NetAlly EtherScope nXG Reviews

We are a managed service provider. We provide network as a service to other people. We use this solution to help to diagnose and troubleshoot their networks.

We use it daily. That is our go-to meter for anything abnormal or weird.

It is a game changer for us. It has one meter to validate network changes, troubleshoot connectivity, and detect performance issues. It reduces the amount of things that we have.

It definitely reduces our time onsite, which is killer for us. We used to spend hours looking around for stuff. We would have to pull out three or four different tools. You would kind of have to guess or judge. With the app, it just kind of brings the information to you. Realistically, we have a pretty good idea what the problem is within 15 to 20 minutes of being onsite. It saves us at least 10 times on the onsite troubleshooting time.

The solution is easy to use for less-skilled staff, but with deep diagnostics for experts on our staff. This is super cool because we can send out an entry-level tech into the field to gather that survey data. Our engineer could be in the office and pull that up instantly through NetAlly Link-Live. In almost real-time, we can see what that lower-end tech is doing in the office and team up on it. It is super fast for us.

Our field techs will carry one of these from now on. As we grow and hire more, this will be our meter that we purchase for them.

The speed testing is very cool. It does 10 gig speed testing. It also does full on network mapping. So, it will go out and discover devices on the network from the tester. Those two would be our go-to things. These are generally the two biggest complaints that we get. Clients will say, "Hey, everything's running super slow." Or, they will say, "We have something, but we just don't know what or where it is at."

You can actually program a bunch of tests altogether. When you plug it in, it actually runs all those AutoTests. This is a heavy hitter for us. It can find network problems easily. 

For a handheld tool, it is very functional. We are big fans.

The solution’s AirMapper Site Survey app is extremely easy to use. We give it to the technicians and send them out to go do that function. We hand it to the technician who goes onsite, then they take a photo of the overall area of a floor plan and are able to go do that site survey without almost any instruction from any engineer. So, it is very usable for beginner-type techs.

The AirMapper Site Survey app is very accurate in its ability to gather WiFi site survey data. We have some more expensive site survey equipment, and this solution has been in line with that equipment, i.e., matching the more expensive stuff.

The AirMapper Site Survey app works well to create heat maps in the vendor’s Link-Live Cloud Service. One of our favorite things is to hand that visualization to the client so they can see exactly what we know.

The AirMapper Site Survey app works well when validating changes or troubleshooting problems.

The largest complaint that we get is the battery life on the unit. If you are using it heavily, you get about five hours of usage out of it. In an eight hour day, that is not perfect for us. We would like more battery usage. The battery thing is annoying.

We have been working with NetAlly for about two years. We purchased EtherScope about a year ago.

We have had zero issues.

We have two of them. We have a total of two field techs and one engineer, and the solution will bounce between them, depending on what the problem is that day. We are a small company.

We send it out for Ally Care. NetAlly offers the maintenance for anything that is not just wiping the screen down every now and then.

We have never had to use the tech support.

Previously, we had a bunch of little things that did similar work. We had something that did WiFi heat maps. We could pull out a laptop to do a network scan and have a WiFi scanner analyzer on our phone. Before, we never really had anything that was multipurpose on one tool.

Fluke Networks makes most of our network meters that we own. We have been with them for years, and they have recently changed. Some of their stuff is not available anymore. So, we were just out there looking for something similar. We actually purchased some of NetAlly's competitive equipment that is on the lower-end stuff about two years ago. We have kind of started to fall in love with the NetAlly brand. We have grown into EtherScope, which was just the next step in our evolution.

It was very quick to set up. If we are using it on the field, it turns on in about a minute. It is good to go as soon as that happens.

It took us two months to even want to go grab it. We didn't really go through any of the training processes that they offered. We just bought it because it checked a bunch of boxes. Therefore, for about two months, it just sat in its bag. We might have pulled it out two or three times, until we were like, "Huh, that will work for this."

This solution has provided visibility into our network that we could only get by using many other tools. It allows us to service more clients. I don't know if we have seen cost savings. We have just been able to increase our income. It makes us more money because we can do more jobs in a day. 

We saw value from the product within the first six months.

If we were to purchase separate meters to do similar things, it would be double or triple the cost for us to have each toolkit available. Being a small business, putting that much money on a single truck is not cost-effective. Instead, we could put the analyzer, network heat map, and cable tester all in one meter. That is why we went for it.

We looked at Fluke Networks and a couple other brands. The reason that we went for NetAlly was the price point.

I didn't like its multi-use technology in the beginning. I was like, "Oh, this is way too much." However, we keep finding features that solve things for us. We have really enjoyed it.

The learning curve is minimal. It is an Android-based app. Anybody who is familiar with Android can click on the apps and run through what is there.

It definitely pairs well with its little brother. There is the EtherScope nXG, then there is its little brother for 10 gig testing. I definitely recommend that.

Initially, the primary use case was to troubleshoot and test 10 gigabit fiber. However, since then, we have mainly been using it for the ability to do wireless surveys on the device.

It is quite useful to have everything in one unit—from copper to fiber to wireless and all of the tests in between. Not having to carry multiple devices is very useful. It is a great feature of the tool.

We use the pre-programmed AutoTest feature in certain situations. It's capable of finding basic network problems very quickly. The key information is almost immediately presented to you with no messing around.

The AirMapper Site Survey app's ability to gather WiFi site survey data is fantastic. It does the exact job of what the bigger clients on the laptops do, but it does it a lot easier and a lot more streamlined. It is definitely better for the techs to not have to carry around the laptop to do that work.

We do use the Link-Live service. We've used it for looking at the data from a troubleshooting perspective in the cloud and for using that data in the AirMagnet tool on a laptop. Its ability to visualize key performance metrics is pretty good. It's better than some of the stuff that I've seen out there today in this kind of platform and small package. It is definitely a cut above everybody else.

