Troubleshooting with Wi-Spy is easiest with a laptop. Our Chanalyzer software requires .Net 2.0 (or higher), which runs on all recent versions of Microsoft Windows (Windows 2000 and newer). Third-party software for Linux and Mac OS X is also available.

Gathering Data
If you are doing a site survey before installing a new wireless network, or adding an access point to an existing network, it is useful to gather 24 hours of Wi-Spy data. Just plug-in the Wi-Spy, start Chanalyzer and let it run for a day. After the data has been collected by Chanalyzer we suggest saving the recording (select File > Save Recording As...), as it may be useful in the future for comparison. Wi-Spy Recordings (*.wsr files) require about 5MB per hour of recorded data.

Review the Recording
Chanalyzer can show up to 1 hour of data at a time allowing you to quickly skim through the 24 hour recording (this is easiest by just clicking on the playback track bar in hour increments). If you have a specific 802.11 channel that you plan to use change the X-axis labels to Wi-Fi and highlight that channel to make it easier to spot interference on that channel.

Chanalyzer also provides an analysis of all Wi-Fi channels. Select "Wi-Fi Report" from the Reports menu to obtain detailed information about each channel, including a composite "grade." The grade is a measurement of how quiet the channel is; the higher the grade, the quieter the channel.

The following screenshot shows Channel 1 highlighted. The red lines demarcate the boundary of the 22 MHz wide 8022.b channel that is being used. The IEEE 802.11b standard defines 14 channels, although some channels are not available in certain countries. Cisco has a comprehensive list of 802.11a/b/g channel definitions as well as a table showing which regions allow each channel. (Note: Chanalyzer support for Channel 14 can be enabled in the File->Preferences dialog)

Identifying Interference Signatures
Chanalyzer provides visualisation of your wireless landscape in three dimensions (frequency, amplitude, and time). By utilising all three views in Chanalyzer most interference signatures can be quickly identified. Identifying device signatures is similar to identifying aircraft by their silhouettes in WWII to immediately determine if an approaching plane was friend or foe. The Device Signatures Library at Metageek is a growing collection of recordings of common devices that you are likely to encounter.

Download Chanalyser 3.0 - for Wi-Spy 2.4x only

Purchase the Wi-Spy and Wi-Spy 2.4 x Analyser in our Online Store now.
Original Wi-Spy Only £124.99 (inc VAT)		New Wi-Spy 2.4x Only £234.94 ( inc VAT)
Chanalyzer 2.1 is bundled with Original Wi-Spy to help you visualize, troubleshoot, and optimize your wireless network at the office, or at home. Features of Chanalyzer 2.1: Planar View — Plot current data as it moves against maximum and average data representations. Topographic View — Visualize device and interference signatures. Spectral View — See signal strength as it marches through time. Dynamic Play-thru — Move through long recordings with ease. With our new controls, you can stop, play, rewind, and fast-forward live and recorded data. Multiple X-axis Labels — Frequency labels are a must, but the Wi-Fi™ and Zigbee™ channel labels are the kind of attention to detail you expect from us. Variable Timeframes — Whether you want to get the big-picture or zoom down into the finer details of your recording, it’s easy with our slider controls. Download Chanalyser 2.1 - for original Wi-Spy

With the ever-increasing popularity of Wi-Fi, you are likely to encounter neighbouring Wi-Fi networks. There are a number of useful tools available to gather Wi-Fi-specific information, such as NetStumbler (for Windows) and Kismet (for Linux). These tools generally show you the network name (SSID), channel, signal strength and type of security.

Wi-Spy Interference Identification Guide - Step-by-step instructions on using Chanalyzer to identify interference in you rWi-Fi network.

We are always happy to talk to you about products and solutions and answer your queries. If you prefer to email of course, we try to respond promptly and give you as much help as we can with your buying decision. Call us on 0871 250 5619 or send an email to: info@multitask-computing.co.uk