inSSIDer
Get the best open-source Wi-Fi scanning software – for Free!

see full-size screenshot below
YOU CAN
– Inspect your Wi-Fi and surrounding networks
– Scan and filter hundreds of nearby access points
– Troubleshoot competing access points and clogged Wi-Fi channels
– Highlight access points for areas with high Wi-Fi concentration
– Track the strength of received signals in dBm over time
– Sort results by MAC Address, SSID, Channel, RSSI, Time Last Seen
– Export Wi-Fi and GPS data to a KML file in Google Earth
TECHNICAL
– Uses your current wireless card and connection software
– Works with Windows XP, Vista, and 7 (32 and 64 bit)
– Compatible with most GPS devices (NMEA v2.3 +)
Help us spread the word.
Geeks everywhere should know about MetaGeek’s free Wi-Fi scanner software that works with all current Windows operating systems. Whether you’re a professional or casual user, you and your friends need the best Wi-Fi tools to troubleshoot WLAN networks.
Get inSSIDer for free and

tracks signal strength over time, and determines their security settings (including whether or not they’re password-protected). Previously mentioned NetStumbler has long been a favorite for this sort of functionality, but it doesn’t work well with Vista or 64-bit XP. inSSIDer, on the other hand, works like a charm on both Vista and XP, and it’s open-source to boot.
- LifeHacker
in your area, along with their relative signal strength. It also records signal strength over a five-minute period, which is particularly useful in an office environment as laptops pop on and off the network, and intelligent access points adjust their transmission power to match.
I’ve fired up a copy of inSSIDer in several different home and SME environments where the owners were complaining of poor wireless speeds and frequent drops, only to find their wireless router working on exactly the same channel as several of their neighbors, and so all of them were competing for a time-slice of the same frequency.
It’s so easy to spot problems with a tool like this, and with a quick change of channel the wireless network suddenly starts working properly again.
- PC Pro



