Explore every episode of the podcast Heavy Wireless

What separates good Wi-Fi engineers from ones who really can troubleshoot anything? Linux. Understanding Linux—from packet capture workflows to using tcpdump to how USB NIC drivers work—will set you apart from other engineers. Guest Bryan Ward joins the show to break down why you need to know Linux as a WLAN professional and how you... Read more »

Speedtest Certified is a network connectivity verification program for properties and venues, allowing them to prove the performance of their Wi-Fi. Alan Blake of Ookla joins the show to break down what the certification actually measures, how assessments are performed, and what it means for network owners as well as Wi Fi professionals. This is... Read more »

Keith Parsons is joined by Bradley Wegner, the creator of the Build Your Own AP deep dive at WLPC. Brad discusses his class, which focuses on hands-on hardware experience of constructing an AP. He talks about balancing hardware costs with capabilities, sourcing the components, and the software and firmware involved. He also shares his vision... Read more »

OpenIntent is an open-source, collaborative effort by network operators to develop a standard schema to describe the necessary information needed to deploy network equipment. Keith sits down with Jake Snyder, the developer behind OpenIntent. They discuss why he developed OpenIntent, the building blocks of the schema, and his vision for seamless Wi-Fi design interoperability. AdSpot... Read more »

Digi International has a whole lot of things that aren’t exactly in the Wi-Fi space, but are close enough to be of interest to WLAN engineers. Joining us today to talk about Digi International’s wireless tech, and what it means for wireless LAN pros, is Bob Blumenscheid. Bob discusses Digi’s offerings, including their XBee modules,... Read more »

Adrian Granados joins Keith Parsons to discuss new iOS tools available for the WLAN Pi.  These new tools extend a professional’s ability to run Wi-Fi scanning and analysis apps such a Wi-Fi Explorer Pi and Airtool Pi on iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads. Along with the small, portable WLAN Pi itself, these apps... Read more »

Every Wi-fi or network professional occasionally struggles with understanding what their endpoints are experiencing. Keith sits down with Bill Bushong, creator of NetViews, a macOS application originally called PingStalker. In this conversation they discuss why he built NetViews, the technical details on how it works, its network monitoring capabilities, and how Wi-Fi professionals can use... Read more »

Keith sits down with old friend Jussi Kiviniemi, CEO of Hamina, to unveil their new product: The Hamina Clip. Together they discuss this new wireless survey device, including its portable design, its price point, and its ability to help you perform surveys and create heat maps without a floor plan. They also compare it to... Read more »

Is AI just a fad or is it fundamentally changing Wi-Fi operations? Keith sits down with Robert Boardman to discuss the reality of AI-augmented Wi-Fi engineering. Robert describes AI as a tool, and explains how it can be useful for automating monotonous tasks and proactive troubleshooting. They also explore the human factor and how experience... Read more »

Today we delve into Wi-Fi HaLow, 802.11ah. Wi-Fi HaLow offers a more extended range than traditional Wi-Fi. We talk with David Rice, Principle Field Application Engineer and Arien Judge, Open Source Platforms Manager both from Morse Micro. Morse Micro makes chips to deliver energy-efficient wireless communication with extended range in the sub-1 GHz band. They... Read more »

Ben Toner once again joins Keith Parsons to explain the new WLAN-Pi App. Originally built to control the WLAN-Pi Go, the app now works with all WLAN-Pi models and consolidates controls previously spread across the web UI and APIs. They then dive deeper into the method of connectivity for the app and the functionalities it... Read more »

With the help of Josh Hardy, Co-Founder and CTO of Orb, we introduce Orb.  Orb is a suite app for OS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux that is a new way to look at your internet connectivity.  Josh gives us a little background on why and how Orb was created,  He then goes into more detail... Read more »

nOversight is a Wi-Fi analysis app from Numerous Networks for iOS and Mac iOS that helps both end users and professionals do a better job of understanding how their Wi-Fi is running and how it’s working on their individual devices. Today we talk to Ben Toner, the creator of nOversight to give us the details... Read more »

A wireless-first office is a sensible goal these days when most laptops don’t have an Ethernet port and lots of devices use Wi-Fi. Wireless and network architect Phil Sosaya led the transition to wireless-first offices at sites across the globe. He details his design approach, including why he doesn’t bother with site survey software. He... Read more »

When vendors design and build enterprise Wi-Fi access points, they must balance performance and cost. With the help of guest Rosalie Bibona, Product Management Director for Wireless Hardware at Extreme Networks, we get a peek into the technical decisions that go into creating enterprise Wi-Fi access points. We talk about how every choice, from radio... Read more »

As automation of machinery in industrial environments grows, there is a need for reliable wireless technologies to connect and control mobile assets. Mobile assets cannot tolerate dropped connections or network latency, which could jeopardize safety among other problems. Cisco’s Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul is one such product that promises to deliver reliable wireless in industrial environments. ... Read more »

