiving antenna and how the signal will be displayed.


Question:
How do I install the external antenna that came with the PCMCIA version of the product?

Answer:
The PCMCIA card comes with a snap-on antenna. To remove it grab the card with one hand and the flat antenna between your thumb and index finger of your other hand. And then gently pull them apart. As you pull them apart you can jiggle (or rock) the antenna a little bit from side to side, but keep the card and antenna within the same 2-dimensional plane (i.e. don't twist). Once you remove the snap-on antenna it will reveal the card's female MMCX connector — which is where you'll connect the external antenna.


Question:
When using AirSleuth-Pro to determine the ˜Best" channel to use for my access point (AP) what preliminary precautions should be taken?

Answer:
While the measurement is being performed temporarily power-off your known access point(s) – otherwise, legitimate network activity occurring over that channel will be interpreted as interference and could hurt that channel’s chances of being selected as the ‘Best’ channel.

]]>
Question:
Which products support an external antenna?

Answer:
The PC Cards that come with the PCMCIA versions of AirSleuth-Pro have an MMCX connector that can be used with an external antenna.  We recommend replacing the snap-on antenna with the external, omni-directional antenna provided in the package.  We have found that both laptop and desktop machines may generate RF signals in the 2.4 GHz range and if the antenna is too close to the machine (e.g. the PC Card's snap-on antenna) then it becomes more difficult to interpret the frequency data (since you'll need to take into account that the source of some signals may be the machine's internal components).  By locating the external antenna several inches from the machine you'll achieve more accurate results.


Question:
During the software installation process the Setup wizard complains about not being able to create files or access the Registry.

Answer:
If this occurs it probably indicates you’ll need to repeat the installation from an account that has Administrative privileges.


Question:
Does AirSleuth interfere with my existing wireless network?

Answer:
No.  When the AirSleuth application is running the wireless device that it communicates with is operating in a “passive” mode – hence, it will not interfere with your existing wireless network.


Question:
When using an external antenna, does it's location or orientation make a difference?

Answer:
Whether using the PCMCIA or USB wireless device, the orientation of the antenna may influence the strength of RF signals measured by the device. From the ‘Traces’ view, experiment by changing the orientation of the antenna to see what affect that has on the frequency spectrum displayed by the application.


Question:
How can I verify that the analyzer is working?

Answer:
As a quick check you could turn on a microwave oven. This will generate radio waves across the entire 2.4 GHz spectrum. An even better test would be a 2.4 GHz cordless phone – most seem to transmit a continuous signal in the vicinity of 2.41 GHz (i.e. approximately in the middle of 802.11 channel 1).


Question:
What is the relation between frequency and 802.11 or WiFi channels?

Answer:
The 802.11 wireless protocol divides the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum into 14 channels.  Moreover, there is a lot of overlap between channels – that is, a particular frequency will belong to more than one channel.  An access point (AP) is configured to use one of the WiFi channels. When an AP communicates with its client stations it uses a range of frequencies within the channel – not just the ones in the middle of the channel.


Question:
At my office (or home) I have an AP configured to use channel 6. I expect to see a big peak of activity around channel 6 on the analyzer – but I don’t. Why is that?

Answer:
802.11 is a robust, wireless communications protocol that was designed to accommodate multiple 802.11 devices within close proximity. You could install multiple APs within a building and they would all work fine (for the most part) — even if they were configured to use the same channel. That is, 802.11 devices and networks know how to play nicely in a crowded backyard. (NOTE: problems do arise, though, when large files are transferred or someone streams video images).

For a spectrum analyzer to detect a wireless device, that device has to (a) transmit continuously, and (b) the transmitted signal has to be strong enough and within range of the receiving antenna. 802.11 APs satisfy criteria (b), but unless the network is actively transmitting data between devices then the only transmissions are occasional beacon signals from the access point. The beacon signals alone are not sufficient for the analyzer to pick up — they are short in duration and occur approximately once every 100 milliseconds. As a result of their "bursty", intermittent pattern of beacon transmission then 802.11 access points don't generate a lot of signal activity that could interfere with other types of wireless devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz band.

