Introduction

We all depend on WiFi – whether it’s for streaming your favorite shows, having a video call, or just browsing cat videos. That’s why it is very important to have a good, solid, WiFi connection. Bad WiFi can lead to endless buffering, dropped calls, and overall frustration. But how do you actually check your WiFi signal quality? This tech tip will teach you everything you need to know.

What is WiFi Quality?

WiFi quality isn’t just about a strong signal. It’s about the overall performance of your wireless network – think of it as a report card for your WiFi. Several components must work together smoothly, just like all subjects in school need good grades to pass. Key components include:

• Signal Strength: How strong is the signal?
• Speed: How fast can you download and upload?
• Latency: How long does data take to travel?
• Jitter: How consistent is that travel time?
• Loss: How much data is being lost and resent?

Regular checkups help you spot problems early.

Key WiFi Quality Metrics

Let’s dive a bit deeper into those key metrics. Think of them as the vital signs of your WiFi network:
Signal Strength (RSSI): Measured in decibels-milliwatts (dBm), this tells you how strong the signal is from your router or access point (AP). The closer to 0, the stronger the signal. So, -50 dBm is great, while -80 dBm is not so great.

• Download/Upload Speeds: Measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). This is probably what you care about most – how quickly can you start binge-watching that new series?
• Latency: Measured in milliseconds (ms). This is the delay between when you send a request (like clicking a link) and when you get a response. High latency can make your internet feel sluggish, even if your speeds are good.
• Jitter: Also measured in milliseconds (ms). It is all about consistency. High jitter means your latency is fluctuating a lot, which can cause problems with things like video calls and online games (imagine your character freezing every few seconds!).
• Packet Loss: Measures the amount of data that fails to reach the receiver, indicating an unstable connection that can disrupt communication.

Common WiFi Quality Issues

Before talking about solutions, let’s look at some common WiFi problems:

• Interference: Other devices using radio waves (microwaves, Bluetooth) can disrupt your WiFi.
• Distance: The farther you are from the router or AP, the weaker the signal.
• Channel Congestion: WiFi channels can get crowded, like a busy highway.
• Hardware Limitations: An old device (router, AP, phone, tablet, etc.) might not support the latest WiFi standards.

How to Test and Improve WiFi Quality

Alright, time to put on your detective hat and start testing – and then, fixing! This section combines how to test with how to improve each metric, because knowing the problem is only half the battle. We also include common quality issues.

Signal Strength (RSSI)

• Testing: Use a network analyzer tool like the EtherScope nXG, AirCheck G3, or CyberScope to measure the signal strength (RSSI) in different locations. These tools will give you precise readings, unlike basic phone apps. Common issues are environmental obstacles, distance and hardware limitations.
• Improving: If your signal strength is weak (-70 dBm or lower), try these:
  • Move your router or AP: Put it in a central and open location, free from obstructions like walls and furniture.
  • Adjust antennas: If your router or AP has external antennas, try repositioning them.
  • Add more access points: You could install more access points to increase the coverage, or use WiFi extenders.
  • Upgrade your router or AP: Consider a newer router or AP model that supports the latest WiFi standards (like WiFi 6E or WiFi 7) for better range and performance.

Download/Upload Speeds

• Testing: You can use online speed test tools for a general idea. For more detailed analysis, NetAlly tools can run performance tests to show your actual local area network throughput. Common issues are interference, distance, channel congestion and hardware limitations.
• Improving: Slow speeds?
  • Check for interference: Other electronic devices (microwaves, Bluetooth devices) can interfere with your WiFi signal. Try to minimize their use near your router or AP.
  • A stronger signal and lower noise: This will increase your signal to noise ratio (SNR). An SNR of 25 dBm or higher is recommended for the best performance.
  • Update your hardware: Because of technological limitations at the time they were made, older hardware won’t achieve higher speeds.
  • Check your channel: Use a network analyzer like those from NetAlly to see if the WiFi channels you are using are overcrowded. If so, switch to a less congested channel.

Latency

• Testing: Network analyzers like those from NetAlly can measure latency, often using a ping test. Common issues are interference and channel congestion.
• Improving: High latency is often caused by network congestion.
  • Reduce network traffic: Limit the number of devices using the network simultaneously, especially for bandwidth-intensive activities.
  • Prioritize traffic: Use Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router or AP (if available) to prioritize latency-sensitive applications like video conferencing or online gaming.
  • Check your channel: Overcrowded WiFi channels can increase your latency, too. If there are too many devices working on the same channel you are using, switch to a less congested one.

Jitter

• Testing: Similar to latency, network analyzers like those from NetAlly mentioned before can measure jitter. Common issues are interference and channel congestion.
• Improving: Jitter is also often related to network congestion and interference. The same steps to improve latency will often help with jitter, too.

Packet Loss

• Testing: With a network analyzer like those from NetAlly, you can measure if any packets got lost and how many times data transmissions had to be retried. A common issue are environmental obstacles, distance, and interference.
• Improving: Make sure your signal strength is stronger than -67 dBm and lower levels of interference.
  • Increase your signal strength: Put your router or AP in a central and open location, install more APs or extenders, or reposition the antennas (if using external ones).
  • Check for interference: Move sources of interference away from your router or AP. If that is not possible, try moving the router or AP away from the interferers.

Conclusion

Checking your WiFi quality is essential, and even more important: improving the quality. By understanding the key metrics, using the right tools and addressing common issues, you can identify problems and make sure your network is running smoothly. So don’t let bad WiFi ruin your day – take control and become the master of your wireless domain!

Ready to become a WiFi expert? Check out our network analyzer tools, like the EtherScope nXG, AirCheck G3, and CyberScope.

