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Chanalyzer 5 Release Notes Print Friendly and PDF

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Joel Crane
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5.14.1.1

Jan 1, 2023

In This Release

  • Fixed a bug in which dense Wi-Fi environments would crash Chanalyzer

5.14.0.34

July 13, 2022

In This Release

  • Fixed a bug that caused expired MetaCare to crash Chanalzyer 

  • Made a minor tweak to the UI that hopefully flicks a flickering white box issue that is occurring for a few customers. 

5.14

March 15, 2022

In This Release

  • This marks the first release of Chanalyzer that supports MetaGeek Enterprise Suite, our new bundle that includes MetaGeek Chanalyzer, MetaGeek Eye P.A., and the all-new MetaGeek Tonic!
  • Tonic is a blend of the best things about both Eye P.A. and Chanalyzer. It even supports Wi-Spy DBx for lightweight spectrum analysis! If you like Chanalyzer, we think you'll like Tonic too. We have lots of plans for integration between Tonic and Chanalyzer, so keep an eye out for announcements!
  • To enable MetaGeek Enterprise Suite, Chanalyzer now supports activation with either a legacy license key, or with a MetaGeek Account.

5.13.1

November 23, 2021

In This Release

  • All of the access points on channels 50 and 114 are FINALLY getting the recognition that they deserve (all 10 of them)! In other words, 160 MHz support is now supported. But seriously - networks advertising 160 MHz operation display the right channel number and data rate, and a 160 MHz ziggurat will be drawn be drawn in the Density view.
  • Previously, Chanalyzer incorrectly interpreted WEP networks as Open. We've fixed that - WEP is now correctly parsed. There is an edge case where a pre-RSN WPA network will probably show up as WEP. We think that pre-RSN WPA networks are super rare, so most people will probably never see this happen.
  • In the last release, we managed to crash Chanalyzer while creating a new spectrum signature! None of our customers reported it happening to them, but just in case, we improved the code around signature creation to make it more robust.

Known Issues

  • Just like last time, there is some known instability around Cisco CleanAir® mode in Chanalyzer, due to the age and proprietary nature of the Cisco CleanAir® code. Our ability to significantly improve this is limited, so going forward, we recommend handling this mode with care.

5.13

October 19, 2021

In This Release

  • When you launch Chanalyzer or connect to a Wi-Spy, it recalls and starts with the last Wi-Spy mode that you used. It will remember that you were the full 2.4 GHz band, the full 5 GHz band, or "Double Rainbow!" mode (also known as "Dual-Band" mode), so you don't have to manually switch Chanalyzer to your preferred mode each time.
  • Similarly, when switching Wi-Spy modes (such as from 2.4 to 5 GHz), Chanalyzer now preserves whatever timespan you had selected in the Navigation Waterfall. You’re welcome!
  • Way back in Chanalyzer 5.7, we introduced automatic session splitting for Wi-Spy recordings. With this release, Cisco CleanAir® mode behaves the same way, so it’s easier to spot short spectrum events in the Navigation Waterfall in Cisco CleanAir® mode.
  • Chanalyzer's Wi-Fi scanner had 802.11ax bugs! Maximum data rates weren't being calculated correctly, and in some cases, SSID shapes weren’t centered correctly, or weren’t drawn at all. There’s still a problem with 160 MHz operation (see the Known Issues section).
  • After thinking about it a bit, we decided that not every signature in the spectrum is an interferer, so we feel that "signature" is a more accurate term. As a result, we renamed the "Interferers" tab to the "Signatures" tab, as well as all other references to "Interferers".
  • We tweaked the names of a few other menu items, but the changes are teeny tiny, so you probably won’t notice them. If you do, consider yourself a power user!
  • Previously, users could submit recordings to MetaGeek using a built-in form in Chanalyzer. These days, customers usually contact us directly with their .WSX recording files, so we decided to remove the recording submission feature. As always, feel free to contact us with interesting spectrum recordings!
  • This is technical developer stuff, but we thought you might like to know: Chanalyzer now targets .NET Framework 4.8 (instead of .NET Framework 4.5), which should fix several common crashes.
  • In the software updater, we switched to a different download link. Definetely don’t worry about it - it’s just to simplify our own internal processes.
  • VisiWave Site Survey has the ability to send a Wi-Spy recording file to Chanalyzer, but a previous release of Chanalyzer broke this. This was totally our fault (not VisiWave's), and we’ve fixed it now.
  • Virtually none of our customers were using Wi-Spy Air with Chanalyzer, and our driver installation for it was causing problems, so we decided to remove it for now. We recommend staying on Chanalyzer 5.12 if you use a Wi-Spy Air with Chanalyzer.
  • Because of the driver removal, we no longer need to offer separate 32-bit and 64-bit installation packages. The single installation package for this version works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Known Issues

