很少有人正确设置他们的家庭或办公室路由器(home or office router)。大多数人只是选择路由器上的快速设置向导建议的默认设置，仅此而已。(setup wizard)但是，如果您位于拥有许多无线网络的繁忙区域，干扰可能会成为降低 Wi-Fi 网络速度的问题。要解决此问题，您需要使用Wi-Fi Analyzer类型的应用程序，查看您所在地区有多少无线网络（包括隐藏的网络），以及它们使用哪些信道。如果您有Android 智能手机或平板电脑(Android smartphone or tablet)，以下是如何使用NetSpot应用程序分析您所在地区的无线网络并识别不忙的频道：
第 1 步(Step 1)：下载并安装NetSpot - WiFi Analyzer and Site Survey Tool
第一步是打开Play 商店(Play Store)并搜索NetSpot。您还可以通过此直接链接(direct link)找到该应用程序。安装应用程序后，点击其快捷方式将其打开。
点击 NetSpot 快捷方式
提示：如果您在(TIP:)Android上安装应用程序时需要一些帮助，请阅读：如何使用Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)安装适用于Android的(Android)应用程序和游戏(apps and games)。
步骤 2. 进入发现模式
当您打开NetSpot时，它首先会询问您想要做什么。由于您想分析您所在地区的无线网络并查看哪些频道是免费的，哪些不是，请点击发现(Discover)。
选择发现
该应用程序要求获得访问您位置的权限。仅允许该应用在这一次或仅在您使用它时访问您的位置。然后，您会看到发现(Discover)屏幕分为两个部分：
- 网络(Networks)- 它显示在您所在区域找到的所有网络，包括隐藏的网络。对于每个网络，您可以看到它的名称、信号强度、频段、它正在使用的通道以及发出它的路由器的MAC 地址(MAC address)。网络列表按信号强度排序，从最强开始。
- 比较(Comparison)- 显示各种图表，帮助您识别免费Wi-Fi频道并查看网络在其频道使用(channel use)和信号强度方面如何重叠。
NetSpot显示您所在地区的网络
步骤 3(Step 3)。查看您所在地区如何使用 Wi-Fi 频道
当您点击比较(Comparison)时，您首先会看到一个随时间缓慢更新的时间线。它显示您所在地区的 Wi-Fi 网络以及它们的信号强度如何演变。
时间线(Timeline)显示每个 Wi-Fi 的信号强度如何演变
要确定哪些频道空闲或较少使用，请用手指从屏幕右侧向左滑动时间轴。(Timeline)您会看到 2.4 GHz 频段(GHz band)上的所有可用频道，以及您所在地区的 Wi-Fi 网络如何使用这些频道。在下图中，您注意到最少使用的通道是 3，因此将我的路由器设置为将该通道用于 2.4 GHz 频段(GHz band)可能是个好主意。
了解如何使用 2.4 GHz 频段
(Swipe)再次从右向左滑动，您会看到 5 GHz 频段的类似图形，通道(GHz band)从 36 到 64。
在我所在的地区，只有一个 5 GHz Wi-Fi，它是我的路由器发出的。因此，整个 Wi-Fi 空间都是免费的，我可以使用任何我想要的频道，而不必担心邻居网络的干扰。
了解如何使用 5 GHz 频段
(Swipe)再次从右向左滑动，您会看到 5 GHz 频段的 100 到144频道(GHz band)。这一次，在我所在的地区，也只有一个无线网络(wireless network)。
了解如何使用 5 GHz 频段(GHz band)（通道 100-144）
如果我不想受到干扰，116 到 144 频道是免费的，我可以将它们用于我的路由器。如果再从右向左滑动一次，您会看到 5 GHz 频段(GHz band)上通道 149 到 165 的类似图形。
第 4 步(Step 4)：为您的 Wi-Fi 选择最不繁忙的频道
下一步是登录您的无线路由器(wireless router)并将其设置为使用每个频段上空闲或不太繁忙的频道。为了帮助您完成这些任务，我们提供了一些涵盖 ASUS 和 TP-Link Wi-Fi 路由器的(cover ASUS and TP-Link Wi-Fi routers)指南：
- 如何提高华硕路由器(ASUS router)的WiFi 速度(WiFi speed)
- 像Pro一样配置TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 路由器发出的Wi -Fi
您使用 NetSpot 的Wi-Fi Analyzer(Wi-Fi Analyzer)找到了哪些免费频道？
尽管有关Wi-Fi网络和频道的数据可能看起来令人生畏，但确定您所在地区的哪些频道拥塞较少并将其用于您的网络并不难。在我们的指南和NetSpot - WiFi Analyzer and Site Survey Tool的帮助下，您应该能够立即正确配置您的路由器。在结束本指南之前，请告诉我们您所在地区的情况。是否有许多 Wi-Fi 网络在争夺少数可用频道？哪些频道在哪些频率/频段上免费？在下面发表评论(Comment)，让我们讨论。
Use NetSpot WiFi Analyzer to identify the best channel for your Wi-Fi
Few people set up their home or office router correctly. Most just opt for the default settings proposed by the quick ѕetup wizard on their router, and that’s all. However, if you’rе in a busy area with many wireleѕs netwоrks, interferenсe can be a problem that lowers the speed of your Wi-Fi network. To fix this issue, you need to υse a Wi-Fi Analyzer type of app, see how many wireless networks are in your area (including hidden ones), and which channels they use. If you have an Android smartphone or tablet, here’s how to use the NetSpot app to analyze the wireless networks in your area and identify the channels that are not busy:
Step 1: Download and install NetSpot - WiFi Analyzer and Site Survey Tool
The first step is to open the Play Store and search for NetSpot. You can also find the app by following this direct link. After you install the app, open it with a tap on its shortcut.
Tap on the NetSpot shortcut
TIP: If you need some help with installing apps on Android, read: How to use Google Play Store to install apps and games for Android.
