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DESCRIPTION

AP Grapher is a freeware program for Mac OS X which searches for nearby wireless (i.e., WiFi, Airport) access points and graphs the signal strength as a function of time for the base station you are currently connected to. Although the program has a “stumbler” like mode, it’s not a true a stumbler in the classic sense since it only finds visible networks.

AP Grapher is intended to help you find the best access point to connect to and optimally position your base station and or computer to achieve the best possible signal strength.

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WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.2.1
  • [new feature] Newly designed larger icon.
  • [new feature] Added optional menu extra to display the comm quality as a percentage.
  • [new feature] Added option to speak comm quality as it changes.
  • [new feature] Scanner now remembers which column to sort by and by default sorts by signal.
  • [new feature] Minor internal updates.
  • [other] Dock icon graph now draws translucently on top of the dock icon and is based on the time elapsed rather than the number of samples elapsed.
Version 1.2
  • [new feature] Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) compatibility resulting from a major internal re-write.
  • [new feature] Scanner now shows noise and MAC address in addition to other fields.
  • [new feature] Option to include or exclude ad hoc networks from the scanner list.
  • [new feature] Optional scan sound played at completion of each scan.
  • [new feature] Other small changes to the interface, preferences, and internals.
  • [bugfix] SNR (signal to noise ratio) should now be correctly computed and graphed in all cases.
  • [other] Removed ability to graph raw signals since it turns out that comm quality is just normalized raw (no need to have them both).
Version 1.1:
  • [new feature] Added toolbar button to open the Network System Preferences.
  • [new feature] Added count of discovered base stations to scanner.
  • [new feature] Base stations are now keyed based on their MAC address rather than name, so stations with duplicate names won't overlap each other.
  • [new feature] Added readouts of the time width and current transmit rate to the graph window.
  • [new feature] Dock icon graph now draws vertical user set marks like the full size graph and draws all the way across when the preference to fit to graph width is set.
  • [new feature] Preferences window now remembers which tab was previously selected and returns to it.
  • [new feature] Added option to save graph to a PDF or scan to a text file.
  • [bugfix] Signal, noise, and SNR graphs now jump to the bottom rather than the top of the graph when AirPort power is turned off or the connection is lost.
  • [bugfix] Fixed another memory leak; this appears to be the last one.
  • [bugfix] Addressed an issue which prevented the scanner from displaying nearby access points on some computers - particularly Intel based Macs. The names were spoken but not displayed.
  • [bugfix] Improved robustness of scanner in general.
  • [bugfix] Core 2 Duo laptops report the scanner signal strength in negative values whereas all other Macs seem to use positive values. Addressed an issue which could either cause a crash, or prevent the best signal strength from being colored correctly on these computers.
  • [other] Scanner and grapher now keep running even if all signals are lost or AirPort is turned off.

    • Version 1.0:
  • [new feature] Major rewrite which changes the way signal strength is obtained from the system.
  • [new feature] Now works with Intel based Macs such as the MacBook and MacBook Pro (universal binary).
  • [new feature] New scanner feature (similar to a stumbler, but only visible networks).
  • [new feature] Option to add vertical marks to the graph to compare signal strength at different times.
  • [new feature] Reorganized and hopefully simplified interface.
  • [new feature] New help documentation using Apple's help viewer.
  • [bugfix] Small memory leak fixed.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, or later.
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SCREENSHOT

Developer:Chimoosoft
Downloads:34,643
  - Version d/l:17,650
Utilities:Network
License:Free
Date:02 Nov 2007
Platform:PPC/Intel
RATING
****½
DEVELOPER POLL
Q: What kind of Mac does AP Grapher work on for you?
It doesn't seem to work!
G3 desktop, tower, or laptop
G4 tower or laptop
G5 tower
Intel Core Duo Laptop
Intel Core Duo Desktop
Intel Core 2 Duo Laptop
Intel Core 2 Duo Desktop
Other

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AP Grapher User Reviews (17 posts)Write A Review
sort: smiles | time
Sep 8 2009

MSTIELAU  I liked this app a lot. But it seems to have stopped working after I installed Snow Leopard. Here's hoping that the developer continues to update this nice application.  
(Version 1.2.1)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Apr 4 2009
****.

MARK NELSON  The application allowed me to find the pest placement of my wireless router. however it did keep unexpectedly quitting on me.  
(Version 1.2.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Feb 2 2009

DAVIDSAN  I do not know what is happening with this app.

It crashes a lot on MacBook Pro 17 inch 2.16 with 10.5.6. I mean a lot!  
(Version 1.2.1)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Jun 4 2008
***..

MOLLY  I prefer to use AirGrab WiFi Radar.I haven`t problem with it.  
(Version 1.2.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Mar 26 2008

SLIPPYSLOPE  I learned of AP Grapher on the Apple Discussion board dealing with the MacBook Pro dropping Wi-Fi connections. Grapher is a great way to track connectivity and confirm that there is a 'drop' even though the Mac 'Radar' says there is a strong connection. Grapher worked perfectly right from the getgo on my MBP Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz running 10.5.2 (and now I have the evidence that the MPB is dropping the connection). Thanks.  
(Version 1.2.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Dec 29 2006

ICELAND_GYRFALCON  Excellent.

I like the 'hide inactive stations' and 'hide secure stations' options.  
(Version 1.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Dec 13 2006

ISLANDMACMAN  Same here on a MBPC2D

It does look nice though - can't wait for an update!  
(Version 1.0)

praisebury
0
[ 2 Replies - Reply ]
Replies:
Dec 13 2006

CHIMOOSOFT  Please contact us so we can get more details about the problem.

http://www.chimoosoft.com/contact.html  
(Version 1.0)

praisebury
0
Dec 14 2006

CHIMOOSOFT  Does the problem still occur with Airport Update 2006-002?

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportupdate2006002.html  
(Version 1.0)

praisebury
0

Nov 19 2006

IVANOVITCH  Doesn't work with MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo - probably needs updating to cope with 802.11n cards that appear in these machines.  
(Version 0.5.3)

praisebury
0
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Dec 6 2006

CHIMOOSOFT  A new version of AP Grapher is in development which adds support for Intel based Macs; it should be released within a few weeks. A screenshot is available at the AP Grapher home page.

http://www.chimoosoft.com/apgrapher.html

Thanks!  
(Version 0.5.3)

praisebury
0

Mar 4 2005
*****

RYAN  This is very useful for trying to find out the coverage of your wireless router. I used this at my church for figuring out where our WiFi "dead spots" were, and where the card tends to switch from one hot spot to another (since we have three to cover the entire building).

It's also very useful in tandem with KisMac, having KisMac automatically connect to any open network while wardriving. Leave both windows open so you can see both easily, and you can use AP Grapher to get in a good position for best reception.

Note to those who asked about certain features not graphing (like noise, signal, etc): Those depend on your computer and wireless card. Certain AP cards will not provide data for those features, some will. I don't know off the top of my head which ones do what, but at least you can know why. :)  
(Version 0.5.3)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Jan 12 2005
*****

EMPEREUR  I had the older version, great small product, thanks, recommend to everyone.  
(Version 0.5.3)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
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