Cisco Meraki WiFi Stumbler
Freeware Network (Java)
Release Date: Visit site for latest applet.
Pros: Browser-based, no software to install. PC and Mac compatible. Quickly discovers nearby access points.
Cons: Very basic. Virtually no user interaction. Data not exportable.
Bottom Line: This is a free, lightweight tool to troubleshoot wireless networking performance issues.
A free, lightweight tool to troubleshoot wireless networking performance issues. It’s Browser-based, with no software to install, works on both PCs and Macs. It also quickly discovers nearby access points.
Meraki’s gone off the beaten path when it comes to wireless networking utilities. The vendor has just launched a free, browser-based wireless scanner and troubleshooting tool called Meraki WiFi Stumbler. Most of these utilities require a software install. All that gets loaded with WiFi Stumbler is a Java applet; then it’s just network troubleshooting via the browser.
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WiFi Stumbler has the same, clean interface featured in Meraki’s Enteprise Wireless LAN solution ($799.00 direct, ). It’s not as pretty nor as interactive as the interface of NetSurveyor Professional ($34.95 list, ), but we are talking browser-based, so it’s ultra-lightweight. It’s also free, compared to NetSurveyor’s $34.95
Features and Testing
The interface has three sections. The topmost is a bar graph displaying how many access points are using each wireless channel. When I pointed Firefox 3.5 to tools.meraki.com, I immediately got a listing of 18 access points in proximity to our WLAN. As I witnessed using other networking utilities, channel 11 is the most used. This is pertinent information in troubleshooting performance issues—knowing the least utilized channel can enhance your wireless performance.
The mid-section of the interface is a Search field. It wasn’t clear to me what exactly could be searched until I clicked “Advanced Search.” You can search for specific access points/routers, and with the advanced option can search based on different parameters like type of encryption (WEP, WPA, etc…) or by the manufacturer of the access point.
The bottom portion of the interface contains the listing and details of neighboring wireless networks. They are listed by SSID, Mac Address, Radio Type, Channel and Manufacturer all in tabular form. The table also contains the type of security used on each and the signal strength. It’s a concise way to quickly eyeball what or who is giving you RF competition or causing interference in your area. It’s also a great way to see how signal strength varies if you place an AP or an antenna in a certain position or location.
WiFi Stumbler can also work in an offline mode. However, this feature only works in browsers that support HTML5. As of this writing, that’s only a handful, including Firefox 3.6.
Bottom Line: There are no bells and whistles with WiFi Stumbler. It’s a no-nonsense way to get information on access points and WLANs. I like the fact that Meraki includes the “wish-list” for users to submit requests for the interface—this feature is in the Enterprise Wireless LAN solution, too, which is always getting new features—clear evidence of Meraki’s commitment to customer satisfaction and the promise of future improvements to come.