NetSpot
Developer(s)Etwok Inc.
Initial releaseAugust 2011 (2011-08) (Mac OS X)
February 2016 (2016-02) (Windows)
Stable release
2.14 (Mac OS X) November 2021 (2021-11)
2.14 (Windows) November 2021 (2021-11)
Written inObjective-C
Operating systemOS X v.10.6 +,
Windows 7-8-10,
Android OS 6.0+,
iOS 10.0+
Platformx86
Available inEnglish,
French,
German,
Portuguese,
Spanish,
Japanese,
Russian
TypeWireless site survey
Licensefree, or paid
Websitewww.netspotapp.com

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 and 10. 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

References

  1. ↑ Matt Elliott. "Find the dead spots in your Wi-Fi network with NetSpot". Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ MacNN. "NetSpot offers free Wi-Fi network surveying software". Retrieved August 12, 2011. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ "NetSpot: WiFi Site Survey for the Rest of Us".
  4. ↑ "Create a WiFi signal strength map with NetSpot for Mac :: by Techerator".
  5. ↑ "NetSpot helps you optimize your Wi-Fi networks :: by Macworld". 2011-11-29.
  6. ↑ "Trouble-shoot your WiFi network with NetSpot :: by Dr. Macenstein".
  7. ↑ "Mac-NZ review :: NetSpot WiFi visualisation software".
  8. ↑ "Diagnose Wi-Fi Signal Problems With NetSpot :: Lifehacker".
  9. ↑ "Analyze Wireless Network Coverage In Mac With NetSpot Survey Software :: by Addictivetips".
  10. ↑ "NetSpot – The only Native Wireless Site Survey Software for Mac". Archived from the original on 2012-09-10.
  11. ↑ "NetSpot 1.1 - new version of Wi-Fi mapping software for Mac".
  12. ↑ "NetSpot 1.3 release notes: what's new, what's hot in this update". 2012-07-03.
  13. ↑ "How To use your Mac to survey your home or office Wi-Fi network". 2012-10-19.
  14. ↑ "NetSpot 2.1 Release Notes: What's New in Version 2.1?". 2012-05-24.
  15. ↑ "NetSpot 2.10 minor update - Japanese localization is added". 2018-10-17.
  16. ↑ "NetSpot WiFi Analyzer for Android has been released". 2018-11-06.
  17. ↑ "NetSpot for Android v.1.1". 2019-09-27.
  18. ↑ "The minor update of NetSpot v. 2.11". 2019-10-04.
  19. ↑ "NetSpot 2.12 — new update for macOS and Windows". 2020-02-06.
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