  • Beacons that advertise 160 MHz operation are not correctly interpreted by Chanalyzer’s Wi-Fi scanner. For now, it just draws an 80 MHz network, and the center channel will probably be incorrect. We intend to fix this in an upcoming release.
  • Networks that use WEP seem to appear as Open in Chanalyzer. Of course, we all know that WEP is almost as bad as Open, but we know that is a bad excuse for this bug. We're planning to get this fixed in the next release.
  • There is some known instability around Cisco CleanAir® mode in Chanalyzer, due to the age and proprietary nature of the Cisco CleanAir® code. Our ability to significantly improve this is limited, so going forward, we recommend handling this mode with care.

5.12.0.68 Beta

May 28, 2021

Note: We don't recommend using beta releases in production environments.

In This Release

  • When in Wi-Spy mode, Chanalyzer automatically splits the recording session every 2 hours. With this release, Cisco CleanAir® mode behaves the same way, so it’s easier to spot short spectrum events in the Navigation Waterfall in both CleanAir® and Wi-Spy modes.

  • When you launch Chanalyzer or connect to a Wi-Spy, it recalls and starts with the last Wi-Spy mode that you used. It will remember that you were the full 2.4 GHz band, the full 5 GHz band, or "Double Rainbow!" mode (also known as "Dual-Band" mode), so you don't have to manually switch Chanalyzer to your preferred mode each time.

  • VisiWave Survey has the ability to send a Wi-Spy recording file to Chanalyzer, but a previous release of Chanalyzer broke this. This was totally our fault (not VisiWave’s), and we’ve fixed it now.

  • Chanalyzer's Wi-Fi scanner had 802.11ax bugs! Maximum data rates weren't being calculated correctly, and SSID "ziggurats" weren't being drawn in the Density View. Everything should be fixed now, but if you see anything weird, let us know at support@metageek.net. 

  • We tweaked the names of a few other menu items, but the changes are teeny tiny, so you probably won’t notice them. If you do, consider yourself a power user!

Known Issues

  • There’s an extra space in the “Show Learn Tab” option in the “View” menu, but that’s part of the fun of beta releases.

  • In some cases, Chanalyzer will crash if it stops receiving CleanAir data. We’re not sure how common this issue is, so if it happens to you, let us know at support@metageek.net. We also recognize that this is not one of the fun parts of beta releases.

5.12

August 18, 2020

  • Chanalyzer's Wi-Fi scanner can now detect and display WPA3 security.

  • 802.11ax data rates are now calculated using the MCS Index.

  • Updated software update process for improved security.

  • Improved visibility of check marks in the menus for Dark Mode.

5.11

April 24, 2020

  • Wi-Fi 6 compatible!  Now Chanalyzer will recognize and display Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) capable access points.

  • Added fully configurable spectrum scanning settings for Wi-Spy DBx.

  • Save commonly used spectrum scanning modes as preset configurations.

  • Supports Wi-Spy Air for spectrum analysis.

  • Frequency and Amplitude markers to focus on target signals.

  • Indicate connected AP in views and reports.

  • Fixed bonded channel signature scaling.

  • Fix misalignment between Density and Waterfall graph data.

5.10.1

January 15, 2019

  • Chanalyzer now displays the connected Wi-Spy's serial number in the About window. Use your Wi-Spy serial number to register your device in My MetaGeek for easier warranty processing and hardware tracking.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented Wi-Fi scanning when no Wi-Spy was connected. Note: To see Wi-Fi data when no Wi-Spy is connected, go to the View menu and click both "Show Networks Table Tab" and "Show Networks Graph Tab".

5.10

July 3, 2018

  • Fixed an issue with licensing that prevented new users from registering the software.

5.9.2

May 22, 2018

  • Now GDPR compliant! MetaGeek, along with every other tech company that you do business with has been busy updating privacy policies, data retention policies, and other processes related to the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation. This update provides links to our privacy policy when we ask for personal information and anonymous usage data. As always we treat your personal information with respect, no matter what country you live in.
  • Fixed a bug that caused a crash in certain environments.

