After a very long time coming, version 2.0 of VisiWave Site Survey was finally released today. We had a successful beta program running for the last month and are very happy with the end results. Hopefully you will be too. See below for a list of new features in this release.
If you purchased a license to VisiWave after July 1, 2008, you will automatically receive a free upgrade. We will email you new registration codes shortly. If you don't receive these codes, just email us for more information.
All other current customers can upgrade to version 2.0 for a small fee. Just click on the Purchase link on our website and scroll down to the bottom. Add the "Update to Version 2.0" to your cart and proceed with your checkout. Once your existing license has been verified, you will receive new registration codes.
Those that installed the beta of version 2.0 will need to act before Sept 30 by either upgrading or re-installing your licensed version.
If you aren't sure if you want to upgrade, go ahead and install the trial version of 2.0 over-top of your current release. If you like it, then upgrade. If you wish to stick with your current version, then just re-install that version over-top of version 2.0 and continue to use it.
NEW IN THIS RELEASE
o Record Noise Levels & SNR with Wi-Spy
VisiWave now uses a Wi-Spy device--if present--to get the background noise every time a Wi-Fi data point is collected. VisiWave then uses the noise level to create real Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and noise level graphs. Just make sure your Wi-Spy is plugged in while collecting Wi-Fi data. VisiWave will then automatically record noise levels as well as signal strengths for each collected data point.
o View Detailed Data on Each Collected Data Point
Full information about every data point collected can now be immediately viewed from within the data collection application. You can view all the access points seen at each location, their signal strengths, MAC addresses, SSIDs, etc. Plus you can view all the interference data collected using the Wi-Spy spectrum analyzer.
o Visualize Coverage using Google Earth Viewer
Creating reports in Google Earth is now an official feature of the product (previously, it was only available as a beta feature). During the beta period, customers have proven how truly useful and solid this feature is for fully understanding their wireless coverage. NOTE: The current beta version (4.3.7284) of the free Google Earth viewer has a bug that prevents the information balloons from displaying in the right location. To work around this until Google fixes it, turn off the Terrain view under the Layers section on the left panel.
o Set Scale Interactively
VisiWave needs to know the scale of the image you use as your survey map. For example, a pixel on the map might equal two feet. This can now be done set or updated using an interface provided by VisiWave. You can click on the map in two places and tell the software the distance and it will calculate the scale for you.
o Garmin USB GPS Device Support
In addition to serial GPS devices, VisiWave now natively supports Garmin GPS devices that connect to your laptop using USB.
o Estimate Access Point Locations Based on Coverage
A Google Earth report can now show you on the map where every access point is located. The locations are estimates based on the signal data collected.
o Automatic Checks for Updated Versions
VisiWave now checks for a new release of itself and installs the new release if requested. You can have it check daily, weekly, monthly, or only when you ask it to check.
o GPS Location and Status Displayed on Status Bar
If you have set the GPS location for your survey map, then the current latitude and longitude is now shown on the status bar while collecting data. Also, the status of the GPS device is displayed while collecting data using the GPS device.
