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Press Release - May 2009

Nuts About Nets, LLC Announces Breakthrough Patent-Pending Technology for Indirect Measurement of Microwave Interference

 IMMI Technology Provides Performance Analysis of 802.11 Channels Using Off-The-Shelf 802.11 Wireless Devices

Redmond, WA, May 2009 -- Nuts About Nets, LLC, an innovator and leading provider of WiFi diagnostic tools, recently filed for patent protection for its revolutionary Indirect Measurement of Microwave Interference (IMMI) technology, which will further advance its product lines of PC-based tools used for troubleshooting wireless networks. This unique technology enables off-the-shelf, 802.11 devices to be used as RF analyzers for quantifying the throughput performance of 802.11 channels. The result is a more accurate predictor of each 802.11 channel's performance in the current RF environment and in the presence of other wireless devices whose transmissions could interfere with the performance of an 802.11 wireless network.

Nuts About Nets, LLC also announced that this technology has been deployed in its latest product line, the WifiEagle 802.11 channel analyzer series. WifiEagle sees the RF world through the eyes of an 802.11 device, hence the diagnostic information it provides more closely mirrors the performance one would expect from 802.11 client adapters actually in use at a particular site.  Since the technology relies on inexpensive, off-the-shelf 802.11 devices then the cost to the end user is a fraction of that usually associated with RF spectrum analyzers that rely on proprietary hardware devices.

When installing an 802.11 wirless network or troubleshooting one that performs poorly it is important to select a channel that is not subject to RF interference from other devices. With wireless systems it is difficult to predict the propagation of radio waves and to detect the presence of interfering signals without the use of test equipment. RF spectrum analyzers are typically used as the tool of choice when it comes to detecting and identifying sources of interference and for providing informantion that allows optimal configuration of a WiFi network. But since they are not themselves 802.11 devices then a spectrum analyzer can not predict how each WiFi channel will be affected by different patterns of RF interference. Nor can they quantify the expected improvement (or decline) in throughput performance when reconfiguring an access point to use a different 802.11 channel.

"IMMI technology has multiple applications -- not only in the area of WiFi diagnostic tools but also running as an embedded process in any device that includes an 802.11 chipset (e.g. client station or access point) to provide realtime monitoring of channel performance with the possibility of dynamically switching to the channel with the best throughput peformance," stated Steve Leytus, President of Nuts About Nets, LLC. "Ultimately, when it comes to 802.11 networks the bottom line is performance, as measured by throughput (i.e. bytes / sec). RF engineers may argue otherwise, but it's difficult to convince a user whose WiFi network is slow or keeps disconnecting that everything is fine because certain technical RF measurements fall within their acceptable range. Conversely, an RF spectrum trace may show some peaks that lead an IT staff to overreact and spend the next week using an expensive spectrum analyzer to track-down the source(s) of interference and then, in the end, we learn these peaks really do not affect their WiFi network because 802.11 is sufficiently robust to accomodate and overcome them. IMMI technology provides greater value because (a) it uses an actual 802.11 device to detect interference and predict and quantify the throughput performance of each 802.11 channel and, (b) is inexpensive -- by virtue of the fact it uses off-the-shelf 802.11 hardware."

From inception, IMMI technology was designed to be deployed in Nuts About Nets' latest product line -- WifiEagle. WifiEagle employs IMMI technology with 802.11 hardware to perform data acquisition -- hence, the results truly reflect how RF interference in the local environment will affect 802.11 channels, which is not possible using an RF spectrum analyzer. IMMI technology and WifiEagle are the only solution on the market today that allows both experts and non-experts to quantify and predict throughput performance of each 802.11 channel. This makes it easier to troubleshoot and fix problems and allows people to make better-informed decisions on how best to configure their wireless network for optimal throughput performance. IMMI technology and WifiEagle represent a true breakthrough in the area of WiFi diagnostics -- not only because they predict throughput performance but also from a cost standpoint.

WifiEagle has a variety of features including the following:
* support for both 2.4x and 5x GHz ISM bands
* easy-to-use, graphical UI with multiple diagnostic views and charts
* built-in modules for performing both channel analysis and network discovery
* data recording and playback
* PDF report generation
Currently there are two products included in the WifiEagle line of channel analyzers -- WifiEagle 2.4x & 5x GHz Dual-Band Channel Analyzer, and WifiEagle 2.4x GHz Single-Band Channel Analyzer. Their MSRP are $349 USD and $249 USD, respectively.


About Nuts About Nets, LLC

Nuts About Nets, LLC is a leading innovator of low-cost, WiFi diagnostic tools and continually strives to develop new and easy-to-use tools that professionals and non-professionals alike apply in the real world to gain optimal performance from their wireless networks. Organizations, small companies, WiFi-installers and individuals worldwide rely on Nuts About Nets' products and solutions for solving wireless problems associated with RF interference. From the introduction of the Sleuth and Invisible Waves series of RF spectrum analyzers to the unique AirHORN series of channel / signal generators, and now the recent introduction of IMMI technology and WifiEagle channel analyzers, Nuts About Nets, LLC has demonstrated a track record of creative solutions for helping solve interference-related wireless problems. For more information visit www.NutsAboutNets.com.

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