Winfi 3 Beta available for download

[RMerlin]

Winfi 3.0 Beta is now available for download.

Release dummy-3.0.0.86 · HelgeKeck/dummy

EHT Capabilities Decoding Bug Fixed

github.com

Weird filename, but this is legit as it's posted by the developer on his Discord channel:

Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games

Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.

discord.com

I haven't looked at the differences with V2, but he mentions the goal of going multiplatform with V3 (so, not only for Windows). I don't know either the differences between the free versions and the paid version (only available by contacting the author directly).

For those who don't know, Winfi is a very advanced wifi analyzer. It can display low level technical details such as which 802.11 extensions are supported by a network, among other things.

 

[XIII]

Unfortunately I can't join that Discord server somehow.

Which platforms does "multiplatform" include? (macOS as well?)

 

[RMerlin]

EDIT: Android, iOS, Linux and MacOS.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1938981498658660592

He posted a Youtube video of the Android version:

 

[XIII]

Thanks!

Unfortunately that Discord invite link is expired and the release on GitHub only contains a Windows executable. Would love to try it on macOS and iOS.

However, Apple does not allow this kind of app in the iOS App Store, so I’m curious how he’s going to distribute it… (Via an alternative App Store? Aren’t those EU only?)

 

[RMerlin]

Would love to try it on macOS and iOS.

He said that other platforms are not ready for testing yet (tho I think a few users got the Android APK directly for him on request).

However, Apple does not allow this kind of app in the iOS App Store

Ubiquiti's Wifiman is available there:

‎Ubiquiti WiFiman

‎WiFiman is here to save your home or office network from sluggish surfing, endless buffering, and congested data channels. With this free-to-use (and ad-free) app you can: - Detect and connect to all available Wi-Fi networks devices instantly. - Scan network subnet for details on available...

apps.apple.com

Did they remove everything related with wifi scanning from the iOS version? I use their Android version as a generic wifi scanner on my phone.

 

[Stephen Harrington]

Unfortunately that Discord invite link is expired

Likewise ...

 

[XIII]

Did they remove everything related with wifi scanning from the iOS version? I use their Android version as a generic wifi scanner on my phone.

The Signal functionality apparently requires additional Unify hardware, so they probably work around Apple’s limitation by performing this functionality on their hardware instead of on the Apple device.

 

[EmeraldDeer]

Is this the same Discord invite that is expired? WinFi Discord

 

[RMerlin]

The Signal functionality apparently requires additional Unify hardware

It works fine on my Android phone as a typical wifi scanner to determine congestion/signal strength. Which is what the majority of users need of such an app.

 

[RMerlin]

No idea what to tell you about the DIscord acces, sorry. I joined his discord server about a year ago, and I only went there 2-3 times since then. I don't generally use Discord, so I have no idea how server access works. Didn't expect people to require an invite to it, and it's odd that the link he posted to his Twitter only two weeks ago is invalid/expired.

Discord is just a weird mashup of IRC and Reddit IMHO.

 

[XIII]

Is this the same Discord invite that is expired? WinFi Discord

That one is expired as well, so hard to check for anyone, I think.

 

[EmeraldDeer]

I just now generated an invite link which will expire in 7 days "WinFi Discord invite expires July 16 2025"
If this does not work, then maybe Helge has received more feedback than he needs

 

[kuchkovsky]

It works fine on my Android phone as a typical wifi scanner to determine congestion/signal strength. Which is what the majority of users need of such an app.

I installed the iOS version (I don't have any UniFi devices), and it just shows very basic info, like the gateway IP and the active devices on the LAN, similar to other networking apps for iOS. There is no Wi-Fi scanning functionality.

iOS devices can show very detailed nerdy information about the cellular network via special USSD codes, but they are completely useless for getting information about the Wi-Fi signal.

 

[RMerlin]

I installed the iOS version (I don't have any UniFi devices), and it just shows very basic info, like the gateway IP and the active devices on the LAN, similar to other networking apps for iOS. There is no Wi-Fi scanning functionality.

So, neutered to uselessness. Thanks, Apple. I'm sure your paying customers appreciate being treated like children.

 

[kuchkovsky]

So, neutered to uselessness. Thanks, Apple. I'm sure your paying customers appreciate being treated like children.

Frankly speaking, I can't say that I ever needed a Wi-Fi scanner on a phone, probably like 99% of users, so it's usually not a big deal. I benefit much more from the Apple ecosystem features than I lose due to the absence of things like a Wi-Fi scanner.

But yes, they could at least have a hidden menu with detailed information about the Wi-Fi signal and network info. This is easily available by pressing the Option key while clicking on the Wi-Fi status bar icon on macOS, but it's not available on iOS.

 

[RMerlin]

Frankly speaking, I can't say that I ever needed a Wi-Fi scanner on a phone, probably like 99% of user

The fact that tools like Inssider, Winfi or Acrylic exist indicate that there is definitely a demand for such tools. And you'll have a hard time convincing users on a forum called SmallNetBuilder to think that these tools aren't really that useful

Some people might have saved buying a $500 repeater by using these tools to determine if their coverage issues come from channel congestion or poor router location. I use them whenever a customer tells me that they are having coverage issues. Sometimes the solution is just to switch to a less crowded channel.

 

[kuchkovsky]

you'll have a hard time convincing users on a forum called SmallNetBuilder to think that these tools aren't really that useful

They are indeed useful. I'm just saying that mobile scanners are niche instruments, not something needed by most people. Usually, you just have to choose the best device for your needs. And that's not always the device that gives you the lowest-level access. There's plenty of stuff that is not available on Android or is implemented in an awkward way just because it doesn't have a well-developed ecosystem. But I totally understand why you need an Android phone as one of your professional instruments.

I used a Wi-Fi scanner when setting up my network for the first time, of course. I just used my laptop for that, not a phone.

 

[Tech9]

The fact that tools like Inssider, Winfi or Acrylic exist indicate that there is definitely a demand for such tools.

They all show extra detailed information, but also have serious common issue - represent the envirinment the way client device sees it with it's specific and often very weak radio. For this reason I mostly use the built-in Environment scanner in UniFi OS. It is Apple-style with only what Ubiquiti decided I may want to see, but it represents the environment the way my access points see it and this is very important for system tuning purposes. What an iPhone or Galaxy sees - don't care.

I also see Channel Utilization per AP (because they use different channels) and the number of nearby APs using the same SSID. This way I can tell my East side neighbour (because detected network is close to my East located AP2) has 3-pack Netgear mesh, most likely Orbi 770 series. None of the Wi-Fi Analyzer apps can give me this information without me moving off the office chair. It's like having multiple Wi-Fi analizers collecting information from different areas all displayed on one screen.

 

[user114514]

The real point of the paid version of Winfi is that it allows users to check the 802.11 element information in the AP's beacon frames. I would argue that it is due to the general need to pay for easy GUI tools with this capability and the general user's lack of knowledge and relationship to this that vendor cut corners on optional WiFi features are generally tolerated.