Wi-Spy 2.4x Spectrum Analyzer

The Wi-Spy 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer is a valuable tool that can be used in setting up a Wi-Fi wireless network in a congested office building or even in your home-office. It's also a valuable tool in helping isolate and identify sources of interference.

The Wi-Spy is about the size of a USB memory stick with an antenna at the end. There is also software component that gets installed on your laptop that displays all the graphs that help you isolate and identify the sources of interference. The software consists of Chanalyzer 3.0 analysis utility that can be installed on a Windows base machine. You can find third party software, on the web, for a Mac and Linux OS.

The Chanalyzer 3.0 program provides you with three different views of your data. You have a spectral, planar, and topographic view, all of which can be resized or hidden on your display. Each view provides you with important data that will help you analyze your signal or interference sources.

Chanalyzer's planar view displays the current Wi-Fi signals across each frequency against a backdrop of the maximum and average signal levels. The spectral view shows you the same information plotted historically over time. Both of these views will give you an idea of which channels are the busiest and which ones have little activity.

The topographic view is the one that will help you identify a source of interference by displaying signatures of the sources. Interfering sources can be from a W-Fi network, baby monitor, microwave, cordless phone, wireless USB devices and so forth. The Chanalyzer's Signature Sidebar can help you identify these sources of interference.

The Chanalyzer provides other helpful visual aids that can assist you in identifying sources of interference. There is even an inspector tool that will display data about any point on a graph just by moving your mouse over it.

The Chanalyzer automatically collects and stores all data that is picked up by the Wi-Spy 2.4x device. You will also find an adjustable timeline that lets you view recorded data and center in on a narrow period of time. All data can be saved for future reference and you can even enter in your own notes.

The Wi-Spy 2.4x is sold by MetaGeek for $399 and is a valuable tool for Wi-Fi installations and troubleshooting. MetaGeek also offers a library, on its website, of recordings created by other companies that can help you identify sources of interference.

via: Thinkgeek and Practically Networked