The CWNP offers vendor-neutral certifications for wireless networking professionals. This summer, the organization rolled out a wired certification, the Certified Network Administrator and Engineer (CNAE). This cert is aimed at wired and wireless network engineers to ensure they have a solid grounding in switching, routing, cabling, and wired protocols. The CWNP says the cert isn’t... Read more »

The new WLAN Pi Go is small, lightweight Wi-Fi testing tool. It can sniff Wi-Fi frames, measure signals, decode packets, and more. The tool snaps to the back of your phone and connects via a short cable for data and power. The small form factor makes it ready to take it along and test any... Read more »

Technical conferences are an excellent avenue for building community. Guest Peter Mackenzie talks about his love for conferences and how they’ve helped him in his career. In fact, Conferences helped him so much started one in Europe called Wi-Co. It has grown to include North America so that more wireless practitioners can join in the... Read more »

Orb is an intelligent app and platform designed to help consumers understand and improve their internet connectivity. Orb continuously monitors networks to give a complete picture of true internet experience, beyond just peak speed. Today’s guest, Doug Suttles, CEO and co-founder of Orb, explains exactly what Orb does, including speed, responsiveness and reliability testing, plus... Read more »

There’s lots of use cases for a portable edge devices that can provide compute and wireless connectivity: emergency response, a remote industrial site, an instant retail location, and so on. Heavy Wireless dives into HiveRadar’s instant edge in a box, which provides Intel NUCs, integrated switching, a wireless gateway, a PDU, support for G5 and... Read more »

AI is already widely used for wireless network operations. On today’s show, we look at how AI and machine learning are also being applied to wireless design and site surveys. My guest is Jussi Kiviniemi, Founder and CEO of Hamina Wireless. We talk about how Hamina is developing and  implementing AI tools to help designers... Read more »

A validation survey is typically used for wireless infrastructure post-installation. It compares predictions to real wireless network performance. On today’s show we chat with Joel Crane about validation survey controversies and the challenges of producing a survey whose data has integrity. We cover topics such as the perfectly green heat map, how fast you should... Read more »

Ubiquiti is known primarily for wireless equipment for residential and small business use, but it can be a player in the enterprise world.  On today’s show, we talk with Darrell DeRosia, Sr. Director, Network & Infrastructure Services with the Memphis Grizzlies, about how he provides that connectivity for the FedExForum, home to the Memphis Grizzlies... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we welcome Francois Verges, who designed a database tool to help Wi-Fi engineers easily find client device capabilities. It provides quick access to key specs like data rates, Wi-Fi versions, and vendor documentation. It’s designed to be a go-to option when looking for Wi-Fi client specifications. We discuss why he developed... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we welcome Jerry Olla to give us details from his talk “Roaming Wars: How Wi-Fi Devices Handle 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz”. Jerry tested the roaming behavior of popular Wi-Fi clients across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz. He explains his testing protocol and results, and answers questions such as whether tri-band... Read more »

If you’ve been looking for an interactive chart to visualize the Wi-Fi spectrum, look no further than guest Joel Crane’s spectrum viewer. With the spectrum visualizer, you can pan across the spectrum, zoom in and out, and select specific regulatory domains. Joel shares his inspiration for the project and how he accomplished it with a... Read more »

Host Keith Parsons and guest Stephen Orr took time at the Wireless LAN Professionals Conference in Phoenix this past February to discuss the security implications of Wi-Fi 7. Stephen explains that new features in Wi-Fi 7 require specific security protocols such as WPA3 to function. Challenges with device onboarding and secure authentication are addressed next,... Read more »

Why can’t we get a GPS signal indoors and what does that mean for modern wireless technology? Guest Luke Jenkins has answers. He starts with the history, functionality, and applications of GPS and GNSS technologies and the proliferation of satellites enhancing navigation accuracy. He then delves into the technical aspects such as atomic clocks, signal... Read more »

There are multiple avenues into a career in Wi-Fi. Today on Heavy Wireless, we explore different career paths  with guests Sam Clements and Tauni Odia. Sam shares his unconventional journey from working at a gas station to becoming a Wi-Fi networking professional. He emphasizes the value of certifications and seizing opportunities. Tauni, with a background... Read more »

The Flipper Zero is like a Swiss Army knife for wireless tech enthusiasts. Today’s guest, Jason Beshara, is teaching a course on the Flipper Zero device at WLPC Phoenix 2025. He discusses its functions, including its ability to send and receive a variety of radio signals including Bluetooth, NFC, and sub-gigahertz frequencies. The conversation covers... Read more »

Wi-Fi Explorer Pro is a popular wireless scanner. On today’s show we dive into the tool with its creator, Adrian Granados. We also talk about the launch of the new book Wi-Fi Explorer Pro 3 – The Definitive User Guide, written by Granados and co-author Nigel Bowden. We delve into the history and features of... Read more »

NETGEAR is known for consumer networking products, but it also offers a robust porfolio of wireless and wired networking products designed for the enterprise. On today’s Heavy Wireless, sponsored by NETGEAR, we take a close look at the hardware, software, and services that NETGEAR offers to enterprise customers. That includes Wi-Fi 7 APs, a full... Read more »

