Araknis Networks Wireless Access Point
Product Manual
Advanced Menu
23.5 - Spectrum Analyzer
Analyze Wi-Fi channel interference at different frequencies and power levels. This information can help determine what channel settings to use for the best Wi-Fi performance.
Figure 60. Spectrum Analyzer Settings
Path – Advanced, Site Survey, Result
Parameters –
• Select Interface – 2.4 or 5 Ghz antenna.
• Scan Bandwidth – Based on the setting of the selected wireless antenna.
•
Scan Channel – Based on the setting of the wireless antenna
• RSSI Filter – Select an RSSI filter value to use in testing. Using a value closer to zero will eliminate results from weaker signals. The default value is recommended for most environments.
Default: -75
• Scan Action –
• Start – Click to begin a scan.
•
Play/Pause – Click to pause an in-progress scan. Click again to resume the scan.
• Stop – Click to stop a scan.
• Elapsed Time – Amount of time since the Start button was pressed.
23.5.1 - Configuring Scan Settings
The Spectrum Analyzer uses scan settings based on the configuration of the 2.4 or 5 Ghz radio interface.
To change the Scan Bandwidth and Channel settings, change them on the Wireless Settings menu.
If the channel is set to auto, the scan will be performed using the channel currently in use.
23.5.2 - Running a Scan
Click Start to begin a scan. The Elapsed Time counter will begin updating every 3-5 seconds. After about 20 seconds, the Usage, Waveform, and Real-time View graphs will begin to display results from the scan. The graphs will update multiple times throughout the scan, and each time the previous results are overwritten. Use the Play/Pause button to pause the test and review results in detail.
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Araknis Networks Wireless Access Point
Product Manual
23.5.3 - Understanding Spectrum Analyzer Results
Usage View
Figure 61. Spectrum Analyzer Usage View
Advanced Menu
The Usage View displays approximate bandwidth use around the scanned channel. Higher values indicate higher use. Ideally, the channel selected for use will display little to no usage.
If your results are similar to the graph shown, try reducing the RSSI filter (closer to zero) to see if spikes of activity become more obvious at certain frequencies. As long as client devices connect at stronger
RSSI values than the selected scan setting, wireless traffic should not be adversely affected by the activity indicated on the graph.
Waveform View
Figure 62. Spectrum Analyzer Waveform View
The Waveform view shows the aggregate energy recorded at each scanned frequency. Marks on the graph represent the power level at which signals are being recorded, and the color of the mark rougly estimates how much data is flowing at that level.
For the best performance, avoid using frequencies where colors indicate high traffic (see scale in bottom right of image).
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Araknis Networks Wireless Access Point
Product Manual
Real-time View
Figure 63. Spectrum Analyzer Real-time View
Advanced Menu
The Real-time view indicates the current, average, and maximum power level of scanned signals since the scan was started:
• Current – Average power level shown in the Waveform view. If the current reading is closer to the maximum than the average, the frequency should typically be avoided.
• Average – Average power of Waveform view data since since the scan began. This view averages across time as well as data points for any one frequency. Avoid frequencies with spikes above the rest of the graph.
• Maximum– Maximum power of Waveform view data since since the scan began. This is the maximum recorded at any given time and frequency of the current scan. Compare to the average and current reading to determine if a channel should be avoided.
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