topic Re: inSSIDer - free version in Plusnet Feedback

inSSIDer - free version

Oldjim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:11:33 GMT

This link here http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/wireless_broadband/wireless_signal.shtml goes to the paid version
Can it be changed to the free version - this is one source http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:10:41 GMT

Perhaps it should be changed to something else entirely that is free, or just give instructions to do the netsh wlan show networks command.
Or better still just try the different channels and don't bother with the networks per channel counting.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

shutter — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:35:28 GMT

Try this......
For inSSIDer 3.1.2.1 FREEWARE

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/inssider.html

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Oldjim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:39:52 GMT

Have you checked the links as they don't work for me - says they are invalid

Re: inSSIDer - free version

TORPC — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:46:50 GMT

The links work for me, although it through up a Facebook like plugin, in my face

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Oldjim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:51:56 GMT

must be because I have blocked cookies

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:53:11 GMT

Obviously the Download@Authors Site link doesn't work anymore, but both the Download@MajorGeeks links work. Of course you'll have to avoid any adverts with bigger download buttons than those links. And I don't think the software is particularly useful anyway. Except to lead people towards the possibly faulty conclusion that all those other networks must be the cause of their problem.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

shutter — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:43:08 GMT

Copied my link direct from the site... so it should work....
(p.s...... shouldn`t this be in "windows software"... not " your feedback " ? ?

Re: inSSIDer - free version

jelv — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:03:20 GMT

No it should be here because it's a suggestion for a change to the Plusnet portal - not about the software itself.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:10:20 GMT

I recommend removing the link and any references to inSSIDer.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

jelv — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 21:36:37 GMT

I've lost count of the number of people we've seen on here who've solved their issues by changing to a channel number less used!
I suppose you think just blasting out a better signal than the 582 gives to drown out the other nearby routers on the same channel is the solution?

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Anotherone — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 21:47:18 GMT

He'd rather try and blow up the 582 because it has a broadcom chip in it

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 05:59:44 GMT

Quote from: jelv
I've lost count of the number of people we've seen on here who've solved their issues by changing to a channel number less used!

inSSIDer doesn't really show which channel is less used, it only show the number of networks - saying it shows which channel is less used has to assume the traffic on each network is the same.

Quote from: jelv
I suppose you think just blasting out a better signal than the 582 gives to drown out the other nearby routers on the same channel is the solution?

No, I don't, because WiFi doesn't work like that. I don't know what gave you the impression I thought that. Sorry if I'm not massively biased and think everything that plusnet does is wonderful and any problem is anyone other than plusnet's fault. I don't usually just suggest that someone's wireless problem is because the 582n is a useless piece of junk - although a thread might end up with a ridiculous suggestion from plusnet staff about getting extra wifi access points, wifi repeaters / extenders, homeplug networking - anything and everything besides replacing the 582n. Do you think you can't use wireless if you can't find a channel free of other networks? Maybe things would work better if the other networks could detect signals from the 582n - then everything should be able to coexist reasonably well. But it must somehow be the fault of the other networks if they can't detect the pathetic signals from a 582n?
Is it so difficult to try different channels from a list of 1, 6 and 11 without drawing some pretty graphs which don't really give a complete picture of what's going on? Oh wait, I suppose the pretty graphs are necessary to "prove" that the problem is the fault of those nasty other networks which must be blasting out a too strong signal and drowning out the poor little 582n.
I also don't think Anotherone's comment claiming I'd like to blow up the 582n because it contains a broadcom chip has added anything of any use to this discussion. Anotherone usually likes to mark my posts, and deduct points if they decide I'm off topic or didn't fully address every single point of every previous post or if everything I've said isn't of benefit to 582n users, so I'll do the same and point out that it's just a needless dig at me.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Anotherone — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:13:21 GMT

There are occasions when you make very constructive posts ejs, but unfortunately there are too many where you are just sarcastic and negative, and you wonder why you get some of the responses you do! I have decided that it's often easier to either ignore you or be equally sarcastic.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

sjptd — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:03:51 GMT

Is it so difficult to try different channels from a list of 1, 6 and 11 without drawing some pretty graphs which don't really give a complete picture of what's going on?
Even though those are the most used channels, they are not always the best. (https://community.bt.com/t5/Other-Broadband-Queries/Infinity-on-Home-Hub-3-keeps-dropping-speeds-to-lt-5mbs/m-p/1356411#U1356411)
Of course inSSIDer doesn't give a complete picture; especially it does not show interference from things that aren't 'normal' wi-fi sources (microwaves, etc). But it gives a very valuable picture that frequently helps people who would struggle with netsh wlan show networrk, or people who can fairly easily use netsh but would rather use the much clearer inSSIDer.
I'm moving from soon BT to Plusnet soon and have just got my 582N. I will probably compare it's wireless performance with the HH3. And I know one tool I'll be using in the comparison.... (and yes,, I know they are both reputed to be pretty rubbish, but the HH3 has served me adequately for a couple of years.)

