Adrian Granados ’s $ 3WiFi Explorer(Mac App Store link ) is a nifty Mac utility that countenance you to gather an telling complement of data about all the Wi - Fi web within range of your Mac . It prove you a overplus of numerical data points , but it also graphs the signaling speciality of each internet , and it shows which networks overlap on common channels . It supports 802.11a / b / gram / due north networks in both the 2.4 gigahertz and 5 GHz oftenness spectrums , as well as 802.11ac networks on the 5 GHz isthmus .
On launch , WiFi Explorer witness any discoverable wireless networks in compass , heel them in the top half of the primary window . Below that list are four tablet : web Details , Signal Strength , 2.4 GHz channel , and 5 gigacycle per second Channels . Select a meshwork and then click a yellow journalism to view the corresponding info for that meshing .
The connection Details tab leave an overview of various metric corresponding to the selected connection . Here , electronic connection executive and technical school savvy end users can well chance elaborated data such as the SSID ( connection name ) , BSSID ( Basic Service Set Identification , which is the hardware MAC savoir-faire of the gimmick ) , data rates supported , computer hardware vendor , sign lineament , signal - to - noise proportion , and much more . Additionally , a live graph of signal specialty indicate the mean , minimal , and maximum values calculated over time .
The Signal Strength tab shows a live - updated graph of the selected mesh ’s signal strength . you’re able to use this graph as a tool to optimise your Wi - Fi internet ’s coverage : As you roam around your home or berth , laptop computer in mitt , you’re able to watch the graphical record to find “ dead spots . ” found on those findings , you’re able to try out with locomote your Wi - Fi access point(s ) to different location to get the best reportage .
The 2.4 gigacycle transmission channel and 5 GHz Channels tabs ply a elbow room to quickly regard nearby wireless networks by their respective absolute frequency bands . You ’ll probably find far more web on the 2.4 gigacycle banding than on the 5 gigahertz band — as you could see in the prototype below , I have only a unmarried visible 5 GHz web ( my own ) within chain .
WiFi Explorer can not detect out of sight wireless networks . According tothe developer ’s FAQ , this is because CoreWLAN , Apple ’s framework for Wi - Fi scanning , does not cater information on hidden wireless networks . WiFi Explorer does , however , show statistics and info about a conceal web that you ’re presently connected to .
WiFi Explorer is a fun and useful app that would be a dainty addition to any Mac tinkerer ’s toolbox . It ’s pack with feature and represents a great value .
( Though it can be fun to find out about the net tight to you , tools like WiFi Explorer are developed as aids for optimise your own connection , not for engaging in activeness that may be illegal or malicious in its purpose . )