WiFi scanner?

[dar1437]

Morning all,

Does such a thing as a sort of WiFi scanner exist? What i mean is, a device that you could place by your router, and it would show every nearby (RF) signal (im assuming thats what they use?) Wi-fi/ Bluetooth/ cordless phones/ whatever, and exactly what frequency/ channel/ they were using, so that you could setup yours on the most appropriate unused channel?

 

[ketmp]

In the old days, I would use InSSIDer as it was free but now they want money just to see what channels nearby WiFi AP are using.

I now use WiFiInfoView from Nirsoft.net instead now. It's simple, small, free and doesn't require installation neither.

This is just for seeing channel numbers of nearby WiFi to try and find least busiest one. If you are wanting to see actual RF usage as used by Cordless phones, etc then I suspect that is specialist equipment.

Don't forget that channel numbers overlap by 2 channels either side so generally WiFi APs would use 1, 6 or 11 but you can choose other channels if they're less congested.

 

[CopperFinger]

I have a copy of InSSIDer on an old laptop, I wonder if it would still work? Must try it

 

[dar1437]

Do mobile phones use the RF spectrum also?
In my house it's weird. I can be in a room and the signal can fluctuate from full strength to zero and back?? Now I can understand it going up and down the odd bar or so, but not as much as i formentioned. Unless something's interfereing.

 

[ketmp]

They do...
Around 800MHz, 1.8GHz, 2.6GHz (depending on mobile network and whether you're using 4G, etc)

I suspect what you're finding is that your phone is switching between 2G, 3G/4G as it's designed to do. Modern mobiles will try 4G/3G first (faster data) and will stay on this until this signal is low and then will switch to 2G (really slow data) but generally better signal.

If you are able you can test this by telling your phone to use just 2G and see if signal stays around same and doesn't appear to go from full to zero.

Obviously this is dependent on quality of any 2G, etc in your area.

Signal level can change by few bars in same location as things like your phone has decided to increase power it's using if signal is low so that it can try and hold on to that signal.

 

[dar1437]

They do...
Around 800MHz, 1.8GHz, 2.6GHz (depending on mobile network and whether you're using 4G, etc)

I suspect what you're finding is that your phone is switching between 2G, 3G/4G as it's designed to do. Modern mobiles will try 4G/3G first (faster data) and will stay on this until this signal is low and then will switch to 2G (really slow data) but generally better signal.

If you are able you can test this by telling your phone to use just 2G and see if signal stays around same and doesn't appear to go from full to zero.

Obviously this is dependent on quality of any 2G, etc in your area.

I'll give that a go cheers (no 4g on my phone though lol)
I just downloaded wifi anilyzer also.

(Edit) wifi anilyzer didn't do the job I was expecting

 

[dar1437]

@ketmp

Could wifi devices, such ad Echo/ Firesticks affect 3g?

 

[trevortron]

Morning all,

Does such a thing as a sort of WiFi scanner exist? What i mean is, a device that you could place by your router, and it would show every nearby (RF) signal (im assuming thats what they use?) Wi-fi/ Bluetooth/ cordless phones/ whatever, and exactly what frequency/ channel/ they were using, so that you could setup yours on the most appropriate unused channel?

There are apps you can run on your mobile; I use one called Net Analyser, it lists wifi signals in order of strength and tells you channel, bandwidth, encryption etc. Handy if you want to set your wifi channel manually.

 

[osbald16]

I use wifianalyzer on android

 

[janobi]

Daz, if you want to leech someones wifi then yes its perfectly possible, and you can get the kit off amazon. All you need is an aerial of sorts, point it and see what you pick up. You'll likely need to crack the wifi PSK, depending on the variety used, then it could be easy or very very hard.

If you look on reddit (Hacking section or something), you'll find a guide on it, and what you need to actually purchase to achieve it.