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Anotherone — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:51:52 GMT

I wish all posts were as constructive as yours sjptd, and welcome to the Forum by the way and to Plusnet, I hope everything runs smoothly.
Also on a constructive note, I agree with Jim about the need to change the link. Metageek have stopped any development of the free version and I can find no links on their websites to the previous free version. Also see for example http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-news/32296-metageek-moves-to-pay-model-for-new-inssider .
According to metageek the new paid for version has minimum system requirements of 4GB RAM and net 3.5
I've also seen some posts on this forum where people have inadvertently been led to the inSSIDer Office software by a search and ended up being confused.
Although this appears to have been written about the free version, most of it will be true for the free version, their link in the full review goes to the paid version

Quote from: PCMag
A Fun, Useful Tool
What’s great about inSSIDer is that you can use it for several real-world purposes for your wireless network. For instance, say you are trying to find the best location to place an access point or router. Position the device and then fire up inSSIDER to see what signal strength the software reports. This is really useful if you are trying to setup a Wi-Fi network in a place with lots of thick walls, glass or mirrors or multiple levels.
You can also use inSSIDer to tweak your wireless channel. In the U.S, there are 11 wi-fi channels. The channels recommended to set access points on are 1, 6, and 11, because they don't overlap. So if you see many wireless networks in your area using channel 11 for example, by using inSSIDer you can change your access point or router to operate on channel 6 to tweak performance.
Yes, it may be lightweight for those who deploy wireless networks professionally. But anyone managing a home or small business wireless network will certainly benefit from the information inSSIDer provides. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 star rating and is easily a PCMag Editors’ Choice for networking utilities.

The full review can be found here
Unfortunately there only seems to be a few reliable locations left to download the free versions.
Edit: clarification re: link mentioned is in the full review

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:35:26 GMT

Quote from: Anotherone
There are occasions when you make very constructive posts ejs, but unfortunately there are too many where you are just sarcastic and negative, and you wonder why you get some of the responses you do! I have decided that it's often easier to either ignore you or be equally sarcastic.

I've looked back at my previous 200 or so posts and I only saw a handful that I consider sarcastic or negative.
How about replacing the link to inSSIDer with something that's free and better then?
https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan-software/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-free/

Re: inSSIDer - free version

Townman — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:33:35 GMT

Interesting tool!
As one would expect it shows that my TG router is the "loudest" around me with most other devices showing a lower level signal most of the time... Then from time to time it shows dirty SKY and TALK-TALK routers blating out "ear shattering" signals up to three times that of my TG582n. Note that they are not in my semi-detached house. One could be the adjacent property, the other is somewhere else.
The issue with TG582n wifi is not the device itself, but rather the massive rogue signals being generated from time to time by other routers from other ISP's - there are 14 SSID's reported - two are mine and the rest are all well outside of my property and ought not to be so encroaching as they are.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

sjptd — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:00:57 GMT

That acrylicwifi look promising. Shame it needs an ndis driver, and also seems to need admin permission.
Experiments so far (mainly using Wifi Analyzer on an Android phone) indicate that the HH3 and TG582n router are pretty much of a muchness for signal strength. I haven't tried putting any real traffic through the TG582n yet.

Re: inSSIDer - free version

ejs — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:17:50 GMT

Quote from: Townman
The issue with TG582n wifi is not the device itself, but rather the massive rogue signals being generated from time to time by other routers from other ISP's

Have you considered the possibility that those huge high spikes are faulty readings and should be ignored? Rather than assuming it means what you want it to be to prove the only acceptable stance on these forums that there can't possibly be anything wrong with the 582n, and the problem must be those "rogue" other networks.

Quote from: sjptd
Shame it needs an ndis driver, and also seems to need admin permission.

That's how it can do more. It can capture wireless traffic in monitor mode, and it should enable wireshark to do the same. Microsoft Network Monitor could also do that and also installs a driver for that purpose.