This 3D WiFi mapping device illustrates the finicky nature of wireless signals

[Shawn Knight]

Apps like WiFi Analyzer are excellent tools for troubleshooting pesky wireless issues but even still, wouldn’t it be much easier (and cooler) if you could visually see what’s going on? Thanks to the ingenuity of YouTube user CNLohr, it’s now possible to map out the WiFi strength of any 3D space.

Using a battery-powered ESP8266 wireless transceiver module, the video’s narrator was able to ping it and measure the signal strength using an attached LED (different colors represent different strengths). The colors initially appear to be random but upon further inspection, that’s not the case at all – there’s just a ton of variation in a small amount of space.

By using a CNC mill and software that determines signal strength, he was able to map out the WiFi signal strength of a 3D space using the resulting data. Awesome visuals aside, the project really illustrates just how finicky WiFi signals can be.

If you’re interested in building your own 3D WiFi mapping system, CNLohr provides links to all of the information you’ll need on his YouTube page.

Found is a TechSpot feature where we share clever, funny or otherwise interesting stuff from around the web.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/59765-3d-wifi-mapping-device-illustrates-finicky-nature-wireless.html

 

[Acespaces]

Really interesting post, digging this stuff.

 

[Guest]

Wow Wi-Fi sucks.

 

[VitalyT]

That's like watching someone's brain work - you won't have a clue what you are looking at, even if it is your own brain

 

[Rasta211]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[FF222]

The guy more likely mapped out how his body masks out Wi-Fi signals as he runs around the room with that sensor, not what the actual signal strengths are.

 

[Guest]

And that's why I prefer an ethernet cord

 

[p51d007]

Very interesting. Surprised no one thought of this before.
RF can be VERY strange the way it propagates. If you have ever been driving your car, park it in just the right spot, and the signal fades/gets choppy on your car radio, but if you move it 1-2 feet more it gets better, that's the issue. Ham radio operator for over 25 years and when we make signal propagation charts, you'd be surprised how a signal can react, depending on the ground, trees, metal objects, cars parked in the street. RF is like "magic". People know about it, but even after decades, sometimes it is a mystery to me.