In a not-unexpected announcement, Cisco is snapping up Cognio, makers of the wonderful Spectrum Expert product. I have been a fan of Cognio for many years, and I learned about them while searching for a cheap spectrum analyzer for use in pre-installation RF sweeps (not the same as a site survey) and post-installation troubleshooting when interference was suspected (and often when not, just to be sure). Spectrum Expert is a PC-based hardware/software tool than can quickly identify what’s going on in the 2.4 and 5 GHz. spectrum occupied by Wi-Fi, and it has saved my butt more times than I can remember. The product is highly recommended to all serious practitioners, and any enterprise with more than a few APs.
I’ve not spoken with Cisco about their plans for Cognio, as I’m sure any inquiries would be met with a big No Comment, but think about the possibilities here. While any Wi-Fi radio can see potential interference from other Wi-Fi devices, they can’t see non-Wi-Fi traffic at all. That’s where Cognio comes in – they build a spectrum-analyzer-on-a-chip called SAgE (Spectrum Analysis Engine), and just imagine how good a job we could do with in setting channel assignments and transmit power levels if we knew what else was happening in the air. Put SAgE in an AP, and there you are. Reliability and throughput would both improve, and with very little additional cost. Making the best use of the airwaves has always been a goal of wireless, and Cisco now has the advantage here.
