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How to Use a WiFi Heatmapper - Know How It Works

Posted on the 28 May 2020 by Rahulthepcl

Did you know that you can discover the speed of your WiFi and position yourself such that you maximize the signals from the network? Only a few individuals know that they can use a WiFi heatmapper to know the exact speed of the network connection in their homes, office building, conference center, or anywhere else.
Since WiFi became very popular, the need for scientific management of WLANs also grew significantly.

And since wireless communications take place over the air via electromagnetic waves, it has virtually become impossible to manage it without the use of highly sophisticated tools that can not only 'see' the connection or communication but also troubleshoot it.

How Does WiFi Heatmapper Work?

Let's say you have a smartphone or laptop with a WiFi heatmapper app installed. While entering your office or home, you can create a map of the area or load up an existing one.

The heat mapping process begins by carrying the smartphone or laptop from one position or location to the next. And as you move around, a recording of where you have strong wireless signals and weak WiFi signals is taken.

After this process, the next step is to analyze the data you have collated using the heatmapper software application. A map that is overlaid with a traffic-light-style color spectrum is generated, clearly revealing areas with the greatest wireless signal weakness as well as the greatest WiFi signal strength.

The color 'green' indicates excellent signal strength, while the color 'red' is an indication of poor or weak WiFi signals.

How to Use a WiFi Heatmapper ?

To use a Wifi Heatmapper, you will need to get your hands on a laptop that is equipped with a WiFi network adapter. Both the dongle (external) or internal WiFi adapters will work correctly.
Then launch the Heatmapper program on your laptop and walk around your residence or office. As you do this, start marking the locations by left-clicking on the map. The signal strength of the WiFi will then be mapped for every location in your place.

How to Use a WiFi Heatmapper - Know How It Works

If you have far more than one access point like WiFi routers, then you have no choice than to connect to each one of them separately. And then, repeat the walking around process again to see the heatmap of the WiFi signal for every access point.

What is a WiFi Heatmap?

A WiFi heatmap refers to the two-dimensional map of the coverage that you get from different WiFi access points all over the area of influence. It makes use of the classic green, red, and yellow style key to reveal areas with strong network signals and areas with extremely low or weak network signals.

The green color in a particular area is an indication that there is an excellent network connection in that area. In contrast, the 'red' color in a given region indicates poor or weak network connection.
Different factors can give rise to a slow network connection in a particular area. And heatmaps are one of the powerful tools that most experts or technicians utilize when carrying out WiFi surveys, which is a form of the health check of a wireless network.

How to Use a WiFi Heatmapper - Know How It Works

And after finding these problem areas using heatmaps, the technician may start figuring out why these regions are problematic.

What Slows Down Data Speed on a WiFi Network?

The following factors may be responsible for slow data speeds on your WiFi network:

Obstacles in the Way

Some radio waves pass through solid objects much better than others. The same principle applies to WiFi. This implies that if there are lots of mass between the devices that need to connect to the WiFi router, you may experience weak WiFi signals. the
Building structure materials, walls, or sometimes a large group of individuals can readily affect the WiFi signal. This is where you can deploy to help you see signal strengths and dips so you can make the necessary adjustments. NetSpot WiFi heatmapper tool

I nadequate WiFi Network

Another reason why you may be experiencing slow data speeds could be as a result of your data needs. If a large number of people connect to your WiFi or you need to use up large amounts of data, you may start experiencing slow data speed.

Your Neighbor's WiFi

There is such a thing as competing WiFi signals. If there are organizations around your residence or even office building with their WiFi networks, then - without WiFi Analysis and correct access point implementation - you should expect far less than 100 percent efficiency from your WiFi.

Too Many Access Points (APs)

WiFi' dead zones' usually results from a lack of WiFi access points in a particular area. If you have too many access points, the speed of your WiFi network could be severely affected. So, you need to have just the right number of APs, which should be strategically located in the right places.

With a WiFi heatmapper, you can quickly identify the areas in your premises that require the installation of additional access points to boost wireless speed.

Your Router

Different WiFi routers are on the market today, and this implies that the quality of wireless coverage they provide will vary significantly. Budget WiFi routers will not have wireless signals that are strong enough to cover an entire office building or even a spacious home, irrespective of how well you configure or position it.

A WiFi heatmapping software or tool can help you to have a full understanding of the extent and limitations of your router. And you will be able to decide whether or not you should get a much better WiFi router than the one you currently have and use.

How to Interpret a WiFi Heatmapper ?

Interpreting a WiFi heatmapper is not rocket science. As long as you can make sense of the traffic-light-style color spectrum, you will discover which areas have strong WiFi signals as well as the places with weak wireless signals.
Then you will be able to make the necessary adjustments, which may include getting more WiFi routers or increasing access points to just the right number.
Also Read -
Hack/Crack Wi-Fi Password With These 5 Android App

Conclusion

WiFi Heatmapper is used to draw a heat-based map for the wireless signal coverage in your location, area, office building, or home. If you see the red color, it simply means that your WiFi signal is feeble, and you may need to re-position the routers. Replace the old router with a better one capable of giving off more reliable signals or getting more routers to boost the range of WiFi signals at that particular location.


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