Curious if the community has any recommendations and/or positive experiences to share for a handheld Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) analyzer.
Software/laptop-based solutions can be unwieldy in certain environments. However, given rave reviews, I'm open to the idea as long as it's Mac-compatible.
Should be able to show detailed spectra, help locate sources of interference, have mapping capabilities, etc.
Thanks!
Curious if the community has any recommendations and/or positive
experiences to share for a handheld Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) analyzer.Software/laptop-based solutions can be unwieldy in certain environments.
However, given rave reviews, I'm open to the idea as long as it's
Mac-compatible.Should be able to show detailed spectra, help locate sources of
interference, have mapping capabilities, etc.
Depending on what problem you're trying to solve, on my Android
phone I use a free app called 'Wifi Analyzer':
Shows me what station IDs are on what channels, handles 2.4g and 5G
connections, etc.
Doesn't provide mapping, just shows "from where I am right know, what
channels have which stations as what strengths?"
For a house, it's easy to walk around, to passively get a feel for Wifi
placement/config.
Scout Aircheck G2 is quite nifty - but a lot of tools out there are
only just a little bit above what you can do with a decent Android
phone (one with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac chipset) and
WiFiAnalyzer ! 
alan
For OSX specific requirement, I suggest looking at “Wi-Fi Explorer Pro”. It scans for SSIDs, integrates with Metageek Wi-Spy for SpecA, connects to remote sensors. Eval for 10 days before needing pay.
The developer (Adrian Granados) also makes a tool called “Wi-Fi signal” (menu bar display/status).
There is another tool as well “Airtool” which makes packet captures ridiculously easy on OSX.
For mapping Ekahau or Netapot which are OSX based. Alternatively - iBwave, Ekahau, Airmagnet and Tamosoft on windows.
Kindest regards,
Sorry for the top post, but I too end up going back to Wi Fi analyzer on my Android. I have found it covers all the basics which i need and am able to locate any difficulty I may be having. It works and you can carry it in your pocket instead of dragging a laptop around.
Richard
iStumbler on the Mac
-Sean
In addition to the other tools already recommended by previous posters, I
recommend buying one of these:
https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanobeam-ac-gen2/
It's a directional antenna/radio integrated unit and is intended as a point
to point or point-to-multipoint WISP client radio. The one feature you can
get from it very cheaply is a directional, 2x2 MIMO 5.x GHz band spectrum
analyzer that sees things *which are not 802.11 or wifi based.*
The airview spectrum analyzer tool built into it looks like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=ubiquiti+airview&num=100&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0gtLI9q_YAhUC62MKHbZoAogQ_AUICygC&biw=1744&bih=994&dpr=1.1
Highly useful for tracking down a specific source of non-wifi 5 GHz band
interference. There's all sorts of random consumer grade things people can
buy and introduce into an environment which do not broadcast MAC addresses
or SSIDs, and do not show up on purely 802.11(abgn/ac) based tools.
It will of course also see hidden SSIDs and standard+non-standard
802.11abgn(ac) emitters.
There are also 2.4 GHz versions of similar products which will let you find
non-802.11 emitters in the 2300 to 2500 MHz band. At $79 a lot less
expensive than a "real" spectrum analyzer.
You can get DC PoE injectors for them which will connect to a Makita drill
battery if you want to make it portable and wander around with a laptop.
Thanks for all of the great suggestions, both on- and off-list!!
Cheers and Happy New Year, everyone.