Sometimes we have problems accessing email, a web page that won't load, or you're simply without an Internet connection. When that happens, we usually blame providers, but if you're using a laptop or another device connected to Wi-Fi, the real problem might be your router. That's why we present the best programs to check the quality of the Wi-Fi signal coming from your router. Besides measuring the power of the Wi-Fi signal, these platforms will show you other properties of wireless networks, such as MAC address, SSID, encryption, and more.
NetSpot
Starting with NetSpot, a program to measure the strength of the Wi-Fi signal. From its simple interface you can see the MAC address, SSID, channel, network graph, and of course, signal strength. The signal is displayed in several ways: actual signal power, minimum intensity, maximum intensity, and average intensity. The unit used is decibel-milliwatt (dBm). NetSpot is a free program available for Windows. (Mac OS X commercial).
Homedale
Next up is Homedale, a program that checks the power of your Wi-Fi and also shows all your router statistics. The platform visualizes everything in graphs, making it one of the best options on the list. Homedale is a free program available for Windows.
Acrylic Wi-Fi Home
Acrylic Wi-Fi Home shows you the RSSI and a graph corresponding to your Wi-Fi signal strength. The platform is really powerful and shows you everything about your wireless network. That's why if you're an advanced user, this environment is the best option on the list. Acrylic Wi-Fi Home is a free program available for Windows.
dot11Expert
We'll finish with dot11Expert, a simple, lightweight, and practical program that shows you the RSSI, MAC address, and the signal quality of any wireless network near your computer. If you only want to check the power of your Wi-Fi network, we recommend you download this platform. dot11Expert is a free program available for Windows.
Now with these programs to check Wi-Fi power, you'll no longer blame Google, Yahoo, your hosting service, or your ISP. With these methods you can check how your router is working and decide what steps to take.