Troubleshooting of problems has certainly been a lot more streamlined. It's able to gather a tremendous amount of data in a small amount of time for quick assessment. In addition, with more than half of our network department working remotely, it allows our onsite technicians to gather data very easily and have it uploaded to the cloud so that those of us who are not in the office can access that data immediately. We don't really use it much to validate any changes.

The ability to see into our network with one device affects the efficiency and the cost of our network troubleshooting. With AirMapper, there are definitely cost and efficiency savings. We have quite a large campus, and taking this one device and doing troubleshooting with that one device saves trips back to the office to get another tool if one was forgotten. Basically, it is all in one, so when you leave the office and go to the plant floor, you know that you're not going to have to go back and waste more time.

The wireless aspect of it has been super valuable. The AirMagnet Survey feature is very useful for site surveys. For a long time, it used to be done on laptops, and now, we can do this simply on a handheld with one technician. The data automatically gets uploaded to the cloud so that our more experienced technicians can review the data and pull it into AirMagnet. This feature has saved tons of time. It's not easy to approximate the time saved, but for each survey, I'm taking a junior technician and getting him to do a role that a senior technician used to do. So, there is a cost-saving of at least 50%.

It is the only device I've seen that can test 10 gigabit fiber at this point. Nothing else can test that. It is a very important feature to us. It was one of the driving features that led us to use it.

I don't really have any suggestions for improvement. Based on what is advertised and what we're using it for, it is not lacking anything that we would like it to do. It does everything that its little counterparts or little LinkRunners do, but it does a way better job at being able to do all things at once.

One point of contention might be that when we were starting it up for the first time, there was a little bit of confusion about registration and getting the proper support plans applied. So, that could be more streamlined, but that's not uncommon in the industry.

We purchased EtherScope nXG in Q3 of 2021.

The stability and performance are spot-on for this type of tool in this type of realm. 

In terms of its users, six people potentially have access to this tool. Typically, one or two guys have taken it and kept it as their own.

I handle the maintenance for these devices. I'm the one who's responsible for renewing the maintenance contract on these. We have not opened up any tickets or support for this product. 

From a sales perspective, everything has been great. They're very responsive and very good at keeping us up to date about what's going on, what options are available, and how everything breaks down. From a support perspective, I can't really comment because we haven't had the need to have any support interactions with them.

We had AirCheck G2 as well as a LinkRunner AT. Those are the devices that we used before EtherScope. We still use them but for very basic troubleshooting.

The pricing can be a little bit high for a handheld tool, mostly because, potentially, people do not understand what's in the package. However, NetAlly offers great bundled deals. We got a significantly good deal by ordering a package of these devices that had a whole test kit together. So, while it's very high, the value is certainly there, and the vendor does offer value-added features to offset that cost.

We haven't evaluated anything other than what we've had previously. It just seemed like a natural progression to EtherScope nXG. There were no other vendors and no other tools that we even considered. We went after this one, and this was the one we wanted.

There are not a lot of other tools in the industry that can do everything that this solution can do in one package. It's very well suited for pretty much everything that a technician would want to do for testing an active network. Whether it's a passive test to make sure of connectivity or whether it is doing more throughput tests or gathering basic information from the network, it does at all. If you're looking for something that can do all of these things in one, there's no tool that would probably come close to matching the ability that this tool has in terms of function, features, and ease of use.

Its learning curve is hard to quantify for us. We've been using LinkRunner type of tools since they were owned by Fluke Networks. So, we've grown up on this technology. We have LinkRunner from NetAlly and AirChecker from NetAlly. We have AirCheck G2 from NetAlly and now EtherScope nXG from NetAlly. So, the learning curve is hard to quantify because we've been growing with this product. For coming from AirCheck G2 to this one, there was no learning curve at all. Using the new feature of AirMapper was very straightforward as well. It was not a big deal for our technicians to figure that out on their own.

I would rate it an eight out of 10, and that's simply because it's sometimes cost-prohibitive depending on the industry you're in.

Our biggest use case is the heat map. We also use it for testing cable length, and/or verifying what port an unmarked data drop is going to.

We're in a big push to get proper network documentation. When we go to a site, we take a NetAlly with us and we try to do both a heat map and use the discovery function. Additionally, if we're onsite and we're troubleshooting some issues, we might use both the AutoTest and Cable Tester to identify problems that we need to fix. For example, we tend to have long cable runs that sites need to be replaced or addressed.

The NetAlly product is still relatively new for us and we are exploring what other functions it will do for us. It's not a tool we use daily. We use it three or four times a month at this point.

The AutoTest feature has definitely reduced troubleshooting time. Given the fact that there's a lack of documentation about our environment—nobody's marking data drops—it's an awesome little feature. It has reduced my typical troubleshooting time on a data drop by somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes.

Overall, the nXG has helped us to be more effective when it comes to troubleshooting. It helps us identify issues in our network more quickly.

The functions we're using currently are AutoTest, Cable Test, discovery, and the AirMapper.

I love the AutoTest feature. It's my favorite feature. Finding a network problem is not the biggest deal for us. Our problem is that we usually go to a port and it's undocumented, regarding how or where it's connected. AutoTest allows us to find out what port it is on the switch and to trace it back to a particular patch panel. We can then document it, if necessary, or use that information for connecting a device or for re-VLANing a switch to the appropriate VLAN.

I'm still on the amateur side when it comes to doing heat maps and the AirMapper Site Survey app is a tool that is designed for somebody who does professional heat maps and really gets into the minutiae. It probably gives me more information than I realize. But its ability to visualize key performance metrics from the map, with the color-coding, is great. I like all the information that I get. It's easy to understand, especially by the time you weed out all the unnecessary SSIDs. That's great.

