Spectrum analyser
See what's on the airwaves around you — and whether it's affecting your WiFi.
On this page
What is the spectrum analyser? The channel graph Nearby networks table Interference warnings 2.4 GHz channel guide 5 GHz channels Acting on the resultsWhat is the spectrum analyser?
The spectrum analyser scans for all WiFi networks in range at the start of each test cycle and shows you:
- Every nearby network, their signal strength, and which channels they occupy
- A visual channel graph showing signal strength by channel
- Automatic interference warnings when your network overlaps with neighbours
This helps you understand whether poor WiFi performance is caused by interference from other networks — one of the most common causes of slow or unreliable WiFi that's easy to fix.
The channel graph
The channel graph shows signal strength (dBm) on the Y axis and WiFi channels on the X axis. Each network appears as a bell-shaped curve centred on its channel, spreading across the channels it occupies based on its channel width.
Your network is highlighted in blue (2.4 GHz) or green (5 GHz). Neighbouring networks appear in grey. The taller the curve, the stronger the signal.
Overlapping curves mean those networks are competing for the same frequencies — the more overlap, the more interference.
Nearby networks table
Below the channel graph, the networks table lists every detected WiFi network with:
| SSID | Band | Channel | Width | Signal | Security | Interference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TelstraD8082D OURS | 2.4 GHz | 6 | 20 MHz | −32 dBm | WPA2 | 1 overlap |
| Belong0F1512 | 2.4 GHz | 6 | 20 MHz | −68 dBm | WPA2 | Co-channel |
| Optus_57261E | 2.4 GHz | 11 | 20 MHz | −82 dBm | WPA2 | Clear |
| TelstraD8082D-5G OURS | 5 GHz | 48 | 80 MHz | −35 dBm | WPA2 | Clear |
Your networks are highlighted in blue and marked with an OURS badge. The table can be filtered by band or searched by SSID name.
Interference warnings
When Neto detects interference affecting your networks, a warning card appears below the table. There are two types:
Non-standard channel warning
Your 2.4 GHz network is on channel 4. In the 2.4 GHz band, only channels 1, 6, and 11 are non-overlapping. Consider switching your router to one of these channels to minimise interference from adjacent networks.
Channel overlap warning
TelstraD8082D (ch 6) overlaps with: Belong0F1512. These networks share channel space, which reduces throughput for both. Switching to channel 1 or 11 would eliminate the overlap.
2.4 GHz channel guide
The 2.4 GHz band has 13 channels (in Australia), but they're only 5 MHz apart while each network occupies 20–40 MHz. This means most channels overlap with their neighbours.
Only three channels don't overlap with each other at 20 MHz width:
If your router is on any other channel (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13), it will partially overlap with networks on adjacent channels. Use the spectrum analyser to see which of channels 1, 6, or 11 has the least neighbouring network traffic in your area, then set your router to that channel.
5 GHz channels
The 5 GHz band has many more non-overlapping channels and much more spectrum to work with. Neto shows whichever 5 GHz channels are detected in your area.
Co-channel interference is less common on 5 GHz, but can still occur in apartment buildings with many networks. If the spectrum analyser shows another network on the same 5 GHz channel, check your router settings for an option to change the channel or enable automatic channel selection.
Acting on the results
To change your router's WiFi channel, log into your router's admin page (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and look for WiFi or Wireless settings. Most routers have a channel dropdown — set it to the recommended channel from the spectrum analyser.
After changing channels, wait for the next Neto scan cycle (or click Refresh) to confirm the change has taken effect and re-check for interference.