Wi-Fi shares licence-exempt spectrum with many other devices. A standard Wi-Fi scan reports the Wi-Fi networks and frames it can decode. A spectrum analyser measures RF energy across the band, including transmissions from devices that do not use Wi-Fi at all.
Common non-Wi-Fi interference
- Analogue and digital video senders, and some wireless CCTV
- Microwave ovens in the 2.4 GHz band
- Bluetooth and other frequency-hopping devices
- Cordless and legacy wireless headsets
- Wireless presentation systems and proprietary point-to-point links
- Faulty equipment, motor drives and industrial machinery
From capture to cause
We capture the spectrum in the affected areas and at the affected times, identify signatures by their shape, bandwidth and duty cycle, and where practical walk the site with a directional antenna to locate the source. The answer may be a channel change, or it may be a forgotten wireless video sender behind a reception desk.
Spectrum analysis is often part of Wi-Fi Troubleshooting and is included in surveys where the RF environment is unknown.