This menu lets you visualize your own (“internal”) & other peoples' (“external”) WiFi networks with your router as the reference point.

The graphics at the top display SSIDs as ellipses. Below that is a table with detailed information on each WiFi network, both internal and external.

Since release 2024.2, the Canvas API has been used to help visualize the differences in frequency congestion between the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. See the example below.

the “middle” of an ellipse is the center frequency being used (the “channel”). the Height of the ellipse is the signal strength, and the width is the channel width of the network shown. Tthe bottom of the line through the ellipse's middle represents the Noise level.

Signal strength (or “RSSI” - Received Signal Strength Indicator) is measured in negative values. Here, 0 is the strongest signal. In practice, a “usable“ WiFi network must be at least -84dBm.

-84dB (Worst signal) ←——> 0 dB (Best Signal)

You might still have working, but slow WiFi at -90dBm or less. It all depends on the client network adapter and external factors.

The channel selected affects the positioning of the ellipse. The width of the ellipse represents the actual channel width (20/40/80MHz). The numbers on the X-axis represent channel utilization (congestion).

Only graphics relevant to the device/configuration are shown. For example, on a dual-band router with only 5 GHz enabled, only the bottom canvas is visible. On a tri-band router with two 5 GHz channels, the data from both 5 GHz interfaces will be displayed on the same canvas.

The router's own SSIDs are shown in light grey, with a hard-coded RSSI of -10dbm when in A/P mode. The actual RSSI is displayed when the device is in Wireless Client mode/Media-Bridge mode or other special modes.

Note that some WiFi networks are configured not to broadcast the SSID. These are often referred to as “hidden” networks.

Hidden networks are shown with the 🕶️ symbol, so they are not left unnamed.

For each frequency, the noise level (interference) can be seen, expressed as a negative number in dBm. For RSSI, the closer to zero the number, the better. The opposite is true for Noise. For noise, the more negative the number, the better.

In the image here below, the top of the ellipse represents the RSSI, where the translucent band at the bottom of the chart represents the Noise level.

SNR (Signal to Noise ratio) is also displayed in this edited image in the form of red line. This represents the amount of “good” signal. To calculate the SNR we add together the RSSI and the positive integer of the recorded dBm Noise. For example:

RSSI= -47 dBm
Noise= -89 dBm

SNR = RSSI* + (- Noise) = ( -47 + 89 ) = 42 dB

The red vertical bar is there to clarify what SNR represents. The image is manually edited and is not visible on the FT GUI. SNR is instead displayed on the Wireless Survey page as a column in the table.

The sepia background represents frequencies where a central channel placement isn't possible or is restricted by government regulation. For example, channel 14 in the 2.4 GHz band is possible only in Japan and only using the 802.1lb protocol. Channels 12 and 13 in North America are other examples of these restrictions.

The controls under the canvases allow you to customize the look of the SSID ellipses:

Display: Lets you filter which WiFi bands are shown.

The options are:

• 2.4 GHz only
• 5GHz only
• Both (default).

This setting is intentionally not saved and will be forgotten at the next menu visit.

Style: represents how translucent the ellipses and noise figures will appear.
This is saved in a browser cookie.

SSID text (in pixels): tweaks the font size for SSID names on top of the relevant ellipse.
It also allows you to fully hide the SSID name on the charts. This is saved in browser a cookie.

Limit SSIDs: SSIDs are placed from the highest RSSI to the lowest Limit (0-40 default: 20) represents the maximum number of SSID visualized in every canvas shown. The Limit filters out from the weakest RSSI to the highest.

This setting doesn't affect the number of records in the table. However, only the RGB column will display/hide items based on the limit value. This is saved in a browser cookie.

Shuffle: randomizes the colours of the external (scanned BSSIDs) ellipses.

At the bottom of the page is a table showing the following information for each network:

• Last Seen - the date and time that network was last detected
• RGB - the unique colours associated with that SSID
• SSID - that network's name
• BSSID - the MAC address of that network's WiFi interface
• RSSI - that network's Relative Signal Strength Indicator
• SNR - the Signal-to-Noise ratio of that network
• Signal Quality - an internal calculation to provide a human-readable value of the expected WiFi performance
• Control and Central channel, including band and sideband width
• Security - the security protocol active on the network
• 802.11 - the supported Wi-Fi generation

At the bottom of the page are the standard refresh rate setting, and a new Timeout setting. The Timeout setting controls how long “last seen” SSIDs are retained before they're pruned from the table/chart.

Information in this menu is designed to help you understand the nearby networks so you can choose optimal channels for your network.

While this tool is fully functional, you are advised to also use another WiFi scanner, such as a smartphone app. Doing so will give you both the router's perspective and the client's perspective.