Wi-Fi networks
Network Survey scans for 802.11 Wi-Fi networks on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands and collects details about each access point it hears.
The full list of fields in a Wi-Fi record is defined in the NS Messaging API documentation.
The Wi-Fi list
Section titled “The Wi-Fi list”Open Signals and pick Wi-Fi. The list needs precise location and location turned on, and Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi scanning must be on. If something is missing, the list says what and offers the button that fixes it.
The line at the top shows the scan number and how many access points the last scan found (“Scan #5 · 61 APs”, or “16 of 61 APs” while a filter is on), followed by these controls:
- Sort: the pill with the current sort. Tap it to sort by Signal strength, SSID, BSSID, Channel, Frequency, or Security type.
- Filter: opens Filter networks (see below). The button shows a dot while a filter is on.
- Pause updates: freezes the list so it stops jumping while you read it. Scans that arrive while paused are not shown. It does not pause a survey.
Group by SSID or Flat · BSSID
Section titled “Group by SSID or Flat · BSSID”The row under the line picks how access points are listed. The app remembers your choice.
- Group by SSID (the default) puts all access points with the same network name in one row, with how many APs it has, the bands they use, the security type, and the strongest signal. Tap the row to expand it and see each access point.
- Flat · BSSID lists every access point on its own row.
Each access point shows its BSSID and, when Manufacturer lookup is on, its vendor, or “Randomized MAC” for a randomized address. Networks that do not broadcast a name show as <Hidden SSID>. A Passpoint tag marks Passpoint networks, and an Excluded tag marks networks on your SSID exclusion list.
Tap an access point to open its details. Long-press an SSID or a BSSID to copy it.
The chart button at the end of the row opens the Wi-Fi spectrum.
Signal shown as --
Section titled “Signal shown as --”Some phones list an access point in a scan without measuring its signal. Network Survey shows that access point’s signal as -- with an empty meter and records it with no signal strength: the field is blank in CSV files and left out of MQTT and other JSON messages. It is never recorded as 0 dBm. Such an access point is also left off the Wi-Fi spectrum charts.
Filter networks
Section titled “Filter networks”The Filter networks sheet has a search box (Search SSID or BSSID) and band chips for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The BSSID search ignores separators, so “aabbcc” matches “AA:BB:CC:…”. Clear filter removes everything, and Manage excluded SSIDs opens the SSID exclusion list.
The filter changes the display only. It does not affect what is logged, streamed, or uploaded, and it resets when the app restarts.
Wi-Fi network details
Section titled “Wi-Fi network details”Tapping an access point opens Wi-Fi network details:
- The network name with its security and standard, the BSSID and vendor, and the current signal
- Radio: Channel, Frequency, Bandwidth, and Standard. The info button explains each one.
- Signal · last 2 minutes: a chart of the access point’s signal
- Capabilities: the security and other capabilities the access point advertises
- Survey data: whether the network is Included in survey data or Excluded from survey data, with an Exclude or Include button that adds or removes the SSID on your exclusion list. Networks with a hidden SSID cannot be excluded, since exclusion works by name.
- The watchlist row: On watchlist or Not on watchlist, with Watch to add it or View to open the watchlist. See Wi-Fi watchlist.
Android scan throttling
Section titled “Android scan throttling”Android limits how often apps can scan for Wi-Fi, so the list can update less often than your scan interval asks for. When the app sees this, it shows a notice at the top of the Wi-Fi list:
- Android 9 throttles scans to 2 per minute and has no setting to turn that off. The app suggests upgrading Android if you can.
- Android 10 and later let you lift the limit: turn off Wi-Fi scan throttling in Settings > System > Developer options. The notice has an Open Settings button, and if developer options are not on yet, it explains how to turn them on.
On Android 11 and later the app reads the throttling setting directly and shows the notice while throttling is on. Android 9 and 10 do not let apps read it, so there the app shows the notice when developer options are off or when scans arrive much more slowly than the interval. Android 8 does not throttle.
Tap Dismiss to hide the notice until the app restarts. An organization can also hide it for managed phones.
While no NS Scout is paired (and your organization allows NS Scout), the notice adds “An NS Scout, a small add-on board, scans Wi-Fi without Android’s limit.” with About NS Scout. While a Scout is the Wi-Fi source, the notice doesn’t show at all.
Supported standards
Section titled “Supported standards”| Standard | Name | Frequency | Max speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11b | Wi-Fi 1 | 2.4 GHz | 11 Mbps | Legacy, rare |
| 802.11g | Wi-Fi 3 | 2.4 GHz | 54 Mbps | Legacy, still common |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 2.4/5 GHz | 600 Mbps | Widespread |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 5 GHz | 6.9 Gbps | Very common |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 | 2.4/5 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | Modern standard |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6E | 6 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | Less congested |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | 2.4/5/6 GHz | 46 Gbps | Newest |
Frequency bands
Section titled “Frequency bands”2.4 GHz
Section titled “2.4 GHz”Channels: 1 to 14 (region dependent; the US uses 1 to 11)
- Channel width: 20 MHz or 40 MHz
- Advantages: longer range, better penetration through walls
- Disadvantages: more congestion, interference from Bluetooth and microwaves
- Non-overlapping channels: 1, 6, and 11
Channels: 36 to 177 (varies by region and DFS restrictions)
- Channel width: 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz
- Advantages: less congestion, more channels, higher speeds
- Disadvantages: shorter range, less wall penetration
6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7)
Section titled “6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7)”Channels: 1 to 233
- Channel width: 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz, and 320 MHz with Wi-Fi 7
- Advantages: very low congestion, high capacity, no legacy devices
- Disadvantages: needs a Wi-Fi 6E or newer device, shortest range
SSID exclusion
Section titled “SSID exclusion”You can exclude specific SSIDs from logging and streaming, for example your home network or test networks. Excluded networks still show in the list with an Excluded tag. See Wi-Fi SSID exclusion.
Related
Section titled “Related”- Network technologies overview: the Signals tab
- Wi-Fi spectrum: channel usage charts
- Wi-Fi watchlist: alerts for saved networks
- Wi-Fi SSID exclusion: leaving networks out of your data
- Scan rates: the Wi-Fi scan interval
- Community databases: contributing to BeaconDB