Spectrum Analysis
If we could only view RF spectrum in a web browser. Oh, wait!
Last updated
If we could only view RF spectrum in a web browser. Oh, wait!
Last updated
WLAN Pi already supported USB analysers when paired with WiFi Explorer Pro, but now, you are equipped with Grafana. If you connect a supported USB spectrum analyser like Oscium WiPry Clarity or MetaGeek Wi-Spy DBx to your WLAN Pi, these dashboards work out of the box, and you do not need to install any software.
WiPry Clarity is a compact tri-band (2.4, 5, 6 GHz) spectrum analyser designed by Oscium. We should have few in the room. If you have reached this section, speak to one of our handsome instructors and ask to borrow one.
Connect the WiPry to one of the USB ports.
Open Grafana home page.
From the GRAFANA menu bar item, start the Oscium WiPry Clarity 5 GHz Data Stream.
Open Oscium WiPry Clarity dashboard.
Voilà! There is your live 5 GHz spectrum view and waterfall diagram just below. Magic? No, just amazing Wi-Fi people doing what they love ❤️ 🛜
Click, drag a box to zoom in on a section of the spectrum.
Double click to zoom back out again.
What does the spectrum look like in the room? Can you ask a friend next to you to generate some Wi-Fi traffic and see how it impacts the spectrum?
Each of the WLAN Pis has iperf3 server enabled. One of you can watch the spectrum and the other one can start an iperf3 throughput test.
Download: iperf3 -c`` <name or IP address of WLAN Pi server> ``-R
Upload: iperf3 -c`` <name or IP address of WLAN Pi server>
DBx is a dual-band spectrum analyser with 2.4 and 5 GHz support. The instructions are the same as for WiPry Clarity.
Connect Wi-Spy to one of the USB ports of your WLAN Pi.
From GRAFANA menu, start the MetaGeek Wi-Spy DBx 5 GHz Data Stream.\
Open the MetaGeek Wi-Spy DBx dashboard. Our 5 GHz spectrum looks very healthy.\
There is much more going on 2.4 GHz. To switch between bands, go to GRAFANA > Data Streams > disable MetaGeek Wi-Spy DBx 5 GHz and enable MetaGeek Wi-Spy DBx 2.4 GHz. Do a hard reload of the dashboard web page in your browser to start seeing spectrum data from the new band.\
Can you think of any other dashboards that would make your life easier? Perhaps you want to monitor channel utilization of your access points and see the top 10? Same with client count. Or keep an eye on DFS event frequency if that's a known troublemaker in your office?
