Discussion of software for WiFi testing

[Richard 6]

Hello;

I am sharing a question about checking WiFi signals nearby.  After researching antennas and how Andrew McNeil does testing, I'm curious if this can be done without special equipment.  I have a regular laptop running linux and an older netgear router.  Since the router has regular SMA connectors, it should be possible to hook either a cantenna or yagi directly to the router and then use Cat5 cable to hook straight to a computer.  What I wonder is, how can I troubleshoot wireless signal strength if there's a unit between the computer and the outside?  For those with paid wifi service, I assume the router is designed to work with their signal.  However if I'm just moving around a home-built antenna then I don't know if a weak signal would be due to the router or the position of the antenna.

I have a USB wifi antenna ( https://images.jet.com/md5/22e0fa962eac638ffd03c7b2a7205b2d.1500 )which will allow my computer to search wifi signals, but this would need a flexible cable between the laptop and the built antenna.

So far though, I'm working to figure this out without buying items.  I have a philosophy of not buying stuff and so I make these things myself when it's simple enough.  I thank you in advance for any advice that you have.

Aaron

[Admin 2546]

,,, here you find a lot of programs for WiFi....

 

[Richard 6]

Thank you so much for the information about software.  I found it quite intriguing.

One of my friends is telling me that it is not possible to use a netgear or other router to convert the SMA antenna signal into a Cat5 signal.  He suggests buying a product like this - https://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-Ubiquiti-Rocket-M2-airMAX-2-4GHz/292905224572?epid=2254392769&hash=item443283097c%3Ag%3AlIEAAOSw~5dcMTbZ%3Ark%3A2%3Apf%3A0

Do you think it's necessary to use such a product? Or would it be possible to install software via thumdrive to a router (I believe many of them run linux).

Once the 2.4GHz antenna is finished, I may look to build a 5GHz one and so it would be great to not have to use two converters for the two different frequencies.  McNeil managed to two antennas using a 'T' with the coax (I think).  I'm hoping to connect one antenna to each of the two SMA ports on a router.

Thank you in advance for your ideas.