Step 2. Go to Discover mode
When you open NetSpot, it first asks what you want to do. Since you want to analyze the wireless networks in your area and see which channels are free and which are not, tap on Discover.
Choose Discover
The app asks for permission to access your location. Allow the app to access your location only this time, or only while you’re using it. Then, you see the Discover screen split into two sections:
- Networks - it displays all the networks it finds in your area, including hidden ones. For each network, you see its name, signal strength, the band, the channel that it is using, and the MAC address of the router emitting it. The list of networks is ordered by signal strength, starting with the strongest.
- Comparison - displays all kinds of graphs that help you identify free Wi-Fi channels and see how networks overlap in their channel use and signal strength.
NetSpot displays the networks in your area
Step 3. See how the Wi-Fi channels are used in your area
When you tap on Comparison, you first see a timeline that slowly updates itself over time. It displays the Wi-Fi networks in your area and how their signal strength evolves.
The Timeline displays how the signal strength evolves for each Wi-Fi
To identify which channels are free or less used, swipe over the Timeline with your finger from the right side of the screen to the left. You see all the channels available on the 2.4 GHz band and how they are used by the Wi-Fi networks in your area. In the picture below, you notice that the least used channel is 3, so it might be a good idea to set up my router to use that channel for the 2.4 GHz band.
See how the 2.4 GHz band is used
Swipe again from right to left, and you see a similar graphic for the 5 GHz band, with channels from 36 to 64.
In my area, there’s only one 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and it’s the one emitted by my router. Therefore, the entire Wi-Fi space is free, and I can use any channel I want without fear of interference from my neighbors’ networks.
See how the 5 GHz band is used
Swipe again from right to left, and you see channels 100 to 144 on the 5 GHz band. This time too, in my area, there’s only one wireless network.
See how the 5 GHz band is used (channels 100-144)
If I want no interference, channels 116 to 144 are free, and I can use them for my router. If you swipe one more time from right to left, you see a similar graphic for channels 149 to 165 on the 5 GHz band.
Step 4: Choose the least busy channels for your Wi-Fi
The next step is to log in to your wireless router and set it to use the channels that are free or less busy, on each band. To help you with these tasks, we have some guides that cover ASUS and TP-Link Wi-Fi routers:
Which channels did you find free with NetSpot’s Wi-Fi Analyzer?
While data about Wi-Fi networks and channels may look intimidating, it is not difficult at all to identify which channels are less congested in your area and use those for your network. With the help of our guide and the NetSpot - WiFi Analyzer and Site Survey Tool, you should be able to correctly configure your router in no time. Before closing this guide, tell us how the situation is in your area. Are there many Wi-Fi networks competing for the few channels available? Which channels are free on which frequency/band? Comment below and let’s discuss.