OFDMA, or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access, was introduced in 802.11ax. This technology allows a radio to split a single channel into multiple sub-carriers, which in turn can be used to send data to multiple devices at the same time. OFDMA is meant to reduce congestion by allowing APs to allocate resource units among, and communicate... Read more »

In this episode of the Heavy Wireless podcast, host Keith Parsons interviews Brian Tuttle, co-founder of MetaGeek. Brian recounts the company’s origins, starting with the development of the WiSpy spectrum analyzer, and highlights key products like inSSIDer and Chanalyzer. The discussion covers MetaGeek’s mission to visualize wireless landscapes, the impact of their tools on network... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we dive into how to address power mismatches that can arise between wireless clients and APs. We talk about how to measure output from antennas and APs, regulations that affect your deployment, why cranking up the output on an AP doesn’t necessarily result in better coverage, and more. Guest Connor Burke... Read more »

Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is a major feature of Wi-Fi 7. At a high level, MLO allows a client and an AP to communicate using multiple radios and frequencies simultaneously. The result is an increase in throughput and resiliency. Today’s Heavy Wireless podcast dives into MLO with guest Jim Palmer, who presented on the topic at... Read more »

What is a private mobile network and how does it work? Guest Jeremy Rollinson, an expert in private cellular networks, joins host Keith Parsons to clarify misconceptions about private mobile networks, from terminology to spectrum allocations. They explore the differences between public and private networks, the evolution of private mobile networks, the importance of understanding... Read more »

Todd Thorpe is today’s guest on Heavy Wireless joining host Keith Parsons to explain the evolution of Wi-Fi technology in Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) like apartments and condos. Todd, with over 20 years of MDU experience, discusses the industry’s transformation from early coax cable services to modern managed Wi-Fi solutions. The challenges of retrofitting older... Read more »

Wi-Fi 7 brings new features and capabilities to the market, including Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and airtime optimization, which can enhance throughput and reduce latency. In today’s episode of Heavy Wireless, host Keith Parsons and guest Phil Morgan explore the advancements and practical implications of Wi-Fi 7. Phil shares his experiences testing Wi-Fi 7 with various... Read more »

In today’s episode, guest Cheryl Connell joins host Keith Parsons to talk about the eduroam Visitor Access (eVA) system. Cheryl explains that eVA is a free add-on for institutions with an existing eduroam setup, allowing them to create temporary usernames and passwords for guests without needing a separate guest network. They discuss the challenges of... Read more »

In this episode of Heavy Wireless, host Keith Parsons and guest Tom Hollingsworth delve into the “experience paradox” in the tech industry: to get experience, you need to have experience. They highlight the disconnect between job requirements and candidates’ actual experience. Tom emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning, home labs, and making mistakes as essential... Read more »

In this episode of the Heavy Wireless podcast, we talk with Howard Buzick from American Bandwidth about the evolution and current state of wireless connections, particularly in guest network environments. We explore advancements in Wi-Fi technologies, the workings of Passpoint (formerly Hotspot 2.0), and the differences between Passpoint and Open Roaming.  Howard explains how American... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we discuss the LATYS Focus device.This innovative RF technology amplifies and directs signals without traditional networking layers. Our guest is Artmiz Golkaramnay, Founder of LATYS. Artmiz explains the device’s functionality, which includes a directional antenna for focused signal amplification; its technical specifications; practical applications in industrial settings; cost benefits; and ease... Read more »

Providing Wi-Fi in multi-dwelling units (MDUs) such as apartments or dormitories is complicated. These environments require dense AP deployments, have to provide secure access to lots of users, must support myriad device types, and must offer good performance. Our guests are Kyle Leissner, founder of Wire Star; and Bart Giordano, president of the RUCKUS at... Read more »

The evolution of wireless surveys is the topic of today’s Heavy Wireless podcast with guest Jussi Kivineimi of Hamina. We cover the transition from traditional on-site assessments to predictive tools, with an emphasis on the importance of a hybrid approach for accurate network design. We also tackle the role of APIs in network design, the... Read more »

Wastewater containers, conveyors, chemical reactors… Scott McNeil goes out where the carpet ends to do his wireless work. Today he joins the show to talk us through the basics of designing industrial wireless architecture. With advances in wireless technology, not only is wireless now reliable enough for production environments, but it’s also much cheaper than... Read more »

Natural disaster responders, large event planners, and rural kids trying to do their homework all have something in common: they need a little extra help to get connected. COWs, COLTs, and WOWs can do just that. Mark Houtz joins Keith Parsons to explain how and why COW operators do what they do. First, he explains... Read more »

A cardboard box with a circuit printed on it that harvests just enough power to activate a radio and have it chirp something out a short distance: that’s just one of the cool products and 802.11 standards that stood out at this year’s Wi-Fi World Congress USA. Drew Lentz joins the show to recap the... Read more »

Evaluating wireless use cases at a nuclear power plant is a little bit different than your average industrial job, starting with the stripdown to put on plant-provided clothing. Ferney Munoz joins us today to talk about his experience working as a wireless consultant at nuclear power plants. Obviously, radiation interference is a heightened issue, as... Read more »