Introduction

Welcome to NetSurveyor Professional :: 802.11 Performance Analyzer and Network Discovery Tool...

NetSurveyor Professional is a new type of diagnostic tool that puts a different spin on WiFi troubleshooting -- emphasizing performance metrics over measurements of RF signal strengths. NetSurveyor-Pro is used to test the performance and reliability of a WiFi network and help identify and troubleshoot problems. Furthermore, NetSurveyor-Pro also allows you to concurrently test multiple (up to five) WiFi connections. NetSurveyor-Pro is a software-only product that uses your 802.11 adapter(s) and access point(s) -- no additional proprietary hardware is required. Novices through experts will find NetSurveyor-Pro most useful when installing, testing, and troubleshooting 802.11 adapters and wireless networks. At a fraction of the cost of more expensive solutions, NetSurveyor-Pro provides a more accurate picture of a WiFi network from a performance perspective.

Ultimately, the bottom line for any network (wired or wireless) boils down to throughput -- that is, how many bytes-per-sec can be transferred from one node on the network to another. The dBm and RSSI values that are often referred to in the context of wireless networks don't mean much if you can't somehow relate them to a performance metric. Before we can really begin to troubleshoot a wireless 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 NetSurveyor-Pro comes in. It is a simple tool that allows benchmarking of one or more wireless networks.

NetSurveyor-Pro allows you to test, concurrently, multiple WiFi networks -- the 802.11 adapters can be connected to the same or different access points. In this way you can directly compare the performance and reliability of different combinations of adapters and access points. NetSurveyor-Pro is also suited for monitoring the performance of a single connection -- and can reveal whether the performance of the wireless network is impacted by RF or multipath interference or is overburdened by other 802.11 traffic. NetSurveyor-Pro can also be used to optimally position the location of access points and as an aid in properly orienting antennas -- by monitoring the effect on performance as you make changes to the wireless infrastructure. By reconfiguring an access point to use a different channel, NetSurveyor-Pro can help you determine which channel results in the best performance. And, finally, NetSurveyor-Pro can be used to benchmark the performance and reliability of a WiFi network when first installed and at some later point in time -- comparing results helps you determine whether something in the RF environment has changed that negatively impacts the performance of your wireless network.

In addition to connection and adapter analysis, integrated in the application software is a full-featured, Wi-Fi scanner -- also known as an 802.11 network discovery tool. An 802.11 network discovery tool gathers information about nearby access points and displays the data using a variety of graphical charts. The network discovery functionality that is integrated into NetSurveyor-Pro is modeled after our popular NetSurveyor application. Combining connection and adapter performance analysis with 802.11 network discovery, NetSurveyor Professional provides a powerful diagnostic tool that helps you troubleshoot WiFi problems in ways not possible before. The data it presents provides insight into the following areas that impact the performance and reliability of your wireless network: RF and multipath interference, access point location, antenna orientation, and access points overburdened by 802.11 traffic.

NetSurveyor-Pro has a variety of features including the following:

easy-to-use, graphical UI with multiple diagnostic views and charts
built-in modules for performing both connection analysis and network discovery
data recording and playback
PDF report generation

Applications for NetSurveyor Professional include the following:

Monitor the reliability of a WiFi network using performance / bandwidth metrics
Optimal AP placement
Concurrently test and compare the performance and reliability of up to five (5) different 802.11 connections -- employing a variety of combinations of adapters and access points -- that is, adapters can be associated with either the same or different access points
Test whether the performance of a WiFi network is handicapped by RF or multipath interference or is overburdened with other 802.11 traffic
As an aid in properly locating 802.11 wireless devices and orienting their antennas so as to optimize throughput, performance and reliability
Determine which 802.11 channel results in the best performance
Benchmark the performance of a WiFi network when first installed and at some later point in time -- comparing results helps determine whether something in the RF environment has changed that impacts the wireless network

In addition, the 802.11 network discovery functionality provides the following benefits:

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
Troubleshooting 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)

The analyzer software displays the data using a variety of diagnostic charts. The charts are divided into three groups -- 'Connection Analysis', '802.11 Network Discovery' and 'Data Playback' -- and are accessed using Tabbed pages, as shown below. Furthermore, when multiple charts are displayed at the same time and you wish to adjust their dimensions -- use the left mouse button to drag the line that separates the charts up / down or left / right to suit your preferences.