NetSpot explained
| NetSpot |
| Logo Caption: | NetSpot logo |
| Developer: | Etwok Inc. |
| Released: | (Mac OS X)
(Windows) |
| Latest Release Version: | 2.14 (Mac OS X)
2.14 (Windows) |
| Programming Language: | Objective-C |
| Operating System: | OS X v.10.6 +,
Windows 7-8-10,
Android OS 6.0+,
iOS 10.0+ |
| Platform: | x86 |
| Language: | English,
French,
German,
Portuguese,
Spanish,
Japanese,
Russian |
| Genre: | Wireless site survey |
| License: | free, or paid |
NetSpot is a software tool for wireless network assessment, scanning, and surveys, analyzing Wi-Fi coverage and performance.[1] It runs on Mac OS X 10.6+ and Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. Netspot supports 802.11n, 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g wireless networks and uses the standard Wi-Fi network adapter and its Airport interface to map radio signal strength and other wireless network parameters, and build reports on that. NetSpot was released in August 2011.[2]
Functions
NetSpot provides all professional wireless site survey features for Wi-Fi and maps coverage of a living area, office space, buildings, etc.[3] It provides visual data to help analyze radio signal leaks, discover noise sources, map channel use, optimize access point locations. Also, the application can perform Wi-Fi network planning: the data that are collected help to select channels and placements for new hotspots. Survey reports can be generated in PDF format.
Usual uses
- Mapping Wi-Fi
- Mapping Wi-Fi signal strength[4]
- Optimizing networks[5]
- Trouble-shooting networks[6]
- Visualizing wireless networks[7]
- Diagnosing signal problems[8]
- Analyzing wireless network coverage[9]
Release history
| Version | Platform | Release date | Notes and significant changes |
|---|
| 1.0.216, | Macintosh | August 2011 | - Initial public release[10]
|
| 1.1.259 | Macintosh | November 2011 | - Ability to draw a map inside of NetSpot
- New visualization: Signal to interference ratio[11]
|
| 1.2.308 | Macintosh | December 2011 | - New improved advanced algorithm for APs' location detection
- Detection of different networks transmitted by the same AP, their signals are ignored when building an interference map
|
| 1.3.335 | Macintosh | July 2012 | - New project wizard
- OS X Mountain Lion compatibility[12]
|
| 2.0 | Macintosh | October 2012 | - New Wireless Discover Mode
- Manually relocate APs
- Pro and Enterprise versions introduced.[13]
|
| 2.1 | Macintosh | May 2013 | - New visualizations: Frequency Band Coverage, PHY Mode (a/b/g/n) Coverage
- The Scan Interval can be adjusted in Discover mode
- New Advanced Export to generate customizable PDF reports
- Frequency data can now be viewed in Discover mode[14]
|
| 2.2 | Macintosh | August 2013 | - Full support of IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard
- Alternative detailed view of data points indicators
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks compatibility
|
| 2.10.953[15] | Macintosh | October 2018 | - New localization: Japanese
- The color scheme in the sidebar is more contrasting and visual now
- When switching among surveys, selected visualization is kept
- Corrected measurement values in some of the visualizations
- Note: macOS Mojave 10.14 will require users to enable location services to run NetSpot.
- Available on Setapp
|
| 1.0[16] | Android | November 2018 | - The 1.0 version only has a Discover mode at this time: new beautiful and easy-to-use interface, all necessary features at hand… and it is free.
|
| 1.1[17] | Android | September 2019 | - Chromebook support* has been added
- Nice and sleek improvements throughout the interface
- The app is now using the latest SDK
- The issue with name filters not being applied in some cases is fixed
- The app has been optimized for even better performance on tablets
|
| 2.11[18] | Macintosh, Windows | October 2019 | - Support for macOS 10.15 Catalina
- updated OUI lists for better AP vendor identification
- fixed: Dark mode is currently disabled until NetSpot 3
- fixed: The animation shown during scanning
- fixed: Issues while working with the high-resolution maps
|
| 2.12[19] | Macintosh, Windows | February 2020 | macOS:- Support for 802.11ax (aka WiFi 6).
- Support for WPA3.
- The vendors list has been updated.
- Fixed: Details graphs for networks broadcasting on 5 GHz.
Windows:
- Support for 802.11ax (aka WiFi 6).
- Support for WPA3.
- Improved: General performance of the app during the active scan.
- The vendors list has been updated.
- Fixed: The app crashing with WLAN service disabled.
- Fixed: A minor bug while moving the second scan point.
- Fixed: A minor bug with two survey starting points on the map.
| |
See also
- iStumbler – an open-source utility to find wireless networks and devices in Mac OS X
- KisMAC – a wireless network discovery tool for Mac OS X
- WiFi Explorer – a wireless network scanner for Mac OS X
Notes and References
- Web site: Find the dead spots in your Wi-Fi network with NetSpot . Matt Elliott. December 21, 2015.
- Web site: NetSpot offers free Wi-Fi network surveying software . MacNN . August 12, 2011.
- Web site: NetSpot: WiFi Site Survey for the Rest of Us.
- Web site: Create a WiFi signal strength map with NetSpot for Mac :: by Techerator.
- Web site: NetSpot helps you optimize your Wi-Fi networks :: by Macworld . 2011-11-29.
- Web site: Trouble-shoot your WiFi network with NetSpot :: by Dr. Macenstein.
- Web site: Mac-NZ review :: NetSpot WiFi visualisation software.
- Web site: Diagnose Wi-Fi Signal Problems With NetSpot :: Lifehacker.
- Web site: Analyze Wireless Network Coverage In Mac With NetSpot Survey Software :: by Addictivetips.
- Web site: NetSpot – The only Native Wireless Site Survey Software for Mac . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910014426/http://prmac.com/release-id-29494-search-netspot.htm . 2012-09-10 .
- Web site: NetSpot 1.1 - new version of Wi-Fi mapping software for Mac.
- Web site: NetSpot 1.3 release notes: what's new, what's hot in this update. 2012-07-03.
- Web site: How To use your Mac to survey your home or office Wi-Fi network. 2012-10-19.
- Web site: NetSpot 2.1 Release Notes: What's New in Version 2.1?. 2012-05-24.
- Web site: NetSpot 2.10 minor update - Japanese localization is added. 2018-10-17.
- Web site: NetSpot WiFi Analyzer for Android has been released. 2018-11-06.
- Web site: NetSpot for Android v.1.1 . 2019-09-27.
- Web site: The minor update of NetSpot v. 2.11. 2019-10-04.
- Web site: NetSpot 2.12 — new update for macOS and Windows. 2020-02-06.