5.9.1

December 22, 2017

  • Updated Learn Tab content to make it easier to get started in Chanalyzer if you're using a trial license or if you don't have a Wi-Spy connected.
  • The default time span in the playback waterfall is now 2 minutes when starting a new session, so new data is easier to visualize when it begins to populate the waterfall view.
  • Improved usability of playback waterfall: you can now click and drag to create a new timespan window, so you can zero in on problem spots faster.
  • Fixed the VendorVendor bug: Chanalyzer no longer doubles the vendor name in the Networks Table

5.9

November 8, 2017

  • Added Support for Cisco 2800 and Cisco 3800 Access Points (Cisco CleanAir® module and Cisco WLC 8.5 required).
  • Improved performance when the time window is larger than 5 minutes and there are a lot of Wi-Fi networks.
  • Massive performance improvement when dragging the time window around on the playback waterfall.
  • Chanalyzer now remembers what Color Scheme you were using before you upgraded!

5.8.10

April 19, 2017

  • Chanalyzer and inSSIDer are family, so shouldn’t they they look alike? Chanalyzer’s status bar now resembles the status bar on inSSIDer Office, making it easier to see what WiFi adapters and Wi-Spy devices are connected.
  • You can now subscribe to the beta channel to receive updates before it is available to everybody.
  • This version switches the old updater to Magpie, our very own internal installer and updater. Did we mention it’s open source?
  • We’ve drastically improved the MetaCare renewal experience because we want to continually improve your experience as a valued customer.
  • If you are near MetaCare expiration, Chanalyzer checks the status of your license on startup to make sure that it doesn’t miss any MetaCare extensions that you may have recently purchased.
  • Chanalyzer app icons used to break in some virtual machines, so we did away with the desktop shortcut altogether. Of course, you can still find Chanalyzer in the Start menu, and you can pin it to your taskbar for quick access.
  • The “Send Feedback” and MetaCare expiration warning banner didn’t get along well… so we put some empty space between them. They get along fine now.
  • Previous app settings are now retained when updating to the latest version.

5.8.9

January 19, 2017

  • Chanalyzer now supports scaling on high-DPI displays. I know, right?! Now you can put that high-resolution display to good use!
  • Sometimes, you need a break. In your reports. Report Builder now features page breaks. Nice!
  • Fixed a licensing bug which caused some users to be blocked from using Chanalyzer when they were disconnected from the Internet.
  • A corrupt user configuration file could cause previous versions to crash, and crashing is bad (obviously), so we took care of that.

 

5.8.8

July 11, 2016

  • Improved performance.
  • Improved exception handling.
  • Added a menu item to enable on-demand update of the AP-Vendor information.
  • Correctly parse Aruba Device Names.
  • Fixed bug in the Edit Alias Window for high-res screens.
  • Fixed crash when updating AP-Vendor information file for some proxy network configurations.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented the AP-Vendor information file from being updated.
  • Fixed a crash caused by duplicate entries in the AP Alias file.

5.8.7

January 27, 2016

  • Improved performance on slower machines.
  • Fixed frozen Density View when recording is paused.
  • Deactivate with an active trial no longer reactivates the license.
  • WiFi networks no longer vanish in high-density environments.
  • VHT and HT max rates are now correct for 20 MHz networks.

5.8.6

November 2, 2015

  • Fixed application hang when running a Wi-Spy DBx in dual-band mode for 10+ minutes.

5.8.5

October 6, 2015

  • When selecting trace colors for each of Max, Average, and Current, the trace will now automatically turn on.
  • Added auto-save prompt when any session is longer than 1 minute.
  • Proxy password now has a masked input field.
  • Added case insensitivity for the SSID and Vendor filters.
  • Improved tracing in density view.
  • Improved scanning with custom configurations for our Lab users.
  • Improved scan continuation after a computer has woken up.
  • Fixed bugs related to switching between multiple Wi-Spy devices.
  • Fixed bugs with adding notes to old recordings and reports.
  • Fixed broken links.
  • Fixed a waterfall navigation bug.
  • Fixed bugs related to licensing and registration.

5.8.4

September 22, 2015

  • inSSIDer Office and Chanalyzer can now run at the same time.
  • Improved random deactivation issues.
  • Improved license entitlement behaviors.
  • Improved interaction with live data when viewing a recording.
  • Improved the software update experience for Windows 10 users.
  • Fixed bugs related to having multiple active Wi-Spy devices.
  • Fixed bugs with adding notes to old recordings and reports.
  • Fixed a bug with channel grades coming up as 0.
  • Fixed a bug where utilization could be artificially high.
  • Fixed a bug in the universal timeframe when using the Lab accessory.
  • Fixed broken links.
  • Fixed some cosmetic issues.

5.8.3

July 16, 2015

  • Filter networks by MAC address.
  • Deactivate your license key in Chanalyzer.
  • Improved experience for smaller screens.
  • Implemented a fix for random license deactivation.
  • Made it easier to identify specific radios in the Networks Graph.
  • Squashed bugs and improved performance.

