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Wi-Fi Networks

Network Survey scans for 802.11 Wi-Fi networks across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands, collecting detailed information about each access point detected.

The full list of possible fields captured by NS is defined in the NS Message API Documentation.

Supported Standards

Section titled “Supported Standards”
StandardNameFrequencyMax SpeedNotes
802.11bWi-Fi 12.4 GHz11 MbpsLegacy, rare
802.11gWi-Fi 32.4 GHz54 MbpsLegacy, still common
802.11nWi-Fi 42.4/5 GHz600 MbpsWidespread
802.11acWi-Fi 55 GHz6.9 GbpsVery common
802.11axWi-Fi 62.4/5 GHz9.6 GbpsModern standard
802.11axWi-Fi 6E6 GHz9.6 GbpsNewest, less congested
802.11beWi-Fi 72.4/5/6 GHz46 GbpsEmerging

Frequency Bands

Section titled “Frequency Bands”

2.4 GHz Band

Section titled “2.4 GHz Band”

Channels: 1-14 (region dependent; US uses 1-11)

  • Channel Width: 20 MHz or 40 MHz
  • Advantages: Longer range, better penetration through walls
  • Disadvantages: More congestion, interference from Bluetooth/microwave

Non-Overlapping Channels: 1, 6, 11

  • Use these to minimize interference

5 GHz Band

Section titled “5 GHz Band”

Channels: 36-177 (varies by region and DFS restrictions)

  • Channel Width: 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz
  • Advantages: Less congestion, more channels available, higher speeds
  • Disadvantages: Shorter range, reduced wall penetration

6 GHz Band (Wi-Fi 6E)

Section titled “6 GHz Band (Wi-Fi 6E)”

Channels: 1-233

  • Channel Width: 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz
  • Advantages: Very low congestion, high capacity, no legacy devices
  • Disadvantages: Requires Wi-Fi 6E capable devices (2020+), shortest range

Android Scan Throttling

Section titled “Android Scan Throttling”

Android 9+ Background Scan Limits:

  • Apps limited to 4 scans per 2 minutes
  • Impact: Gaps in survey data

Workaround:

  • Enable developer options → Disable “Wi-Fi scan throttling”

SSID Exclusion

Section titled “SSID Exclusion”

Exclude specific SSIDs from logging and streaming.

Use Cases:

  • Exclude personal home networks
  • Filter out test networks
  • Focus surveys on public/target networks
  • Reduce data volume

See Wi-Fi SSID Exclusion for setup details.

Wi-Fi Spectrum View

Section titled “Wi-Fi Spectrum View”

Network Survey includes a spectrum view showing:

  • 2.4 GHz: All detected networks on channels 1-14
  • 5 GHz: Three separate views for different frequency groups
  • 6 GHz: Wi-Fi 6E networks (if supported by device)

Features:

  • Visual representation of channel overlap
  • SSID labels

See Wi-Fi Spectrum View for details.

Section titled “Related”