In-depth AutoTest provides unmatched visibility for Ethernet cable and network link validation and troubleshooting.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – June 3, 2024 – Today at the Cisco Live! event, NetAlly announced the availability of its next-generation LinkRunner® AT network and cable testers, continuing a twenty-plus year legacy of innovative troubleshooting tools for network engineers and technicians.

The LinkRunner AT 3000 delivers fast and comprehensive validation of copper and fiber network links with powerful network connectivity troubleshooting. While offering the same core functions of its predecessors (LinkRunner AT 1000 and 2000 models), the LinkRunner AT 3000 features a large touchscreen and a more in-depth AutoTest that provides deeper network visibility on Ethernet links from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps – all at the same price as the AT 2000.

With the addition of network discovery, path analysis, and packet capture, the LinkRunner AT 4000 provides deeper visibility and diagnostics, enabling network professionals to quickly resolve issues impacting single or multiple devices and network segments. Automated topology mapping in Link-Live, NetAlly’s collaboration, reporting and analysis platform, delivers ‘up-to-the-minute’ accurate networks maps for easy documentation.

“The LRAT 4000 has proven to be an exceptional addition to our toolbox,” said Paul Sutherland, engineer at Hallbeck IT. “It has significantly reduced the time and cost associated with the troubleshooting process. This tool has enhanced our ability to quickly identify active network faults, a task that would have been much more time-consuming with conventional methods.”

“The venerable LinkRunner has served IT professionals for over two decades as the most popular connectivity tester in existence,” said James Kahkoska, NetAlly Chief Technology Officer.  “Implementing our AllyWare™ common technology platform on LinkRunner AT has enabled the complete transformation of these instruments with functionalities present in NetAlly’s more advanced testers while providing a familiar user experience, both on the testers as well as in Link-Live.”

Lee Badman, wireless network architect at Wirednot, said, “The latest LinkRunner AT from NetAlly upgrades this very handy product line in all the right ways – from support for the latest PoE standards and switch interfaces to rework of the user interface for ultra-effectiveness, the reasons to invest or upgrade are many.”

The new LinkRunner AT models are available from NetAlly’s authorized channel partners across North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information: https://www.netally.com/linkrunner-ethernet-testers/

Single instrument combines edge network vulnerability scanning with Wi-Fi and BT/BLE

wireless network performance testing and surveying.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA – March 5, 2024 – Today, NetAlly announced the expansion of
its cybersecurity assessment product line with the addition of CyberScope® Air, a Wi-Fi
vulnerability scanner and tester for assessing the security posture of WLANs against policies,
generating compliance reports, and performing ongoing monitoring for changes.
“The CyberScope family of tools are the first and only devices I’ve seen that can address
network security in meaningful ways at the network edge,” says Jennifer Minella, cybersecurity
author and co-host of the Packet Protector podcast.
Minella continues, “These tools bridge the gap between security and network operations in
meaningful ways, by allowing on-demand or pre-configured security assessments to test for the
vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that most often contribute to breaches, malware, and
other incidents.”
In April last year, NetAlly introduced CyberScope, the world’s first wired Ethernet and wireless
handheld edge network vulnerability scanner for in-depth cybersecurity assessments.
CyberScope Air offers a wireless-only version for security practitioners and network engineers
focused on wireless edge networks.
“With the massive proliferation of endpoints and ubiquitous connectivity in edge networks,
security professionals need a fast and easy way to have ‘eyes on’ all of the devices at the sites
they manage,” says James Kahkoska, NetAlly CTO.
With today’s announcement, NetAlly amplifies the power of CyberScope’s discovery capabilities
with new capabilities in their Link-Live collaboration, reporting and analytics platform, providing
fast insight into the devices in a site network over time.
New graphical dashboards provide instant insight into endpoints and network configurations
allowing easy exploration in chart, table, or topology views. The Discovery Monitoring feature
allows automated daily, weekly, or monthly snapshots to be uploaded to Link-Live to track new
and missing devices or Wi-Fi access points and clients. Powerful filtering and grouping allow

NetAlly, LLC ● 2075 Research Pkwy – Suite 190 ● Colorado Springs, CO 80920 simplicity ● visibility ● collaboration
analysis to instantly identify new devices, changes within a device, or for tracking specific
devices and types over time.
Mike Parrottino, NetAlly CEO adds, “The release of CyberScope Air is another milestone in
NetAlly’s efforts to bring our thirty years of experience in network visibility technology to
cybersecurity professionals whose current toolset lacks in-depth, tactical situational awareness
in edge networks.”
According to NetAlly, their CyberScope family of products help security practitioners by:

 Easily validating security controls at the edge.
 Inventorying everything including IoT, OT, unmanaged devices.
 Quickly testing and demonstrating policy compliance.
 Enabling collaboration and sharing between teams.

For more information, visit https://cyberscope.netally.com

About NetAlly
For decades, the NetAlly ®  family of network test and analysis solutions has been helping
network and cybersecurity professionals better deploy, manage, maintain, and secure today’s
complex wired and wireless networks. Since creating the industry’s first handheld network
analyzer in 1993, NetAlly continues to set the standard for portable network analysis and
cybersecurity assessment with tools that include EtherScope® nXG, CyberScope®, AirMagnet®,
LinkRunner ® , LinkSprinter®, AirCheck™, and more. NetAlly simplifies the complexities of
network testing and cybersecurity assessments, provides instant visibility for efficient problem
resolution, and enables seamless collaboration between site personnel and remote experts. To
learn more and see how NetAlly helps network and security professionals get their jobs done
faster, visit https://netally.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Instagram or
YouTube