How to analyze 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi Signals for Free: Analyzer Software

By | June 9, 2015

How to analyze 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi Signals for Free Spectrum Analyzer Software
Looking to analyze WiFi signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges I went looking for some free Analyzer software.

First off there doesn’t seem to be any high quality commercial free software for analysis in the 2.4/5 GHz range.

But there is software that can give the basics such as the exact frequency a AP is on and its signal strength.

The software I found is Acylic Wi-Fi which is free for non-commercial use.

It will depend on the WiFi adapter used if it can receive a signal and go into monitor mode.

I used the Alfa AWUSU36NH USB adapter with the 3070 chipset and it worked great in the 2.4 GHz range. (The Alfa AWUSU36NH is a 2.4 GHz adapter)

The Alfa AWUSU36NH works with Kali Linux and is a known adapter that can go into monitor mode.

Click Here for the list of adapters that can go into monitor mode.

To install simply download the installation file and follow the instructions, be sure to click on the monitor mode options.
2.4 ghz spectrum analyzer software
The settings can be changed from normal mode to monitor mode at the top right which allows for more options such as Network Request.

If you are looking for a free WiFi analyzer in the 2.4 and 5 GHz range than Acrylic Wi-Fi can work in a pinch when expensive analyzers cant be had.

4 thoughts on “How to analyze 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi Signals for Free: Analyzer Software

  1. Max

    Acrylic WiFi Home/Pro and other similar tools labeled as “wifi analyzer” or “wifi scanner” are not “spectrum analyzer”, they are 802.11 protocol analyzers. There is a big difference between “spectrum analyzers” (PHY layer) and “protocol analyzers” (MAC sublayer).

    Reply
  2. Matt B

    Thanks so much for the info, but it looks like the “Click Here for the list of adapters that can go into monitor mode. ” link doesn’t point to the right page

    Reply

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