There are a number of great Wi-Fi analysis tools that run on notebooks; I know, I’ve used them all. But the latest update to Fluke’s very cool AirCheck puts a lot of power into a form factor that’s just what network techs want.
I couldn’t live without tools like AirMagnet. While the Laptop Analyzer version of the product has arguably gotten a little feature-rich and thus a bit complex for casual users, I usually turn to AirMagnet first when something funny is going on (which may be something easy like a mis-configuration or a simple – or perhaps complex – screw-up on my part), just to make sure I know what’s really happening at the MAC and PHY layers. But there’s one absolute truth about AirMagnet and its PC-based brethren: They run on PCs. And even netbook PCs can feel pretty big, heavy, and unwieldy in field analysis exercises. I’d never admit this in public, but I did once drop a notebook while trying to take a measurement in a particularly challenging environment. The resulting damage was limited to assorted scars (on both me and poor notebook), but it could have been much worse. Bottom line: convenience and ease of use are vital while hot on the trail of an unknown. You know how it is.
Especially if you’re a professional network technician. You want simple, easy-to-use, grab-and-go handheld tools in these situations. And that’s just what Fluke Networks (parent company of AirMagnet) has produced with their AirCheck handheld, the 1.2 version of which was just released. Aimed at installers and troubleshooters alike, AirCheck is right at home in dual-band 802.11n settings. Among the many functions included are identifying APs and clients, a channel utilization display, and, new in 1.2 (a free upgrade, BTW, if you already have an AirCheck), detailed client information, hidden SSID resolution, and functionality (with, if desired, an optional directional antenna) to help locate emitters. There’s a color display and a simple, intuitive push-button user interface – you’ll be productive without even looking at the documentation, my ultimate test. It’s got a USB port for linking to analysis software, also provided by Fluke. It powers up very quickly. It’s cheap (US$1,995). And it’s rugged enough even for me.
I suppose we could define nirvana in this space as AirMagnet Enterprise or a similar product everywhere – in other words, with all monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities in the infrastructure itself. Such will, I think, come to pass in some and especially large organizations, but most of the rest of us will still require ad-hoc tools like AirCheck. And there’s little doubt that the functionality in this class of product will continue to grow. I’d personally like to see roaming analysis and spectral analysis in such a form factor, but, hey, I can wait a little longer for those. In the meantime, take a look at the latest AirCheck from Fluke – it could be a very worthwhile addition to your installation and troubleshooting arsenal.
BTW – I’m using one of these in some testing that I’m doing for Network World now. More on that later.