I use the NetAlly site and one of the things I don't like about the topology map, something I wish I could fix, is that the map kind of jiggles if you don't adjust any of the settings.

One of the things I'd like to be able to do with that feature is to grab a group of devices and drag them. For example, if you drag a switch, all the devices that are attached to that switch stay in the same spot. Your switch can be dragged all the way out to the far side of the page, but all the devices are still back in their original spot. That means there are all these lines and you have to go back and move all the individual devices. I wish there was a way to drag the device and its attached devices.

Another thing that I would love for the EtherScope nXG to be able to do is when I'm looking at a topology map. A lot of times it will say, "Unknown switch," and I'm pretty sure it's a phone that probably has a PC attached to it. I would love it if it could identify that.

Also, when running a discovery, it would help if there were something that makes it a little more obvious when the NetAlly device determines that the discovery is complete. There's a little percentage sign that runs up towards the top when the discovery is going, but I'd like a little more obvious sign that indicates, "Hey, we're still running. We're still trying to discover things." That way we won't pull it off before it's done.

Another point is that this product needs to come with a stylus. It doesn't work well with fat fingers.

We've had NetAlly EtherScope nXG for about a year, and I've started using it within the last nine months.

I had to do an update because my original EtherScope had a problem with one of its WiFi radios not turning on. I couldn't use WiFi to upload things. That created a little bit of a hassle, but they replaced it really quickly.

NetAlly's customer support has been good. I haven't had any complaints.

I brought one of our engineers who works a lot with these tools and we sat down with a couple of the salesmen. I showed one of them my EtherScope and when I talked to him about my wireless issue, he was the one who said, "Yes, you need to have them replace this." I contacted support and they looked at the unit and said, "You realize that it's not up to date?" and they asked me to update it. I updated it but that didn't fix my problem. We then moved to the step of replacing it.

When it's one of the guys who knows the product best who identifies the problem and says, "You just need it replaced," at that point, I would expect customer service to just follow the engineer's lead.

Positive

I previously used AirMapper. I like the fact that this is easier to handle than walking around with a PC with a dongle hanging off of it. The nXG gives me multiple tools in one handheld device.

We're still trying to figure out how the discovery in NetAlly differs from SolarWinds, which we also use. We do gain some additional information from NetAlly compared to SolarWinds, but we still have to figure out how we can utilize that information.

EtherScope will work for less skilled staff and experts on staff, but you better be prepared to grow your skills. Some of the smaller apps are pretty intuitive. I did heat maps using a different AirMapper tool before. But I still have to learn Performance, iPerf, and LANBERT. I don't even think I've touched a Path Analysis. I'm not even sure what it does. I have watched some of the videos that are available. It is just a matter of dedicating your time to learning all the features that the tool offers. Sometimes that's hard, given the typical "IT is overwhelmed" situation.

Overall, if you've got an ugly network, this is the device for you. If you lack cable management documentation or labeling on your drops, this is the device for you.

My primary concern was wireless networking troubleshooting capabilities.

EtherScope has made our networking staff more productive. We have remote locations and can use the tools to collaborate. I have other people looking at it at the same time that I am looking at it. With the uploading ability, I can have more eyes on the project at the same time, instead of just one set of eyes.

I may have to go into a situation that I don't know. By plugging the solution in, I can get a footprint of what that facility is doing or has, without having documentation. I can see how many potential clients that I have, how many are in line with what we have set up, and how many are not seeing what is on the various networks. Also, I can find misaligned or unprepared equipment that is on the network. As a project technician, when I use the solution, I am looking for something specific, such as the number of devices on the network and the number of devices connected through the wireless networks.

The most valuable features are: 

• Its network troubleshooting capabilities. 
• The applications available to you where you don't have to switch tools or devices. 
• Running Pings, testing network configurations, and connectivity.
• Heatmapping.
• Seeing the wireless interfaces that are running.

I like the multi-technology functionality of the solution. It has helped me cut down on troubleshooting time because I don't have to switch between tools. It has also advanced my knowledge in some areas that I wasn't as familiar with.

I use the pre-programmed AutoTest feature. However, I am still learning all its capabilities. When we purchased it, I had certain things in mind that I wanted to test. As I am learning the tool, it provides the feasibility of just being able to document and have other people take a look at the configuration. So, our time is cut in half from the field to our NOC.

One of the things that I like about it is that I can have people train other people on it. Even though I am not familiar with all of the tools, I have been able to train them so they can use it in the field when needed.

The training aspect needs improvement. They provide training, but if I am looking for something specific, then I have to sit through about an hour of training to learn about something that I may not have time to do. So, I probably have 40 hours of training for something that was five minutes of use.

From the demo, they show you a great deal of what the tool does. To actually learn how to do it, you probably have a learning curve that depends on what other tools you have used in the industry. That could go from 45 minutes to 4 hours just to learn how to use one of the applications.

For all its flexibility, make sure that you are prepared to spend the training time. While the training is available, it is just making sure that the person who will be working on it has the time available to train on it.

I am still learning the tool. The main reason that I purchased it was for the wireless troubleshooting capabilities and heatmapping. Those took me probably about six hours to properly learn everything that could be done with them, and I probably still don't know everything that can be done with them.

For my usage, I thought the training would be maybe an hour, but I ended up having to spend an additional four to eight hours just to make sure I could adequately translate the data. So, using the tool was not that difficult, but translating the data is where there is a breakdown in what you are demonstrated and what you can actually do.

I have been using it for a year.

I love the solution's stability. 

I handle the device's maintenance. I make sure that everything is downloaded when I see a pop up that I have something new available.

