Our previous recommendations for optimizing your WiFi signal haven't lost their validity, but if you've exhausted all options and wireless performance is still poor, there's an alternative before investing in hardware. NetSpot is one of the most popular apps for creating “WiFi maps” that help identify the weakest points in coverage. For a long time, NetSpot was exclusive to OS X, but now its developers offer a Windows-compatible version.
Finding the Weak Spots in Your WiFi
Detecting and fixing problems in a WiFi signal can make the difference between enjoying smooth browsing or muttering every known insult for weeks. In some cases, the solution is very simple (like moving the router a few centimeters or adjusting its antennas), while in others you need to do some real detective work. The number of connected devices, security settings, assigned IP addresses, channel congestion and overall coverage are some of the elements we should verify. Depending on the model, the router can help with some of these, but if we truly want to know every last detail, we need a tool like NetSpot.
NetSpot Comes to Windows
NetSpot has been on the market for about five years, helping OS X users create maps to measure the intensity of available WiFi signals and, of course, detect their limits. Recently, its developers announced the release of a Windows-compatible version (version 7 and later), and although it still needs some advanced options, we can already say that this transition of NetSpot to Windows is a success. The Discover mode has everything we expect from such a program, including graphical reports, channel analysis, and support for 5 GHz networks.
Survey Mode: Mapping Your Coverage
However, the crown jewel of NetSpot is the Survey mode, through which we load a map of our home or office and, with a series of clicks, we can establish (laptop in hand) which are the weakest points (with a symbolic “heat map”) of a WiFi signal. The more accurate the map, the better results NetSpot can generate, but it's not mandatory, so to speak. NetSpot for Windows is completely free, and an ideal choice to combine with other resources, such as installing WiFi repeaters.
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