Netscout Aircheck G2 User manual

Released 03/2016

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Wi-Fi®is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

AirCheck™ G2

Wireless Tester

User Manual

LIMITED WARRANTY AND EULA

Visit the NetScout Terms and Conditions website for Warranty and End User License Agreement Information:

http://www.netscout.com/legal/terms-and-conditions/.

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This product may incorporate open source components that are governed by the GNU General Public License

("GPL") or licenses that are compatible with the GPL license ("GPL Compatible License"). In accordance with the

terms of the GPL or the applicable GPL Compatible License, NetScout will make available a complete, machine-

readable copy of the source code components of this product covered by the GPL or applicable GPL Compatible

License, if any, upon receipt of a written request. Please identify the product and send a request to:

NetScout Systems, Inc.

GPL Source Code Request

310 Littleton Road

Westford, MA 01886

Attn: Legal Department

Table of Contents

I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................1

Link-Live Cloud Service ....................................................................................................................................................1

AirCheck G2 Manager ......................................................................................................................................................1

Register Your Product ......................................................................................................................................................2

The Fluke Networks Knowledge Base ............................................................................................................................2

Contact Fluke Networks ...................................................................................................................................................2

Safety Information ............................................................................................................................................................2

Package Contents .............................................................................................................................................................4

Internal Battery Charging and Life .................................................................................................................................4

II. AirCheck G2 Tester Physical Features ......................................................................................................5

III. The AirCheck G2 Home Screen .................................................................................................................6

IV. Free Companion Services ..........................................................................................................................8

Link-Live Cloud Service ....................................................................................................................................................8

AirCheck G2 Manager PC Application ............................................................................................................................9

V. Setting Up the Tester for your Network ..................................................................................................10

Using Organizations and Profiles to Save Settings and Security Credentials ...........................................................10

Changing the Location Settings and Language .............................................................................................................12

Changing the Thresholds for Test Ratings and Colored Bar Graphs .........................................................................13

AirCheck G2 Wireless Tester

User Manual

VI. Overview of Functionality: Examining your Network Health ............................................................... 14

How is the Health of My Network? ................................................................................................................................ 14

What is in the Wireless LAN? .......................................................................................................................................... 16

Can Devices Connect to My Network? ........................................................................................................................... 17

What is Causing Slow Network Performance or Dropped Connections? ................................................................. 18

Are There Security Risks in My Network? ...................................................................................................................... 18

Where is an Access Point? ............................................................................................................................................... 19

What Networks or Access Points Come into Range as I Move? ................................................................................. 19

How Can I Document My Network and My Test Session? .......................................................................................... 19

How Can I Erase Everything on my AirCheck G2? ........................................................................................................ 19

VII. Using AutoTest to Diagnose Your Network Health ................................................................................ 20

AutoTest Air Quality ......................................................................................................................................................... 20

802.11 Channel Utilization .......................................................................................................................................... 21

Non-802.11 Channel Utilization .................................................................................................................................. 21

Co-Channel Interference ............................................................................................................................................. 22

AutoTest Network Tests .................................................................................................................................................. 23

Connection .................................................................................................................................................................... 24

IP Address ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24

Default Gateway ........................................................................................................................................................... 24

DHCP Server .................................................................................................................................................................. 24

DNS1 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 24

DNS2 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 24

Ping ................................................................................................................................................................................ 24

VIII. Discovering Networks and Access Points ............................................................................................... 25

The Networks List Screen ................................................................................................................................................ 26

The Network Details Screen ........................................................................................................................................... 27

If the Tester Does Not Discover an Access Point ......................................................................................................... 37

iii

IX. Verifying Connectivity ................................................................................................................................ 38

Connect to a Network or Access Point .......................................................................................................................... 38

Entering Security Credentials Using “Connect” ............................................................................................................ 38

Reviewing Connection Results ....................................................................................................................................... 41

Ping a Device or Application Server ............................................................................................................................... 43

X. Viewing Channel Usage ............................................................................................................................. 46

XI. Discovering Clients ..................................................................................................................................... 50

Discovering Clients through Meru APs .......................................................................................................................... 50

If the Tester Does Not Discover a Client ....................................................................................................................... 54

XII. Locating an Access Point or a Client ........................................................................................................ 55

The External Directional Antenna .................................................................................................................................. 59

XIII. Using the Ethernet Test ............................................................................................................................. 62

XIV. Saving Test Sessions and Managing Files ................................................................................................ 63

Saving a Session File ........................................................................................................................................................ 63

Managing Files on the Tester ......................................................................................................................................... 64

About Files on the Tester ................................................................................................................................................ 64

Transfer Files to a PC ....................................................................................................................................................... 65

XV. All Settings .................................................................................................................................................. 67

XVI. Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................... 68

Cleaning the Tester .......................................................................................................................................................... 68

Updating the AirCheck G2 Firmware ............................................................................................................................. 68

Restoring Factory Defaults .............................................................................................................................................. 69

After the tester restarts, default settings will be restored. ......................................................................................... 69

Erasing All Data ................................................................................................................................................................ 69