5.8.0

  • New "interferer signature hover to Device Finder" workflow.
  • Waterfall Navigation time now in 12-hour format.
  • Session Manager viewable in Double Rainbow mode.
  • Improved experience when jumping to recording notes.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.7.2

  • Added 20 and 80 MHz wide OFDM signatures (5 GHz).
  • Improved handling of in-app MetaCare license renewal.
  • Report Builder fixes and enhancements.
  • Better experience for computers with small screens.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.7.0

  • Automatic session splitting at 2-hour intervals for easier recording analysis.
  • Improved handling of in-app MetaCare license renewal.
  • New branding.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.6.1

  • Addressed the cause of certain Anti-virus scanners reporting a false positive.
  • Fixed an issue where certain environments were unable to run Chanalyzer.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.6.0

  • 2.4 and 5 GHz can be viewed simultaneously in Dual-Band mode with a single Wi-Spy DBx.
  • Improved UI to work with Medium and Large DPI settings in Windows.
  • Additional bug fixes..

5.5.0

  • Improved Device Finder accuracy and UI.
  • Added Device finder, Zoom, and Create Interferer Menu item.
  • Registration will not Autodiscover Web Proxies.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.4.0

  • AP aliasing: Users can now add their own AP alias to the Networks Table when Group by Radio is selected.
  • Persistent aliasing: Alias file is persistent, can be manually created, and shared between users. The ApAlias file is located in the C:\Users\\AppData\Local\MetaGeek,_LLC\ directory.
  • Improved Report Builder: Preview with anchors to individual blocks which allow quick navigation by clicking on the block.
  • When editing a Report Builder block Preview no longer jumps to the top of the report.
  • Improved blocks list by adding automatic scroll of the list when moving a block.
  • Updated the Registration screen to include a Proxy server if necessary.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.3.0

  • Notes (including an image) can now be added to a recording.
  • Notes can also be added to the Report Builder.
  • AP alias column added to the Network Table column. The alias is pulled from the Cisco AP beacon.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.2.0

  • Now view Networks by ESSID or Radio on the Networks Table.
  • When two Wi-Spy’s are connected and one is a DBx. It will automatically be set to the 5 GHz band.
  • Additional bug fixes.
  • Registration process is more robust.

5.1.0

  • Added the Lab Accessory (paid module), which the user to manipulate Wi-Spy hardware configurations and gives the ability to place frequency and amplitude markers.
  • Added Lab module Hardware configuration and Frequency Marker table to Report Builder.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.0.3

  • 802.11ac WLAN info now displayed. With a 5 GHZ WiFi NIC, see .11ac networks in Networks Table and as Density View overlays with proper frequency-widths.
  • New PHY type column in Networks Table.
  • New PHY type filter in filter bar.
  • Added Clone Live Sessions functionality to Wi-Spy menu. Start a new session without restarting Chanalyzer or Changing configurations.
  • Added autocomplete for SSID filter field.
  • Added less-than option to signal strength filter.
  • Improved Report Builder fit-and-finish.
  • Improved network color assignments for fewer duplicates.
  • Additional bug fixes.

5.0.2

  • Drag-and-Drop file functionality. Drag and Drop Chanalyzer Recording(.wsx), Cisco CleanAir(.ccf), and Chanalyzer Report files(.wsxr) for simpler use.
  • Double click on Chanalyzer recording files icon will now load and play that file into Chanalyzer, even if it is currently running. Provides simpler recording viewing.
  • Optional outdoor color scheme with white backgrounds for better visibility in bright light.
  • Double click on Chanalyzer recording files icon will now load and play that file into Chanalyzer, even if it is currently running. Provides simpler recording viewing.
  • Bug fixes.

5.0.1

  • Improved Report Builder (specific list below).
  • Dual-band visibility. If two Wi-Spy DBx or 2.4x are plugged in, both waterfalls are displayed.
  • Optional outdoor color scheme with white backgrounds for better visibility in bright light.
  • Cisco CleanAir accessory (additional license required). Provides connectivity to view spectrum data collected from Cisco CleanAir access points.
  • Automatic update of OUI file to identify access point vendor by MAC address.
  • Created Report Builder menu item.
  • Report Builder has merged with the Preview Pane.
  • Simplified menus.
  • Ability to add all blocks to a report with one click.
  • Improved licensing system.
  • Improved color scheme.
  • Moving the Unified Timeframe will now cause the timespan to pause in place.
  • Clicking on a table row highlights the entire row for ease of use.
  • Improved Filter usability.
  • Improved fit and finish.

5.0

  • Initial release of Chanalyzer 5.