When a 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer is combined with an 802.11 discovery utility — such as NetStumbler or NetSurveyor — the two complement one another to provide a powerful diagnostic tool for setting up and trouble-shooting WiFi networks. Keep in mind, however, the 802.11 discovery tool picks-up the intermittent beacon broadcasts from an AP and reports the signal strength of that broadcast transmission. This does not necessarily mean you will get good 802.11 performance when connecting with that AP — since after connecting to the AP there could be interference from other devices in the vicinity or there could already be many clients already associated with that AP.


Question:
What kinds of devices could interfere with a WiFi(i.e. 802.11) network?

Answer:
When setting up a wireless network or trouble-shooting a poorly performing one –usually its the non-802.11 devices that you have to worry about most.  Things like wireless video or security cameras, bluetooth devices, cordless phones, wireless (baby) monitors, security systems, RF Excited lighting (Fusion lighting), wireless broadband (i.e. WiMAX), etc. Also, large file transfers and video streaming between 802.11 devices could degrade the performance of other wireless networks in the vicinity.


Question:
In general, what kinds of things affect how a signal from a wireless device is displayed by the analyzer?

Answer:
Using a 2.4 GHz cordless phone as an example, 3 important parameters that will affect how a device appears to the analyzer include the following — the strength of the phone’s transmitted signal, the phone’s distance from the analyzer’s receiving antenna, and the orientation of the analyzer’s antenna relative to the radio waves transmitted by the phone. Changing the orientation of the analyzer’s antenna by rotating the device could change the results that are displayed. Another subtle effect, which is difficult to quantify but which you should keep in mind, is that when you move the transmitting device to different locations this will change the way the RF waves bounce off of objects and walls — which could affect the power of the waves on the receiving antenna and how the signal will be displayed.


Question:
How do I install the external antenna that came with the PCMCIA version of the product?

Answer:
The PCMCIA card comes with a snap-on antenna. To remove it grab the card with one hand and the flat antenna between your thumb and index finger of your other hand. And then gently pull them apart. As you pull them apart you can jiggle (or rock) the antenna a little bit from side to side, but keep the card and antenna within the same 2-dimensional plane (i.e. don't twist). Once you remove the snap-on antenna it will reveal the card's female MMCX connector — which is where you'll connect the external antenna.


Question:
When using AirSleuth-Pro to determine the ˜Best" channel to use for my access point (AP) what preliminary precautions should be taken?

Answer:
While the measurement is being performed temporarily power-off your known access point(s) – otherwise, legitimate network activity occurring over that channel will be interpreted as interference and could hurt that channel’s chances of being selected as the ‘Best’ channel.

]]> 0 Download Instructions http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/instructions/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/instructions/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 04:40:24 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1136
(a) The following products ship with hardware. Without that hardware the software runs in a fully functional ‘Demo mode’ using simulated data.
  • Pro Audio White Space Finder
  • WifiEagle Single- and Dual-Band Channel Analyzers
  • AirSleuth-Pro 2.4x GHz RF Spectrum Analyzer
(b) The following products are software-only yet you can still try them for free. The fully-functional trial version will allow you to launch the application ten (10) times. After the trial period ends then an activation code will be required to run the application.
  • Intermod Assist
  • Profiler24x Channel Analyzer
  • NetSurveyor-Pro

]]>
(a) The following products ship with hardware. Without that hardware the software runs in a fully functional ‘Demo mode’ using simulated data.
  • Pro Audio White Space Finder
  • WifiEagle Single- and Dual-Band Channel Analyzers
  • AirSleuth-Pro 2.4x GHz RF Spectrum Analyzer
(b) The following products are software-only yet you can still try them for free. The fully-functional trial version will allow you to launch the application ten (10) times. After the trial period ends then an activation code will be required to run the application.
  • Intermod Assist
  • Profiler24x Channel Analyzer
  • NetSurveyor-Pro

]]> 0 November 2011 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/november-2011/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/november-2011/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:13:58 +0000 admin http://nutsaboutnets.com/?p=2337 PC Magazine Best Of 2011 WifiBuilder

PC Magazine announces that WifiBuilder has won the seventh annual PCMag.com Best of the Year 2011 Award in the category of Network Software.

Read More]]> PC Magazine Best Of 2011 WifiBuilder

PC Magazine announces that WifiBuilder has won the seventh annual PCMag.com Best of the Year 2011 Award in the category of Network Software.

