If you’re struggling with dead zones or weak spots in your WiFi coverage at home, you definitely need a solid WiFi heatmap tool to pinpoint issues. There are a couple of free options out there that can help.
First off, NetSpot
is really popular for a reason. This software lets you create a detailed heatmap of your WiFi signal strength throughout your home. It’s extremely user-friendly; you just load it up, walk around your house, and it generates a visual representation of your WiFi coverage in real-time. You can download it here: https://www.netspotapp.com. It has a free version that should meet your basic needs for home troubleshooting.
Another option is WiFi Analyzer, but it’s primarily an app for measuring signal strength on the go. It doesn’t provide as intricate a heatmap as NetSpot, but it can still help you identify weak signal areas and channel interference. Plus, it’s free on both Android and Windows.
Ekahau HeatMapper was a good free tool, but they’ve shifted focus to more professional solutions, which aren’t free. So if you find an older version online, it might still work, but it’s not really maintained or recommended anymore.
Make sure when you’re using these tools to walk around your entire house, especially areas where you experience issues. Open NetSpot, start a new survey, and walk around to gather data points. The heatmap it generates will show you where your signal is weak, and you can then decide if you need an additional access point, a mesh network, or if just changing the router placement will help.
Hope this helps, and post back if you need more info or run into any issues!