We have seen ROI. It reduced the number of tools and the amount of software that I had downloaded onto my computer to gather the same amount of data. The portability of the tool has allowed me to cut down my time.

It cuts down on time by reducing my troubleshooting tools. There is simplicity in not having to carry five or six different sets of tools to do the same thing that you can do with NetAlly. For example, when I go into a building, I can plug into the E-port and get probably about an hour and a half to two hours of time per day when I use it. Therefore, it has probably cut my time down from three and a half hours to an hour.

The pricing was a little bit high, but I understand that when you are getting multiple tools.

There are three people using EtherScope and 10 people who review the data. Right now, I am primarily using it three times a week, but there are other sites that I want to get taken care of. I have recommended that we purchase two more devices since we have three technicians in the field.

I would rate EtherScope as nine out of 10.

I use it regularly for both wired and wireless troubleshooting, performance testing, and verification.

I am a customer and beta tester for NetAlly.

One of the reoccurring things that you will see here is it makes it really easy for me to hand this solution to someone else and get them to provide me consistent results. Often, especially in WiFi, one of the problems which occurs is we have highly specialized tools that take a lot of training and years of experience to optimally use. However, in the case of AirMapper, it's really easy for me to quickly demonstrate to someone, "Here is how you use the program," so they can create a heatmap of an area that I may not be at, whether it's across the city, state, or country. It's easy for me to provide that support. Then, the data is easy to review on Link-Live (almost instantaneously) once they are finished completing that walking survey. The most important feature is that those heatmaps do go to Link-Live and are accessible on Link-Live.

When it comes to that remote troubleshooting perspective of being able to survey an area to see if there are problems, make adjustments, and then have that same individual resurvey that same area, I don't have to send people to a week long class on how to use the device. I know I am getting consistent results, which can verify near real-time, and whether or not the changes that I have implemented solve the problem.

The AutoTest feature has improved the way our company functions. With any large enterprise, you regularly have separation of duties. Your systems teams are generally responsible for your DNS and DHCP services. These are not a network function. In some situations, you might even have a security team who is responsible for managing the back-end services: RADIUS, ClearPass, or ACS, which are the back-end for 802.1x. Sometimes there can be a situation where a user reports, "A wireless problem", but the reality is that the wireless is functioning perfectly. The responsible party might be the systems team, the security team, or it maybe something non-related. Because the AutoTest checks and verifies each of those steps, this provides a clear, very easy to understand, dissected explanation. Then, the device is able to associate and authenticate, completing the four-way handshake, that gets the encryptions working. 

For example, if AutoTest was able to get an IP address, but as soon as it tried to do a DNS lookup, things failed. This is a really easy way of now going to talk to the systems team and saying, "Hey, we have a DNS problem. This isn't a WiFi problem, and it's not a problem in the wireless network. This is a DNS server that's not responding. Let's dig into why". It has clear test procedures that provide very clear, easy to understand results that make it simple for anyone to do some basic troubleshooting. More importantly, they can dive deep quickly into a problem to identify the source rather than just simply relying on a user's experience.

The most valuable feature would be the wireless testing capability. 

The newer features are becoming part of my workflow as well with AirMapper by being able to display coverage in a particular area, e.g., doing small surveys in a particular room or area. 

The ability to remotely troubleshoot: Being able to connect it up from my desk, then do wireless testing (or something along those lines) elsewhere. 

The Ethernet testing and verifying for the network connection makes sure it: 

• Goes into an access point or device.
• Correctly configured. 
• Provides the proper POE
• Has the correct links.
• Verifies that my cable installers are delivering on what they promised.

I know when I run AutoTest what I should expect as far as response times from DHCP and DNS. It allows me to create a consistent test that runs exactly the same way every time. Then, whenever I hand it to someone else who isn't as familiar with all of the individual steps, I know that as long as they're running that AutoTest profile, it's the exact same thing as me being there running the testing. Because those results are consistent, when there are inconsistencies, I can assume that it is network or system related rather than user related.

Link-Live's ability to visualize key performance metrics covers the basics quite well. It provides me enough information so I can go, "Yes, this is a signal problem or an SNR problem." Then, I can take it to the next step, "Okay, it's not a physical layer problem because signal, SNR, and all of those things meet expectations. Or, it points out those areas." I can't say that it provides all of the metrics I need, but at least it provides that quick view so I can look at the basics of the physical RF and verify that those do/don't meet the specifications.

This solution provides visibility into our network that we could only get by using many other tools. While there are other tools that provide the same function, it does a great job of covering the basics of a lot of tools all in a single package. For example, some of the other alternatives out there for testing networks end-to-end will do that perfectly fine, but they don't do heatmapping. Ultimately, it's a single toolbox that my support staff and I need to learn. This is rather than having six different solutions that each do their own thing. It's a single device/solution, where if you learn it and learn it well, you can replicate results from disparate systems.

The test profiles could be improved a bit. It could be better at managing and adding them, but more importantly, switching between different profiles. Some of the results from the tests could go a little deeper - maybe with an expert mode that allows you to review the pcap for any part of the process, such as, an automatic pcap generation. Especially on Link-Live, I would love it if they would make it so that you could see the capture file. For example, if you go to the DCP request portion of that report, then in a second screen, it will show you the capture file in the pcap. I think there is a lot of ability to improve this area.

I would love to see port profiles. This is something I've expressed to them. The ability for a technician to plug it into a switch port, and say, "Okay, this port will be an access point or this port will be a phone and desktop PC," thus choosing a profile. It will then push a configuration to the device it's connected to and verify that the switch port is correctly configured, so I can hand this to a phone tech who doesn't have any access to a network switch to be able to make changes. They can go out and plug this into a port, then they are able to push a profile to the switch port through the device. That would be pretty fantastic as a next step for this device.

