Chanalyzer 3.0 Interface
Chanalyzer 3.0 for Wi-Spy 2.4x
MetaGeek’s Wi-Spy 2.4x hardware, widely recognized as the smallest spectrum analyzers on the market (the size of your average thumb drive), can plug into any USB port and harness the processing power of your computer to monitor and collect data about your 2.4 GHz wireless network. Chanalyzer then turns that data into highly interactive charts and graphs, allowing users to actually “visualize” their wireless landscape. Utilizing the Chanalyzer toolset, users can then quickly identify and locate the devices that may be disrupting their wireless computer network signal by causing interference on the same 2.4 GHz band.
Together, Wi-Spy 2.4x and Chanalyzer 3.0 enable both business and home users to visualize, troubleshoot, and optimize their Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) networks. Chanalyzer offers the unique ability to identify signatures of specific electronic devices that may be interfering with any 2.4 GHz wireless network signal, enabling improved installation of wireless devices and faster troubleshooting.
Chanalyzer 3.0 Showing an 802.11g Network
Chanalyzer offers three different views to help troubleshoot issues with Wi-Fi networks:
* Spectral View: Highlights bandwidth use over time with a scrolling “waterfall graph” that plots the selected time period against the frequency range, with each point color-coded by the signal’s amplitude.
* Topographic View: A spectrum utilization map that shows the popularity of the spectrum by plotting the percentage of activity for each frequency and amplitude over a selected time period.
* Planar View: Shows current, average and maximum amplitudes – providing a real-time look at the current signal strength, which can also help to identify which channels are more heavily used and which channels are more open for uninterrupted use.
While many other spectrum analyzers dictate to the users what the problems are, the MetaGeek has designed the Wi-Spy with Chanalyzer solution to be more intuitive for users – helping them to help themselves. The enhancements in Chanlyzer 3.0 offer even more flexibility and customization, as well as improved collaboration and overall ease-of-use, including:
While many other spectrum analyzers dictate to the users what the problems are, the MetaGeek has designed the Wi-Spy with Chanalyzer solution to be more intuitive for users – helping them to help themselves. The enhancements in Chanlyzer 3.0 offer even more flexibility and customization, as well as improved collaboration and overall ease-of-use, including:
* Signature Identification: Whether it is a microwave, cordless phone, or a baby monitor, these devices all show up as unique shapes in your Wi-Fi spectrum, and can interfere with your network. A new “Signatures” sidebar makes it easy to match the shape appearing in your graph to the device signature (from MetaGeek’s growing Signatures Library) – so you can identify the interference.
* Data Inspector: Shows frequency, amplitude, time, and other data of any point in any view – so you can drill down into specific instances of Wi-Fi interference with great detail by simply rolling over a view with your mouse.
* Time Controls: Allows users to select any arbitrary time length to be in view, offering greater clarity over more data – and making it easier to pick out interfering devices.
* Recordings Cropping: Now users can crop recordings visually, making it easier to isolate specific data or timeframes to analyze.
* Recordings Sharing: A recording can be attached to an email and sent to colleagues or friends for quick troubleshooting collaboration.
* Embedded Notes: Textual information can now be added to any recording by embedding user notes, which can be useful when collaborating with others during troubleshooting or creating more intelligent archives to improve a company’s knowledge base. Double-clicking a note will actually jump to that point in time on its recording.
* Recordings Playback: Users have greater control over the speed of playback, fast forwarding or rewinding recordings up to 50x speed, as well as the ability to drag playback to any arbitrary point on a recording.
* Resize Views: Users have more control over screen real estate with the ability to resize the Chanalyzer charts and graphs - customized to their preference or needs. The sidebar tools can also be minimized to view data on a full screen.
More Info
As the saying goes "seeing is believing" so we've provided additional screenshots as well as some sample recordings so you can take Chanalyzer for a test drive.