The order of the day is: Technician arrives, installs badge and router, Wi-Fi works and surprises follow. Even if you have a small house, there may be areas where coverage is weak, the connection constantly drops, or there is no signal at all. My parents have an apartment of 100 square meters, the router is placed in the corner of the living room, and Wi-Fi in my room is constantly interrupted.

While we didn’t intend to replace the site’s router beyond the cable it offered (and I chose to place a repeater in the hallway next to my room), I discovered this: A free app with augmented reality, great for finding the best Wi-Fi hotspots and others that I should avoid; This was good for me both to get started with the laptop and to dock my repeater.

What is Wi-Fi AR and how does it work?

Its name is Wi-Fi AR and as the name suggests It uses augmented reality to overlay data it measures in space This device, which records with a camera, serves not only to determine Wi-Fi quality and other features, but also to determine 4G and 5G networks, so it can also be used outside the home.

It is available for free on the Google Play Store and although there is a paid version with all functions unlocked and unlimited usage, free version with ads (not too much or too invasive) is enough to give you an idea of ​​signal strength.

The process is very simple and intuitive, which is why it has become my favorite for this task: after downloading and installing, you just need to allow the camera and when you open the application, we will choose whether to use it or not. We want to analyze Wi-Fi or 5G/LTE and click ‘Start’. Then, simply point the camera at the surroundings, slowly moving the phone in different areas.

Therefore, I need to move around the house just pointing the mobile camera into space for it to draw. Approximate map of internet connection related data, returning virtual tags containing specific information. It requires patience because it is difficult to return data at first and you have to go through the same places several times. As I mentioned above, data is binned in different places

The interface is quite clearbeing able to choose which parameters we want to return; Among them I am particularly interested in signal strength (signal) and latency (ping):

• signal strengthis measured in dBm. In fact: coverage above -70 dBm is good, but the good thing is that even if you don’t know this information, use the color code of the traffic lights to color the label. So you know whether it’s red or green, which isn’t as good as green.
• connection delay (ms): the higher it is, the worse the experience because we experience more lag.

It may not be the most accurate app in the world, but it’s a good approximation and makes it easier to interpret this analysis and take action. So with this information I am not only clear Which places have the best internet connection? Whether it’s sitting with the laptop to work, but also a good place to place a Smart TV, console, or any internet-connected device, because the signal isn’t strong enough or there’s too much lag to enjoy a competitive game or video call online. Likewise, I can try removing devices or objects that may be causing interference.

Important: every time you close and reopen the appWe will have to scan the Wi-Fi again, but there is nothing wrong with that in case we are running tests and need updated data.

A few interesting details to test: It is possible to place markers that allow you to analyze the difference between before and after making changes, and you can also place another marker that shows the maximum speed, the hypothetically best place to enjoy the Internet.

It also includes functions for taking photos and videos on the corresponding icons, so you can share them with others. Finally, by tapping the gear icon at the start of the app, you reach settings where you can configure distances between measurements, label sizes, play with transparency, and others to achieve precision. Despite Leaving it as is provides a good user experience.

Wi-Fi AR

Analyze Wi-Fi spectrum and 4G/5G signal

Download for free

Cover | Jose Antonio Carmona (Xataka Home) Montage via Mockuphone and Photography by Luke Chesser on Unsplash

via | Spanish

Xataka on Android | We do not use the WiFi at home well. This is how I configured my Android to leave a stable connection with other devices