[Network] Wi-Fi Network Tools

June 9, 2020 MugenMuso Network 0

History
– 8/24/2020: Added iOS iPerf apps

Optimizing anything requires a way to measure the system performance. When it comes to the network, there are limited but several parameters one need to assess. These are measured using different tools. This is a reference article listing useful tools for network optimization. This is by no means the most exhaustive list of free tools but it should serve as a good starting point.

In general, Wi-Fi network quality/performance are determined based on:

  • Area of coverage including seamless roaming
  • Network Performance consists of throughput and latency
  • (minimizing) Interference

These network characteristics are determined/assessed using measurable parameters:

  • Channel Utilization/congestion
  • Access Point (AP) signal strength (RSSI)
  • Throughput
  • Latency

Interference and area of coverage assessment should be conducted pre- intra- and post- network deployment. Network performance test should mainly be conducted after everything else are confirmed to be working well.

Site Survey Tools

These are tools to be used for setting up/adjusting access points setting.

Built-in RF Scanner

Some APs have a built in radio-frequency scanner to gather some of the information, especially if you have enterprise APs like UniFi, Cisco Meraki etc. Check what capability your AP have.

If you have this option, my suggestion is use it. This is because these are measured right on the AP itself and if AP itself is seeing the interference, it won’t get any worse than that.

For instance, UniFi APs with built in RF Scanner measure:

  • Channel Utilization for current selected channel including interference
  • Channel Utilization of all channels when RF Scanner is executed
  • UniFi iOS App > Insights measures neighboring AP’s RSSI and Channel
  • UniFi: RF Environment
  • UniFi: Neighbor AP Information
  • UniFi: Channel Utilization

inSSIDer

https://www.metageek.com

Platform: Mac & Windows
Cost: Free & Subscription Version

Measures:

  • Channel Utilization of all channels
  • Neighboring SSID RSSI and Channel
  • inSSIDer: Channel Utilization
  • inSSIDer: Neighbor AP Info

For free tool, this is a great tool.

Netspot

https://www.netspotapp.com/press.html

Platform: Mac & Windows

Cost: Free & Paid ($49 & $149)

Measures:

  • Neighboring SSID RSSI and Channel
  • Paid version allows creation of heat map
Netspot

I have paid Pro version of this. This allows me to create a heat map with strength of different AP throughout my home. NetSpot occasionally have a discount such as bundle discount on Stacksocial with other tools, so if you are thinking of purchasing this, you might want to wait until the discount.

Netspot Heatmap

Wi-Fi Analyzer

Cover art
WiFi Analyzer

Platform: Android

Cost: Free & Paid ($3.99)

Measures:

  • Neighboring SSID RSSI and Channel
  • Suggest the best channel to use

I don’t have an android device, so I cannot say much about this but it sounds like pretty good app.

Apple AirPort Utility

AirPort Utility

Platform: iOS

Measure:

  • Neighboring SSID RSSI and Channel

In order to use Wi-Fi Scan function, you must go to Setting on your iOS device and turn it on. Otherwise, the app by default looks like a just Apple’s discontinued router system utility app.

Performance Tools

These are more of a post-survey tools to confirm final performance. Poor performance by itself won’t tell what the specific issue with network. In fact, it may not be related to network setting at all e.g. client issue. Network performance have generally two components:

  • Throughput
  • Latency

Internet speed test

For: Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

Cost: Free

Measures:

  • (internet) Throughput
  • Latency

Multiple internet speed tests exist. I personally prefer either fast.com or xfinity speed test. These sites measures throughput across internet.

Although this may seem practically one of the most important number to measure for day to day use of Wi-Fi, this may not necessary the best test for full Wi-Fi capability.

In many case, especially with Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi speed will likely reach 500-600 Mbps and some instance even faster. So if you have internet service under this speed, bottleneck is your internet service and not really assessing Wi-Fi’s full capability. This is often seen on some of major review sites stating certain mesh network system fully reaching to their ISP speed; whereas, other site may contradict. Its simply because the first case setting don’t have fast enough internet from ISP. In such case, I don’t think they can really compare one system to another. Having said this, for your own home use, if you are getting full potential of your subscription speed, it may be all it matters.

iPerf3

https://iperf.fr

Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux

Cost: Free

Measure

  • (local) Throughput

This is a popular method to measure speed between two computers/devices. You install iPerf tool on desktop/laptop computer and run as a server. You then access from client device, which can be another computer, tablet or smart phone. The tool then measure data transfer rate i.e. throughput between the two. The key element of this is that if two devices are in the same network, you can measure network throughput without going onto internet. So those who have less than 1 gigabit service from internet provider, but want to measure true performance of your network, this is the way to do.

For iOS or android client, you need to install corresponding app for those devices. There are many. I am on the Apple ecosystem so below are two iOS version of IPerf test apps that I recommend.

iPerf 3 Wi-Fi speed test
IPerf 3 Wifi speed Test

Platform: IOS

Cost: Free

Easy to use interface. This is simple to use but only allows iOS device to connect as a client.

iPerf
iPerf – Speed Test by Surge Networks

Platform: IOS

Cost: $1.99

Unlike the other IPerf apps on the Apple App Store, this tool takes command arguments. The best part of this is that this tool can make the iOS iPerf server. So it is entirely possible to test Wi-Fi speed test between Wi-Fi clients across a single AP. However, note that Apple devices, apparent do not support MU-MIMO so such test will halve the throughput.

Wi-Fi SweetSpots

Platform: iOS

Cost: Free

Measure

  • (local) Throughput

This app continuously measures throughput. Although it often correlates with the result of iPerf 3 or even online speed test, this number generally seem to be higher than the other two.

One thing I like this app in particular over the other throughput measure tool is that it is continuous so I can see where I get dip on my speed, where it is roaming. In fact, this is one of the best way for me to know my roaming may not be completely seamless as otherwise, Wi-Fi signal bar won’t show any dip.

Ping

Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS

Cost: Free

Measure

  • Latency

This is a general command line tool. Some apps may incorporate this as part of other app feature on mobile devices. On desktop/laptop, you can use command line.

Latency depends on many factors. I would ping own router to make sure no internal latency. One can potentially use this to see roaming by keep running ping and if there is a point where ping stops or drops that’s when you lost network connection.

If you see any other major network tool that should be covered here, please feel free to comment.