Nine months.

I handle maintenance for the devices, which includes:

• Semi-regularly, NetAlly pushes out firmware updates, which are fairly easy to run via Link-Live. 
• Quarterly, checking firmware updates and ensuring that everything is up-to-date.
• The initial setup and configuration of the AutoTest profiles and those components.
  

There are five people who use EtherScope in my company. Their roles include network admin, network engineer, server and system admin, and unified communications admin.

I have not used NetAlly's techincal/customer support for this solution.

Previously, I used some older Fluke devices before going with EtherScope.

I have been really impressed with NetAlly and the way they are advancing the product. Every year, they release a new major revision. Those major revisions are incorporating features that customers have asked for. They are incorporating new capabilities into the existing piece of hardware which expands its capabilities. That is the biggest thing followed by the ease of use for people who I might hand it to.

We have seen ROI in man-hours, time to resolution by shortening the time that systems are down and affecting users, and its ability to find problems before they are experienced by end users (dealing with the problem before it is a problem). 

EtherScope has reduced our troubleshooting times. I think the average person who goes from no tools to this tool would probably see a 20 or 30 percent reduction in time to repair or resolution. I have so many tools, if anything, sometimes it might take me the longer to just decide which tool I want to use. 

The solution has made our networking staff more productive. From the perspective of my junior network admin whom I regularly hand this tool to, it probably saves one or two man-hours a week because of the all-in-one interface. This allows him to troubleshoot wired and wireless quickly.

The learning curve is moderate. I don't think this is a device that you can just simply hand to somebody and say, "Here it is. Use it." I think AirCheck G2 (another one of NetAlly's devices) is that the type of device where I can pretty much hand it to somebody who has never used it before. I can let them play with it for five minutes and maybe answer a question or two, then they are ready to go. I don't think EtherScope is that easy, but I do think that it is easy enough that I can spend 35 or 40 minutes with someone showing them the ins and outs of the device, then they can use it for most of their tasks. While the learning curve is moderate, spending 30 minutes teaching someone how to use this device can save me hours. Therefore, I feel like there is a really good return on the investment of my time in doing the training, because it's not such a complex device that I have to send them off for a week of training just to be able to use it.

For the average network shop, the cost is a bit high. In a lot of organizations, people don't share test devices between teams. Generally, you need a device for the network team and a device for the system team, the security team, etc. While the cost is a little on the high side, that is offset by the regular updates and continued improvements that NetAlly adds to the device. Those improvements continue to increase the perceived value of the device.

I pretty much use all the solutions in one form or another because I do a lot of testing for a bunch of companies. So, I have definitely evaluated a lot of other products.

I also use NetAlley AirCheck G2.

I would tell other engineers to decide what their total testing needs are: 

• To resolve whether or not they need wired and wireless testing? 
• Do they need to be able to test copper and fiber? 
• Do they need to be able to test just pure physical and verify that the cabling is correctly installed? Or, do they need to be able to test Layers 2, 3, and 4, as far as verifying that the network is fully functioning and network services are available? 
• Is the Internet available in their internal servers and external servers? Is it responding?

I would tell them to look at what they need to test, then look at the devices which are capable of running what they need to test. If they find themselves in a situation where they do need to test all of those various things, then I don't think they are going to find a better all-in-one solution than EtherScope.

Would it make sense to hand a EtherScope nXG to a cabling guy? No, it absolutely doesn't. I wouldn't recommend that. However, so many of us perform lots of roles, have to troubleshoot, and test in a lot of different scenarios. In those situations, we do need a tool that is capable of testing all of the various layers, both wired and wireless, and can verify things remotely. EtherScope is a single tool that performs all of these tasks.

I have only tested to 1 gig at this point.

I would rate it a solid eight. I think that there are a lot of places it could be improved, but for the average user, it solves the majority of their problems and concerns.

We have used it for 10 gigabit performance testing. Originally, when we first got the device, for about the first three to four months, that was exclusively how it was used, in a heavy-use environment. We had some new 10 Gb equipment that we were stress testing, but we also wanted to confirm that things were working. We had just gotten the nXG product in our hands, so what better use of it?

After that point, we have used it a lot for wireless, day-to-day operations, and troubleshooting. We've used it for some specific Linux server test-bed scenarios, with different functions tied to it. We've done wire surveys and troubleshooting as well. 

We have definitely used it for the last six to nine months, regularly, as our proof that when we turn up at a new customer, everything's working.

There are four of us, including me, using the device in our company. I'm the most advanced engineer and have been using these products the longest. I've got another engineer who has used it for specific tasks that I've pointed him towards. I also have a technician who uses it fairly frequently for basic testing and troubleshooting and certification. And our NOC manager, who is more a peer of mine — he's more technical than the other two, from the years of experience — was the one who used it for the first three months on the 10-gig. It has a pretty good range of direct uses.

We used it on multiple devices and pieces of equipment, all fiber, and used it pretty heavily in the lab environment. That environment has now gone to production because of that success. Without this device we would have been blind to a lot of things. It didn't necessarily diagnose or point out any problems at the time, but it definitely helped prove things were working well. That was well worth the peace of mind.

Also, the few times things didn't work, it gave us the opportunity to troubleshoot them and to fix our mistakes. It was never the device [giving us trouble], it was always something in our configuration of the new equipment.

We create test profiles so that we can turn it on, tap one icon, and let it go through the cycle. After a few moments we can look at it and it confirms that everything's green and good to go. Or, if there's a problem, it pinpoints which specific devices are a problem and it helps us know, extremely quickly, if it's something we need to call our NOC for, or if it's something that I or my team needs to address and fix, or if we ultimately have a bigger problem.

