FREE

Turn your Android device into a Wi-Fi analyzer.

Oftentimes, areas have over 50 active Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity at any given time. With all of these networks competing for bandwidth, sometimes that “high-speed” Internet connection isn’t so high speed. With Wifi Analyzer, you can use your Android tablets to analyze your Wi-Fi network and help configure it for optimal connectivity.

The free app is available from Google Play. After downloading it and installing it, Wifi Analyzer opens, showing a list of available wireless networks along with their signal strength. The app provides a numerical indication of each network’s signal strength, which means nothing to most people. However, the bar graph presentation clearly shows which networks are the strongest. Another nice feature is that the app indicates whether a network is “locked”; if it is not locked you might be able to connect to the wireless network without having to provide a username or password. This is especially nice if you are traveling and looking for an “open” Wi-Fi network.

There is also a needle graph that shows the signal strength of a chosen wireless network. The graph ranges in color from gray (weak) to yellow (moderate) to green (strong).

If you are more technically inclined, there is also a graph that shows the channels each local Wi-Fi network is using. If you are in an area where there are a lot of Wi-Fi networks, you would ideally like to have your network using channels other networks aren’t. Your Wi-Fi network could be competing with many other networks across the same channels. Switching it to channels where there is less competition may provide a marked improvement in your Wi-Fi performance.

While Wifi Analyzer isn’t for everyone, it is a useful app for those looking to optimize their wireless network or identify an open network while on the road.

Wifi Analyzer for Android

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FREE