Wi-Fi Details Screens

Each Details screen shows additional information about the selected item, any Problems detected by the AirCheck G3, and counts for other connected network devices or IDs.

Tap any card on a Wi-Fi list screen (SSIDs, APs, BSSIDs, Clients, etc.) to open the Details screen for that device or network ID.

On the Wi-Fi Details screens, you can tap any blue linked name or address to open a Discovery or Wi-Fi app screen for the linked device.

In this Topic

Channel Details

Wi-Fi Problems Screen

RF and Traffic Statistics Overview

Locating Wi-Fi Devices

See also Data Fields on the Top Details Card in the Discovery chapter. Many of the Discovery data fields are the same as those shown in Wi-Fi Details.

Channel Details

The Channel Details screen above shows how many SSIDs, APs, BSSIDs, and Clients are detected on Channel 64. Tap the lower cards in Wi-Fi Details to open a list screen that is filtered for the network component you are examining.

If you select BSSIDs on the Details screen for Channel 64, the BSSIDs screen opens and filters for BSSIDs found on Channel 64 only.

See the topics for each Wi-Fi app screen type (SSIDs, APs, etc.) for more discussion of the corresponding Details screen.

Wi-Fi Problems Screen

If any of the enabled Wi-Fi Problems are detected, the Problems card appears on the Wi-Fi Details screen.

The Problems card shows the icon color of the highest severity problem, and the number of detected Warning, Failure, Information, and Resolved conditions for the device or network component.

Tap the card to open the Problems screen.

On the Problems list screen, tap the Problem's row to read a detailed description.

You can also tap the sort field to sort the list by Severity or by the time when the problem was First Detected. To clear a problem, tap the action overflow button at the top right, and then tap Clear Problem.

See Problem Settings in the Discovery app to select which Wi-Fi Problems are detected and displayed by your AirCheck G3.

RF and Traffic Statistics Overview

The Channel, BSSID, and Client Details screens can display RF and Traffic Statistics if any traffic is detected.

This section describes the common elements of the RF and Traffic Statistics screen. See the topic for each type of Details screen for differences.

The RF and Traffic Statistics card shows the Channel number or the Signal strength of the strongest AP on the channel and the channel's Utilization percentage.

Tap the card to view graphs of Signal, Noise, Utilization, and Retries.

To pan and zoom on the graphs, you can swipe, double tap, and move the slider. See the Trending Graphs topic for an overview of the graph controls.

Strongest AP: The AP on the channel with the strongest signal

Under each graph, a legend table displays the Current, Minimum, Maximum, and Average measurements. The Current column contains measurements from the last second. Min, Max, and Avg columns show cumulative measurements gathered during the time the RF and Traffic screen has been open.

Tap the refresh button at the top of the screen to clear and restart the measurements.

Signal (dBm) graph: Plots the signal strength in dBm of the selected AP or AP with the strongest signal on a channel

• Signal - The AP's signal strength in dBm
• Noise - The noise level in dBm on the channel used
• SNR - The network's signal-to-noise ratio, a measure of signal strength relative to noise, measured in decibels (dB)

Channel Utilization (%) graph: Plots percentage of the channel capacity being used by 802.11 devices and by non-802.11 interference.

Retries (% of packets) graph: Plots percentage of transmitted packets that are retry packets.

• Retry Rate % - The percentage of total packets that are retry packets

• Retry Pkts - The number of retry packets

• Total Pkts - The total number of transmitted packets

Locating Wi-Fi Devices

You can use your AirCheck G3 to locate APs and Wi-Fi clients from the Channels Map screen for BSSIDs and Clients.

To begin a location action:

1. Start the Wi-Fi app.

2. From the menu icon , select BSSIDs or Clients.

3. Select the BSSID or Client that you want to locate.

4. Tap the FAB menu icon in the lower right corner of the screen. This displays the FAB pop-up options.

   

5. Tap Locate. This opens the Locate screen and causes your AirCheck G3 to "listen" for the BSSID or Client wireless devices you want to find using either the internal antennas or the optional external antenna (sold separately or in kits).

   

   • Tap the speaker icon to enable an audible tone that increases in rate and pitch as the signal strength of the device increases (as you get closer to it).

     • Tap the speaker icon to toggle sound on or off.

     • Use the volume buttons on the side of the tester to control tone volume.

   • Tap the External Antenna toggle to enable the optional external antenna for BSSID or Client location.

     • In areas with many rooms, like a hospital or school, the internal antennas are more effective. See Using the Internal Antennas to Locate below.

     • In large, open areas, the external antenna can help locate devices more quickly. See Using the Optional External Antenna below.

Locating with the Internal Antennas

AirCheck G3 uses the internal antennas by default.

1. Navigate to the RF and Traffic Statistics screen for the BSSID (AP) or client you need to locate.

2. (Optional) Tap the speaker icon to toggle the audible tone on or off.

3. Divide the area you want to search into four sections.

   

4. Go to one corner of your search area, and note the device's signal strength on the Signal graph.

5. Go to the other three corners of the area, and note the signal strength at each corner.

6. Go to the section with the strongest signal.

7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 until you find the device.

If you still cannot find the device, try looking on the floors above or below you. If you cannot find a client, try locating the AP to which the client is connected first.

Locating with the Directional External Antenna

In large, open areas, the directional external antenna can help determine the direction of a signal source more precisely than the internal antennas. Visit NetAlly.com for purchasing information.

1. If using the Directional Tri-band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) external antenna, screw the antenna's RP-SMA connector into the side antenna port (shown below). If using the Dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz) Flag antenna, screw the external antenna cord into the antenna port.

   
   

2. On the RF and Traffic Statistics screen, tap the External Antenna toggle to enable the external antenna.

3. (Optional) Tap the speaker icon to toggle the audible tone on or off.

4. Divide the area you want to search into four sections.

   

5. Go to the center of your search area.

6. For the Directional Tri-band external antenna, use the swivel joint on the RP-SMA connector to angle the antenna so that the "target" silkscreen on the antenna points toward your search area, as shown below. Point the antenna towards each corner of the area. To get the best measurements, hold it at a constant height and above barriers such as cubicle walls.

   
   

7. For the Dual-band Flag antenna, point the front edge of the antenna toward your search area, as shown below.

   
   

8. Go to the middle of the section with the strongest signal.

9. Repeat steps 4 through 7 until you find the device.