It's been priceless because it's one of the devices we carry onsite with us to pretty much any new customer and it's one of the very first things we use. We plug it straight in to our equipment, hit go and make sure everything's green, and then we can start plugging in new stuff.

The unit is easy to use for less skilled staff but with deep diagnostics for experts on staff. That's definitely a benefit I have seen. There's a time and place for an expert — an expert is still going to be needed in certain scenarios — but he isn't needed every time. This particular device has a nice market niche where, if you're an expert, great, you know how to do certain things. But you can have a level-one technician go out and collect data and either upload it to the Link-Live Cloud Service and that way the expert can be remote, or he can save it and review it later, easily. We have technicians and field techs and NOC guys who, when something comes up in the middle of the day, ask a few questions on what makes the most sense and, based on that, I give them a specific product and quickly show them how to use the specific function they need. They go out in the field and they do it.

It has also provided visibility into networks that I could only get by using many other tools. Instead of one tool, I'd have to use two or three or more. Anytime you have to have more than one device and/or specialized training involved, there's a cost to that.

When it comes to the device reducing troubleshooting time, it could be anywhere from 10 percent to 90 percent, because it depends on the case. In a specific case, it might save 90 percent of the time because it's all-in-one, versus [needing to use] several [products]. However, if it's just one specific scenario, it may only save 10 percent. There's a wide variance in between. It depends on what you're doing, why you're doing it, and what you need; how much of an expert needs to be behind the wheel; dispatch versus non-dispatch, etc.

In general, it has made our networking staff more productive. Since we use it kind of sparingly, it could save two to five hours a month. If we used it more regularly and had more need for it, that would be a much higher figure. In my previous job I worked at a university, and this one device would have been saving significant hours a week. In that scenario, I could see having a device in four different peoples' hands and it would be a very large savings very quickly.

We use a wide range of its features. 

• We use the WiFi discovery. 
• We're starting to use the new AirMapper Site Survey app which came out recently, and I like that quite a bit, with its Link-Live Cloud Service. 
• We've used packet captures, both wireless and wired. 
• Performance testing continues to be a go-to when we need it, especially because we can do 10 Gb on it. Most times it's 1 Gb or less, but having 10 Gb functionality is grand. 
• We use the autolink test frequently.
• I've even gotten a few apps from the app store. It's nice to have it all built-in.

The multi-technology functionality of the solution, including the fact that it does WiFi and wired Ethernet analysis in one device, means I now have one device that can do a multitude of tests, and fairly reliably. I can lean on it. I can say, "Hey, this is the proof I need," for whatever the scenario is. It is definitely a great asset. I have other tools still, wireless or wired or both. But this one, with its functionality and development, is quickly becoming an all-in-one, versus having to carry two or three or four.

In terms of the solution's full line rate 10-gigabit capability, my other 10 Gb test equipment is much bigger, bulkier, and heavier. One of my ways of assessing the nXG was to compare it with what I knew to be tried and true on 10-gig to make sure that they matched, and they did. It very quickly got my trust. The fact that it can do 10 Gb, without dropping a packet from what I've seen so far — and we used it a lot in that first three months — tells a pretty good story. It's easier for me to walk out the door with this handheld device than it is with two, three, or four big, bulky devices. There's a time and place for the bigger bulky ones too. But, in the grand scheme of things, it's certainly much nicer to carry one than two or three.

In terms of the AirMapper Site Survey app, I love it when it works. I'm on the beta team for this feature and I have definitely found it very fascinating. Its basic use has a great place in the market. I'm still a big fan of NetAlly's AirMagnet Survey PRO. I've used Survey PRO since version 1 and they're on version 9. It's a great product, a great tool, a great resource, although it has limitations as well.

I can definitely see a niche for both and a need for both. In functionality and use, what I really love about the AirMapper program is that it's handheld. It's much easier and lighter to carry around than the old, bulky version. I don't have to worry about having big biceps at the end of the day, or extremely sore biceps. I just go to a specific area, tap it, and wait until it turns green and do the same at the next area. It collects data cleanly and then I can upload it to the cloud. 

To be fair, I love the client of the Survey PRO; love the functionality, and I'm so used to using it that I prefer it. But it's definitely bulky, and program-wise, it's heavy and you obviously have to have a license. It becomes very difficult to potentially share it with or train additional staff. There are pros and cons to both products. There are niches for both and I think there are good cases to have both. 

Once you're used to and understand the newer methodology of how AirMapper collects the data and why, it's fine. And as the person holding the device, you have full control over how quickly it scans by tweaking the settings. If it is taking too long you can change your variables. You have to be cautious because you don't want to lose data. But you can also increase the time if you need to make sure you get all your data. 

One of the biggest pros of AirMapper is that you just hit upload to the cloud and you can use anything with a web browser to look at it and manipulate it, view it, and even share it. The fact that you can review it now on any computer that has web access is phenomenal, versus using the client. That's been fantastic.

The AirMapper app is fairly straightforward in terms of ease of use once you understand the methodology. It definitely seems to be a very valuable asset. I think there is going to be some more development of it because it's still new. Given that AirMapper is basically version 1.0, whereas Survey PRO is on version 9.0 and has hundreds of thousands of man-hours in use, comparing the two isn't fair. You're comparing an infant to a full-grown adult. Over time, I know it's going to grow out of its infancy. Given the WiFi market and the current standards I think it will have a phenomenal place.

One of the main reasons I use AirMapper is the feature in the app that allows you to create heat maps in the vendor’s Link-Live Cloud Service. In terms of its ability to visualize key performance metrics, overall I've been fairly pleased. That part of its functionality is a little more comparable to the AirMagnet Survey PRO. And as I said, it's nice that it's web-based, so I can do it on a Linux machine. I don't have to worry about having a license, I just have to have a Link-Live account. On that level there is good use for it.

