Chanalyzer 3.1 Interface
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 v3.0 offer 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 offers three different views to show the interference patterns occuring in the 2.4Ghz spectrum
- 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 utilisation 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.
Chanalyzer v3.0 has released even more features - the most notable being the new Sidebar and increased recording playback options.
- Signature Identification: The "Signatures" sidebar provides an easy way to match the shape appearing in your graph to typical device signatures from MetaGeek's growing Signatures Library. This will help you to pin-point the source of interference. 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.
- Time Controls: Now the user can select any arbitrary time length to be in view - from 10 seconds to hours if you want. This offers greater clarity over the recorded data – hence making it easier to pick out interfering devices.
- 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.
- Recordings Cropping: Now users can crop recordings visually, making it easier to isolate specific data or timeframes to analyze.
- Embedded Notes: Textual notes can now be embedded into any recording, 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.
Chanalyzer v3.1 Sidebar
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.