Discussion on:

Five free wireless networking tools

CommView isn't free. There is an evaluation version but IS NOT FREE.

If you download from the cnet links then the cnet installers try to install toolbars and other bs. Most annoying. Really the best of these tools is inSSIDer.

inSSIDer authors website:
http://www.metageek.net/

Would it be that hard to say "Five free Windows apps" in the lead sentence so the rest of us could skip it?

thanks

Great tools, but the one I always come back to is Netstumber. Free, lightweight and easy to use. http://stumbler.net/

I was really disappointed to find all the cling on crap with Wireless Wizard. You wiped your attaboy slate clean with that aw$#@!

Check out all the bad reviews for WeFi on Cnet before installing.

I downloaded WEFI and installed it. After running it, I couldn't access my homegroups (Windows 7). When I restarted Windows,I couldn't access the internet. I uninstalled WEFI, and my network returned to normal. Beware of geeks bearing gifts.

I only know Windows based tools, but I will say that I use MetaGeek's InSSIDer and Ekahau's Heatmapper. There are also other free tools out there for plan/designing offices and home. These are provided by Wi-Fi infrastrucutre companies Aerohive and Meraki. Also, I know that Xirrus has a Wi-Fi inspector that is a program and gadget for Windows Vista/7.


Here is a list of links:
Metageek InSSIDer: http://www.metageek.net/support/downloads/
Ekahau Heatmapper: http://www.ekahau.com/products/heatmapper/overview.html.
XIrrus Wi-Fi Inspector: http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.
Aerohive Wi-Fi Planner: http://www.aerohive.com/planner
Meraki Wi-Fi Planer: http://www.meraki.com/products/wireless/wifi-mapper

There are tools out there for the OSX, but I don't use them so I don't want to recommend what ones are out there.

Wireless Wizard wants/forces installation/change of default search and a search bar. Basically forces crapware on you to use their product. Major fail!