Read More]]> 0 Pro Audio White Space Finder / RF Spectrum Analyzer (PAWS4400) http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/download-pro-audio-white-space-finder-paws4400/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/download-pro-audio-white-space-finder-paws4400/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:52:18 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1075 Download ]]> Download ]]> 0 Product Documentation http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/documentation/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/documentation/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:51:16 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1186 ]]> ]]> 0 July 2011 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/1241/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/1241/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:47:58 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1241 “Wi-Fi Diagnostics You Can Trust” — Michael Kassner and TechRepublic review WifiEagle channel analyzer.

Read More ]]> “Wi-Fi Diagnostics You Can Trust” — Michael Kassner and TechRepublic review WifiEagle channel analyzer.

Read More ]]> 0 Pro Audio White Space Finder — RF Spectrum Analyzer (PAWS4400) http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/white-space-finder/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/white-space-finder/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:15:56 +0000 admin http://www.wifimetrics.com/?p=55

Pro Audio White Space Finder / RF Spectrum Analyzer is a “game-changer”. The model PAWS4400 is the industry’s first product that includes both realtime RF spectrum analysis and intermodulation analysis. PAWS4400 is the next generation of PC-based, RF analyzer for the wireless pro audio and video industries, offering performance and features not available in any other product — such as monitoring and detecting RF interference, intermodulation analysis, automatic charting of open white space, frequency coordination and channel assignment.

read more ]]>

Pro Audio White Space Finder / RF Spectrum Analyzer is a “game-changer”. The model PAWS4400 is the industry’s first product that includes both realtime RF spectrum analysis and intermodulation analysis. PAWS4400 is the next generation of PC-based, RF analyzer for the wireless pro audio and video industries, offering performance and features not available in any other product — such as monitoring and detecting RF interference, intermodulation analysis, automatic charting of open white space, frequency coordination and channel assignment.

read more ]]> 0 NetSurveyor — 802.11 Network Discovery / Wi-Fi Scanner http://nutsaboutnets.com/free-tools/netsurveyor-802-11-network-discovery-wi-fi-scanner/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/free-tools/netsurveyor-802-11-network-discovery-wi-fi-scanner/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:44:09 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1035 NetSurveyor is an 802.11 (WiFi) network discovery tool that gathers information about nearby wireless access points in real time and displays it in useful ways. Similar in purpose to NetStumbler, it includes many more features. The data is displayed using a variety of different diagnostic views and charts. Data can be recorded for extended periods and played-back at a later date/time. Also, reports can be generated in Adobe PDF format. Applications for NetSurveyor include the following:

  • During the installation of a wireless network, as an aid in verifying the network is properly configured and antennas are positioned at locations to achieve efficient transmission / reception — that is, for use in verifying WiFi coverage and maximizing beacon signal strength
  • Trouble-shooting an existing network or wireless environment that is performing poorly
  • Reporting the presence of WiFi networks and local access points and the signal strengths of their beacons
  • Conducting wireless site surveys where the installer is interested in learning about the coverage of a new or existing access point, roaming capability, presence of RF interference or “dead spots”, and optimum location of access points, their antennas and client stations
  • In a secure business environment, for use in detecting the presence of rogue access points
  • As a learning tool to help understand the relationship between access points (BSSIDs), wireless networks (SSIDs), and client stations (STAs)
read more]]> NetSurveyor is an 802.11 (WiFi) network discovery tool that gathers information about nearby wireless access points in real time and displays it in useful ways. Similar in purpose to NetStumbler, it includes many more features. The data is displayed using a variety of different diagnostic views and charts. Data can be recorded for extended periods and played-back at a later date/time. Also, reports can be generated in Adobe PDF format. Applications for NetSurveyor include the following:

