![]() ![]() Getting a Wi-Fi network survey done with NetSpot is the first step in helping you boost and improve your coverage.įree and easy-to-use, Scalable user interface, Expert-level Wi-Fi surveys, Multiple configurable zone parameters, Smart AP detection and placement. These real-life heatmaps of your and neighboring wireless networks let you quickly locate dead zones, optimize channel load, detect and prevent rogue access points from interfering and more. You just need an area map, and a laptop or Windows-based tablet to build an expert-level visual Wi-Fi reports. With the Survey functionality one can quickly visualize any area and get an interactive heatmap of wireless signal level. Every single specification of surrounding wireless networks gets on your screen in seconds after running NetSpot's Discover mode. With NetSpot for Windows it's easy to scan all Wi-Fi networks in range and collect their detailed profiles. They’re big, they’re outlandish, and they’re fun to break apart.NetSpot is a free WiFi analysis and troubleshooting app that can really help you assess and boost your wireless network at home or in the office. AmpliFi HD has a seriously “hot” RF signal that carries well, but it's coupled with a very not-kid-friendly, avant-garde physical design that leaves it prone to really bad locations and even physical breakage.ĪmpliFi’s router is a little white cube that makes a reasonably good, if Star Trek-ish, clock, but its satellite units are magnetically coupled “towers” that plug directly into wall sockets. Our own Eric Bangeman has AmpliFi HD in his home and loves it, but my testing hasn’t left me as thrilled. To be honest, I expected it to sweep the field clean based on my experience with their UAP line of traditional wired-backhaul access points. AmpliFi HDĪmpliFi is Ubiquiti’s answer to wireless mesh networking. The visuals it generates are an absolutely invaluable tool if you want to geek out hard and get the most out of your Wi-Fi coverage. I was impressed enough that I actually installed Windows on a laptop just so I could run it-and it was worth it. Hutchinson introduced me to NetSpot, a free-as-in-beer visualization tool for Mac or Windows that lets you walk around your house and map out the signals throughout. We tested each device using iperf3 to get raw throughput numbers in several sites throughout the house, but first and more importantly, we’re going to look at heatmaps of the Wi-Fi signal produced by each kit. At press time, we don’t have a fix from the Eero team, so we regretfully had to put Eero aside for now. ![]() We’d originally intended to test the new Eero v2.0 firmware, too, but unfortunately two of our three test units refused to make it through the update process. Our trio of contenders are Google Wifi, Plume, and AmpliFi HD. Luckily, today happens to be a bit of a boom for mesh offerings. Keep in mind your personal devices such as your smartphone, tablet, or laptop will typically connect to only one radio band at any given time. All radio bands are active simultaneously. Google Nest Wifi Pro also uses the 6 GHz band. But if you don’t want wires and you don’t want the possibly intimidating controller systems like Ubiquiti’s UniFi interface, mesh might be for you. Your Nest Wifi or Google Wifi network uses the same name for both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. To be fair, nothing Wi-Fi at all comes close to the performance of wired Ethernet itself, so don’t get too excited about the “3.2 gigabits per second!” that AC-3200 Wi-Fi router promises you. I’ll save you some time up front: I’ve played with just about everything out there, and nothing comes close to the performance of multiple access points with full wired backhaul like the UAPs. A lot of people either can’t or don’t want to run cables through their house at all, though, and that’s the niche Wi-Fi mesh kits seek to service. Here at Ars, we’ve been rocking some high-tech Wi-Fi setups for a while-in particular, Senior Technology Editor Lee Hutchinson and I are fond of Ubiquiti’s UAP line of wireless access points. ![]()
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