In terms of using AirMapper to validate changes or troubleshoot problems, it could potentially be a little slow to collect data compared to other tools. However, you can tweak it to make it a little faster if you want to. It would have a very comparable mean time for getting on site, taking the analysis, uploading it, and then reviewing it. Certainly, one of the most powerful things in this scenario is that you can upload it to the Link-Live Cloud Service and someone who is hundreds or thousands of miles away can review it instantly and give advice if they need to. You can then make some changes and verify again. Whereas with a Survey PRO, or any other WiFi products that I've used, like Ekahau, that might not be nearly as feasible. They need some way to get that data to the other person to review it, and that other person has to have the same tools and versions — everything has to be the same. It can become a hassle if you have to jump through all these hoops to analyze, review, and then recommend changes. The nXG itself has a nice advantage there.

When it works, I love the AirMapper Site Survey app. Currently, my device has a hardware bug that the manufacturer and I are working on actively, to get it fixed or replaced. The 5 gigahertz radio on my device is flaky at best. When it works, I've enjoyed it.

I have been using the NetAlly EtherScope nXG for close to a year, starting with when it was in beta, as I'm on the beta team. I was one of the early adopters of it, before it ever got to the press. I had it three to six months before it was out for sale.

My device was one of the first units. It's been reliable, up until recently with the WiFi. Until recently, it's been phenomenal. It's been rock-solid. It's been great. The exception, currently, is the 5-gig radio acting up. I don't know what the current problem is, but it's likely the hardware. We don't think it's the software at this point. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the product itself, as much as it is some kind of unique hardware problem.

That aside, it's been just as reliable and stable as any other networking tool I have, whether it be Fluke Networks, NetScout, or any other. It's been pretty reliable and pretty consistent. I can take it with me and not have to be concerned in the field that it's going to let me down.

I would rate NetAlly's technical support for this device extremely well. I'm not the average customer. I have direct access to the developers or the people who are physically making the devices. 

Before I worked in my current company, I used a lot of these products in the field, with paid maintenance and paid warranty and ongoing support. If I used it in the same ways here, it would make perfect sense, and I absolutely would be wanting to pay maintenance, to keep things updated. That way, if a product decided to act up, I could get it replaced or repaired. To me, the maintenance and ongoing support is mission-critical, if it's something that you bought. I would never buy one of these products without buying that maintenance.

It has been a while since I've had to deal with the pricing. However, in my previous job I had to do so and I would think the scenario is still the same. There is potential to create a return on investment and cost justification. If you're going to do any kind of wired and/or wireless network troubleshooting, and you want to quickly eliminate anything on the network, this would be a tool to highly consider because it's an all-in-one device for the most part. If you start breaking down the cost for individual products or specific niches, three or four devices, you're looking at the cost of this one device versus the costs of three or four, or even five or six or seven.

At one point, I had 10 devices and we were paying support on 10 products every year and buying new licenses for those products every year. It didn't make sense to carry around 10 things when you can carry around one. It also doesn't make sense to keep renewing 10 things when you could renew one.

If you're in the networking world, this product makes great sense very quickly, if you're going to use it more than a few times a week. Hands-down, this should be an easy mathematical equation. If you're not using it very often, that formula is a little more difficult. But if there is a scenario where you have to have proof, and you have to have it quickly, then you're back in the same ball game. This is a priceless tool and you would be foolish not to have it.

There's a little middle ground where it might be more expensive than what I need and I couldn't justify that. But if it's either of the other scenarios, I could give you a spreadsheet and very quickly make it make sense.

And then you throw in the number of man-hours that you potentially save. Coming from the university where I used to work, man-hours weren't as critical to management, which is ludicrous to me. I know other companies are similar. They're thinking, "Well, if we can save thousands of dollars on this particular device, we don't care how many hours it takes you to figure things out." That is a really bad approach, but I know some businesses work that way. Whether you include man-hours in your equations or not, it doesn't matter because that spreadsheet is going to work.

But as soon as you throw in man-hours saved, that's where the big money is at, very quickly. That's especially true when you factor in expert versus technician versus just an office staff person. You could mail them the equipment and, when they get it, walk them through how to do a couple of quick tests. They could upload it to Link-Live Cloud Service and, all of a sudden, you could still be at your desk while looking at it. You save flight time and unbelievable man-hours trying to get the guy onsite. I understand that there are times when you have to get a guy onsite. But if you can eliminate even one of those, you just paid for the device, or at least for a large percentage of it.

If I did personal consulting, where I got regular paychecks outside of my regular work, it would be priceless to have access to these tools. Hands-down, I would save up for and buy this tool because it's the one device where I would get the biggest bang for my buck.

If I needed that kind of visibility and proof in certain people's networks, it would ultimately save me time. I could walk into the building, plug into their network, hit "go," tap a few things, and I would have a much better view of their network. Or I could potentially find the problem they have, and within seconds.

It's been a while since I've even looked at costs. If you are just looking at a handheld device unit for specific, wireless or wired testing and not much else, the cost may be a little more prohibitive than what you have in your budget. But if you have a need for more than one device, and want to try to prevent that unexpected road trip...

We don't use it day-to-day because of the way our company is structured, and its use cases in our business. But we certainly use it once or twice a week, fairly regularly. It has definitely become one of our go-to tools in just about any scenario, whether we're walking or running out the door to a customer's site.

I use the solution's pre-programmed AutoTest feature and I've got my own that I built, as well. I use both. But in my environment, the equipment that it plugs into has very little in the way of discovery functionality and options. In the majority of my environment, that functionality is blocked and limited at a network level. So that function doesn't allow me to do much. 

