Wi-Fi Signatures

802.11b on Channel 6

Some access points have large side lobes like this one; others have no side lobes to speak of. Notice the neighboring network on channel 11 — 802.11b signals appear as a rounded bell-shaped arch in the topographic view approximately 22 MHz wide. The arch should be exactly centered on one of the defined 802.11b channels.

802.11g on Channel 2

Due to the modulation scheme used in 802.11g, it will appear flat with sloping shoulders. The flat top is usually about 18 MHz wide. The two separate signatures shown in the topographic view above are the access point and the client. Notice in the spectral view that the network was fairly quiet for the first 40 seconds and then a burst of network traffic occurred.