NetSpot is a free wireless network assessment software. It lets you analyze your wireless network with its heat mapping capabilities. NetSpot is available for Windows as well as for Mac OS X. For Windows, it supports Windows 7, 8, and 10. Supported wireless networks are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n.
Its basic purpose it to assess the wireless network by scanning and analyzing it for Wi-Fi coverage and performance. You can easily identify the dead spots for any particular network or hot spot by scanning the network by using it. It uses standard Wi-Fi network adapter for scanning available Wi-Fi network or Wi-Fi hotspots.
It maps the radio signal strength for all the Wi-Fi hotspots in your area and based upon the scanning parameters, it creates a final report. You can check the multiple signal quality strength by checking more than one Wi-Fi device from the list of available APs (Access Points).
Discovering Wi-Fi Network:
After installing and running the program, it starts discovering the available Wi-Fi networks around you automatically or you can manually start scanning by clicking the DISCOVER button on its main interface.
It shows the real-time signal graph, levels, min, max, and avg dBm values, band, channel(s) etc. on the Discover tab.
How to do a Survey:
To start a survey, you have to click SURVEY button on its main interface. First of all, you have to provide a survey name in the main window of this program. Now you can select any of the given options by clicking the desired radio button.
Further, you can save the survey in NETSPW format and this project file can be loaded later if required.
- Load a survey map: You can load a survey map in various Image formats including JPG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, BMP and much more.
- Use sample area map: This is a sample area map or default map for any area.
- Use blank map: In this case, you have to specify the area in L x B either in Feet or Meters.
You have to choose the desired map from above-stated types. Now click Continue to start the survey. If you choose sample area map then you have to provide at least 2 different points on the selected map and it will automatically calculate the distance between them. Now again click Continue and click on various points you want to check for signal strength by using your mouse.
Now all the available APs (Access Points/Hot Spots) in your area will automatically come in the left pane of the selected map. Now you can find the location of your Wi-Fi network as well as its dBm value for a particular point by moving your mouse over it. Also, it shows the selected area in colors when you stop scanning for a particular access point.
It can scan multiple Wi-Fi networks simultaneously and gives you results visually.
It shows the covered area results in different colors based upon the signal quality of the particular radio signal of the selected Wi-Fi network on the map you choose.
Less the value of dBm; lower be the signal quality, similarly higher the dBm value; good is the signal quality. It shows different colors for every access point based upon the signal strength.
Conclusion:
This wireless network assessment freeware lets you easily assess your Wi-Fi network and lets you decide to adjust the Wi-Fi network accordingly or accessing devices accordingly. Thus, it helps you to place the Wi-Fi hot spots as per signal strength.
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