AirCheck G2 Wireless Tester

User Manual

Viewing Device Information ............................................................................................................................................ 70

If the Tester Will Not Turn Off ........................................................................................................................................ 70

XVII. Specifications and Compliance ................................................................................................................ 71

Environmental Specifications ......................................................................................................................................... 71

General Specifications ..................................................................................................................................................... 72

Wireless Specifications .................................................................................................................................................... 73

Certifications and Compliance ....................................................................................................................................... 75

Federal Communication Commission and Industry Canada Interference Statement ............................................ 77

Important Note: FCC and IC Radiation Exposure Statement ...................................................................................... 77

Exposure to RF Energy ..................................................................................................................................................... 77

Europe-EU Declaration of Conformity ........................................................................................................................... 79

List of Figures

Figure Page

2. AirCheck G2 Home Screen..........................................................................................................................................6

3. Link-Live Dashboard....................................................................................................................................................8

4. Session Details in AirCheck G2 Manager ..................................................................................................................9

5. Thresholds Screen .......................................................................................................................................................13

6. 802.11 Channel Utilization Thresholds .....................................................................................................................20

7. AutoTest Air Quality Results Screen ..........................................................................................................................20

8. 802.11 Channel Utilization Results ............................................................................................................................21

9. Non-802.11 Channel Utilization .................................................................................................................................21

10. Air Quality Co-channel Default Threshold ................................................................................................................22

11. Signal Level Default Threshold...................................................................................................................................22

12. AutoTest Screen ...........................................................................................................................................................23

13. Examining the Network Quality of an SSID ..............................................................................................................24

14. Networks (SSIDs) List...................................................................................................................................................26

15. Network Details Screen...............................................................................................................................................27

16. Access Points List .........................................................................................................................................................31

17. Access Point Details Screen ........................................................................................................................................31

18. Access Point Details Screen ........................................................................................................................................35

19. The Connection Screen ...............................................................................................................................................41

AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester

Users Manual

20. The Connection Log..................................................................................................................................................... 43

21. The Ping Screen ........................................................................................................................................................... 44

22. Channel Utilization Screen ......................................................................................................................................... 46

23. Channel Usage Details Screen ................................................................................................................................... 48

24. Clients Screen............................................................................................................................................................... 51

25. Client Details Screen.................................................................................................................................................... 53

26. Locate Access Point Screen ........................................................................................................................................ 55

27. Locate Client Screen .................................................................................................................................................... 56

28. Search Pattern for the Omnidirectional Antenna in the Tester............................................................................. 58

29. Search Pattern for the External Antenna.................................................................................................................. 60

30. How to Point the External Antenna........................................................................................................................... 61

31. oui_abbr.txt File ........................................................................................................................................................... 65

AirCheck™G2 Wireless Tester

I. INTRODUCTION

The AirCheck™G2 Wireless Tester allows networking and IT

professionals to verify network availability and performance

and to troubleshoot connection issues. For instance, you can

use the tester to ensure that 802.11 wireless LANs are

available to mobile users or examine channel usage in order

to analyze network health and identify the source of

problems.

The AirCheck G2 tester operates on 802.11 b/g/n networks in

the 2.4 GHz band and 802.11 a/n/ac networks in the 5 GHz-

band, and it has the capability of detecting 802.11 ac access

points and networks.

The optional PoE detector shows you if Power over Ethernet

voltage from 802.3af and higher-power 802.3at devices is

available on twisted pair network cabling.

Link-Live Cloud Service

The Link-Live Cloud Service is a free, online system for

viewing, tracking, and organizing your AirCheck G2 Ethernet

and wireless connection test results, which are automatically

uploaded to Link-Live once configured. To start, create a user

account at www.app.link-live.com/signup.

AirCheck G2 Manager

The AirCheck™G2 Manager PC application saves your test

results and allows you to transfer them to a PC. You can use

AirCheck G2 Manager to compare information from different

test sessions to see changes in a wireless LAN. Download the

AirCheck G2 Manager software from Link-Live at 

www.link-live.com/downloads.

AirCheck G2 Wireless Tester

User Manual

Registering your product with Fluke Networks gives you

access to valuable information on product updates,

troubleshooting procedures, and other services. To register,

fill out the online form on the Fluke Networks website at

www.flukenetworks.com/registration.

The Fluke Networks Knowledge Base

The Fluke Networks Knowledge Base gives answers to

common questions about Fluke Networks products and

includes information on technology and procedures for

network and cable tests. To see the Knowledge Base, go to

www.flukenetworks.com, then click Support > Knowledge

Base.

Contact Fluke Networks

Online: www.flukenetworks.com

Email: Support@flukenetworks.com

Phone: 844-833-3713

For more phone numbers, go to our website.

Safety Information

Table 1 gives descriptions of the safety symbols used on the

tester and in this manual.

Table 1. Safety Symbols

Warning or Caution: risk of damage to or

destruction of equipment or software. See

explanations in the manual.

Warning: Risk of electrical shock.

Do not put products that contain circuit

boards into waste containers. Refer to local

regulations for disposal procedures.

This equipment contains a Class 2 radio.

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