  • During the installation of a wireless network, as an aid in verifying the network is properly configured and antennas are positioned at locations to achieve efficient transmission / reception — that is, for use in verifying WiFi coverage and maximizing beacon signal strength
  • Trouble-shooting an existing network or wireless environment that is performing poorly
  • Reporting the presence of WiFi networks and local access points and the signal strengths of their beacons
  • Conducting wireless site surveys where the installer is interested in learning about the coverage of a new or existing access point, roaming capability, presence of RF interference or “dead spots”, and optimum location of access points, their antennas and client stations
  • In a secure business environment, for use in detecting the presence of rogue access points
  • As a learning tool to help understand the relationship between access points (BSSIDs), wireless networks (SSIDs), and client stations (STAs)
read more]]> 0 May 2011 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/may-2011-2/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/may-2011-2/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:33:22 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1469
Read More ]]>
Read More ]]> 0 Intermod Assist Intermodulation Calculator & RF Frequency Coordination Software http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/intermod-assist-intermodulation-calculator-rf-frequency-coordination-software/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/intermod-assist-intermodulation-calculator-rf-frequency-coordination-software/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:14:02 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1085 Download]]> Download]]> 0 Product Data Sheets (PDF Format) http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/product-data-sheets-pdf-format/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/product-data-sheets-pdf-format/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:51:52 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1188 ]]> ]]> 0 May 2011 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/may-2011/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/may-2011/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:06:44 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1253 PC Magazine Review of WifiBuilder Diagnostic AP

WifiBuilder received 4.5 stars and an Editor’s Choice award — Samara Lynn and PC Magazine review WifiBuilder.

Read More]]> PC Magazine Review of WifiBuilder Diagnostic AP

WifiBuilder received 4.5 stars and an Editor’s Choice award — Samara Lynn and PC Magazine review WifiBuilder.

Read More]]> 0 Intermod Assist — Feature-Rich Intermodulation Calculator & RF Frequency Coordination Software http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/intermod-assist/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/intermod-assist/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:15:13 +0000 admin http://www.wifimetrics.com/?p=53

Introducing the latest, low-cost development in RF intermodulation analysis and frequency coordination — Intermod Assist. Intermod Assist is a new, ground-breaking software tool specifically designed for the wireless, professional audio and video industries. Its computational engine rapidly generates frequency sets of intermodulation distortion-free radio frequencies, applying user-defined signal bandwidths and channel spacing. These frequency sets can be used to coordinate transmitter frequencies where the goal is to assign the most reliable channels to your wireless audio and video gear — that is, channels free of intermodulation interference.

read more ]]>

Introducing the latest, low-cost development in RF intermodulation analysis and frequency coordination — Intermod Assist. Intermod Assist is a new, ground-breaking software tool specifically designed for the wireless, professional audio and video industries. Its computational engine rapidly generates frequency sets of intermodulation distortion-free radio frequencies, applying user-defined signal bandwidths and channel spacing. These frequency sets can be used to coordinate transmitter frequencies where the goal is to assign the most reliable channels to your wireless audio and video gear — that is, channels free of intermodulation interference.

read more ]]> 0 NetStress — Benchmark Tool for Wireless & Wired Networks http://nutsaboutnets.com/free-tools/netstress-benchmark-tool-for-wireless-wired-networks/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/free-tools/netstress-benchmark-tool-for-wireless-wired-networks/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:44:53 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1037 In order to test and troubleshoot networks we need tools that allow us to generate network traffic and analyze the network’s throughput performance. This is true for both wired and wireless networks. In order to properly troubleshoot a wireless (or wired) network we need a way to benchmark its performance, so as modifications are made we can determine whether or not they really make a difference in the network’s performance. This is where NetStress fits in. It’s a simple tool, originally created for our internal use. Here’s the ideal scenario: You install a new wireless network and it works perfectly. Run NetStress and record the benchmark results for later reference. Sometime in the future when either you or others suspect performance has declined then run NetStress again and compare the latest results with those you gathered when the network was first installed and working “perfectly”. The results of that comparison will indicate whether or not there really is a problem and dictate which steps to take next (if any). Regardless of your technical expertise or how expensive your diagnostic tools, if you are modifying a wireless network or making decisions to modify it and you are not testing throughput then you risk wasting time and resources going down the wrong path.
NetStress includes the following features:

  • single instance of the application (i.e. each instance can be used as server or server plus client)
  • supports both TCP and UDP data transfers
  • supports multiple data streams
  • variable TCP / UDP segment size
  • rate of packet transmission (Packets Per Second)
  • variable Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
  • uplink and downlink modes
  • auto node discovery
  • choice of display units (KBps, Kbps, MBps, Mbps)
  • support for multiple network adapters
read more]]> In order to test and troubleshoot networks we need tools that allow us to generate network traffic and analyze the network’s throughput performance. This is true for both wired and wireless networks. In order to properly troubleshoot a wireless (or wired) network we need a way to benchmark its performance, so as modifications are made we can determine whether or not they really make a difference in the network’s performance. This is where NetStress fits in. It’s a simple tool, originally created for our internal use. Here’s the ideal scenario: You install a new wireless network and it works perfectly. Run NetStress and record the benchmark results for later reference. Sometime in the future when either you or others suspect performance has declined then run NetStress again and compare the latest results with those you gathered when the network was first installed and working “perfectly”. The results of that comparison will indicate whether or not there really is a problem and dictate which steps to take next (if any). Regardless of your technical expertise or how expensive your diagnostic tools, if you are modifying a wireless network or making decisions to modify it and you are not testing throughput then you risk wasting time and resources going down the wrong path.
NetStress includes the following features:

  • single instance of the application (i.e. each instance can be used as server or server plus client)
  • supports both TCP and UDP data transfers
  • supports multiple data streams
  • variable TCP / UDP segment size
  • rate of packet transmission (Packets Per Second)
  • variable Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
  • uplink and downlink modes
  • auto node discovery
  • choice of display units (KBps, Kbps, MBps, Mbps)
  • support for multiple network adapters
read more]]> 0 April 2011 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/april-2011/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/april-2011/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:33:51 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1471
Read More]]>
Read More]]> 0 WifiEagle Single- and Dual-Band Channel Analyzers http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/wifieagle-single-and-dual-band-channel-analyzers/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/downloads/wifieagle-single-and-dual-band-channel-analyzers/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:14:27 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1087 Download ]]> Download ]]> 0 Installation And User Guides http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/installation-and-user-guides/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/resources/installation-and-user-guides/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:52:41 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1190 ]]> ]]> 0 March 2010 http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/march-2010/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/news/march-2010/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:29:34 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=1263 TechRepublic Review of NetSurveyor and NetStress “Wi-Fi Diagnostic Tools With A Difference” — Michael Kassner and TechRepublic review NetSurveyor and NetStress.

Read More ]]> TechRepublic Review of NetSurveyor and NetStress “Wi-Fi Diagnostic Tools With A Difference” — Michael Kassner and TechRepublic review NetSurveyor and NetStress.

Read More ]]> 0 IMMI Technology versus RF Spectrum Analysis http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/immi-technology-versus-rf-spectrum-analysis/ http://nutsaboutnets.com/whats-up/immi-technology-versus-rf-spectrum-analysis/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:23:27 +0000 admin http://saturn:81/wordpress/?p=973

When troubleshooting an 802.11 network it is not possible to predict how it will behave when you are armed solely with RF measurements. This is why we focus on performance metrics and IMMI technology — because they more accurately predict how your wireless network will actually perform. Though RF spectrum analysis remains a popular tool for troubleshooting interference-related problems, IMMI technology holds greater promise since it excels at computing the best WiFi channel — that is, the channel with the greatest available bandwidth and least affected by RF interference from other wireless devices. IMMI technology employs 802.11 hardware and sees the RF environment through the same eyes as the wireless devices in your network. There is a new mantra brewing — “Using the (802.11) infrastructure to troubleshoot the infrastructure…” People understand this to mean that when it comes to troubleshooting 802.11 networks, then 802.11 devices make better diagnostic tools than spectrum analyzers. And that’s because a spectrum analyzer knows nothing about the 802.11 standard, its internal protocols, or the methods it employs to mitigate interference from other wireless devices.

read more]]>

When troubleshooting an 802.11 network it is not possible to predict how it will behave when you are armed solely with RF measurements. This is why we focus on performance metrics and IMMI technology — because they more accurately predict how your wireless network will actually perform. Though RF spectrum analysis remains a popular tool for troubleshooting interference-related problems, IMMI technology holds greater promise since it excels at computing the best WiFi channel — that is, the channel with the greatest available bandwidth and least affected by RF interference from other wireless devices. IMMI technology employs 802.11 hardware and sees the RF environment through the same eyes as the wireless devices in your network. There is a new mantra brewing — “Using the (802.11) infrastructure to troubleshoot the infrastructure…” People understand this to mean that when it comes to troubleshooting 802.11 networks, then 802.11 devices make better diagnostic tools than spectrum analyzers. And that’s because a spectrum analyzer knows nothing about the 802.11 standard, its internal protocols, or the methods it employs to mitigate interference from other wireless devices.

read more]]> 0