However, outside of my specific company when I do consulting work, or even at some of our customer sites, if I have to help troubleshoot their stuff — which doesn't happen very often but it does happen — in that scenario it has been extremely helpful because it will give me a deeper dive into the network. Otherwise, I would just be guessing because I don't know what their network looks like.

Overall, as far as technical features go, it would be a nine or 10 out of 10, hands-down. It's an all-in-one device for most functionalities. I'd be hard pressed not to give it a 10. As far as ease of use is concerned, it's absolutely a nine or 10 as well. It's fairly straightforward, out-of-the-box. Even if you don't have a lot of network experience, it doesn't take long. You can tap around and figure out what it does and doesn't do. And there are some great online videos for it already;I've been through some of those webinars as well. There is easy access to those kinds of materials. The fact that it's handheld and fairly lightweight definitely makes it a nine or 10 as well. 

As far as development goes, it's still in its infancy, so that is only a five or six out of 10. It's extremely new and they're trying to come on as fast as they can. Maybe, by now, it's in "early adolescence," but I fully expect them to make more improvements going forward. 

The functionality, what I can do out-of-the-box today, is easily a seven to nine out of 10, depending on what you need. The fact that it can do packet capture, line rate gig or 10 gig without dropping a packet, to me that's a 10. There are not a lot of products out there that can do that. The fact that we could do 10 gig all day long, for three straight months, fresh off the assembly line — that just floors me. That's a big telltale sign of the R&D and the love that went into that device before it ever got into my hands. That's priceless.

I definitely see the power and benefit of the AirMapper and its functionality. It takes a little getting used to, in my opinion, because I'm so used to tapping as I'm walking. This doesn't do that. With AirMapper you have to stop, tap it, and then you have to wait. It is a little bit different methodology. It's a little bit slow to collect the data because you have to tap it and hold and be a little more patient.

I'd like to see further development with some of the newer tools like AirMapper. I know it's going to come, it's just going to take some time.

WiFi discovery and diagnostics and overall WiFi testing, so far, have been fairly good comparatively, but I'm sure they can go further. Even the autolink tests could probably have some further diagnostic stuff built into them.

It's just a matter of time. This is like having a newborn baby and trying to get it to adolescence very quickly.

I use NetAlly EtherScope to connect and view problems with networks. I have two units that help with recovery.

I sell, create, and install WiFi for customers. Not everyone has the knowledge to work with WiFI nor do they have the money to purchase NetAlly EtherScope.

I work with customers who have slow WiFi and cable problems. When there are multiple problems in the WiFi, configuration, or with the providers, I can view this with AutoTest. NetAlly EtherScope makes viewing this very easy.

The most valuable features are LANBERT, Discovery, and AirMapper. AirMapper is the best. Both Discovery and AirMapper are very easy to use because you can view all the problems on a single screen. If you quickly need more details about your network, then AirMapper is the best.

I use Link-Live to put maps online. I use it to upload and create networks maps and reports.

I have a unit that runs in 10 Gigs. I use LANBERT to troubleshoot in the fiber and copper cables, since the speed is slow and there is not a lot of feedback. I don't need a certificate with LANBERT, which shows me the speed. 

All my customers have slow networks. There are problems with desktop configuration and WiFi updates and networks. With AutoTest, it is very easy to view the speed, then troubleshoot problems on channels. This is difficult to view with other tools.

It is the best tool for troubleshooting. It is very easy to use. I use AutoTest and can view everything in the network. It helps to resolve WiFi issues, which is not easy to resolve.

NetAlly doesn't have a spectrum analyzer. I have to use other tools to view the spectrum, and this is a problem.

NetAlly EtherScope is easy to update for new functionalities.

The technical support is very good and fast. It is easy to create a ticket. I would rate them as 10 out of 10.

Positive

While the cost of the solution is expensive, it makes it easier to support and troubleshoot problems for my customers using NetAlly EtherScope, improving my productivity.

The pricing is very expensive, but this tool is the best.

I purchased the support from NetAlly.

These tools are very solid units.

If you have knowledge of WiFi or LAN networks, it is easy to learn how to use it. If you don't have knowledge of WiFi or networks, it is difficult to learn how to use it. NetAlly EtherScope is for very knowledgeable people, such as engineers of technical networks, because the tool is easy to use, but you need to have knowledge of technical networks. Therefore, not everyone can understand this solution.

I would rate this tool as nine out of 10. It needs a spectrum analyzer.

I use it for WiFi troubleshooting, network validation, and cabling validation.

It provides visibility into networks that you could only get by using many other tools. It saves time and that helps with costs.

The nXG also reduces troubleshooting time. Most regular things that would take 10 to 15 minutes can be done in a minute.

The most valuable features are the WiFi troubleshooting, network validation, and cabling validation, and the fact that it's an all-in-one tool. You don't have to carry different tools. The multi-technology functionality and its ability to do WiFi and wired Ethernet analysis in one device are the best aspects.

Also, the pre-programmed AutoTest feature is good. It checks where it's supposed to. The basic functionality that it comes with, the checkpoints and the parameters it checks against, those are all good. I like it.

I also use the solution’s full line-rate 10 Gb capability. It works great. It's very easy.

And the AirMapper Site Survey app is good for visualizing key performance metrics. It works well for validating changes. If we are making a change on the grid at a specific point, it works well.

It's easy enough for people without skills to use, and it does provide other tools for people who are more expert. It saves a lot of time.

For troubleshooting, the pre-programmed AutoTest feature is not as intuitive as it could be because there are different windows.

The user interface could be a little bit more streamlined, a little bit easier. Sometimes it's hard to find a specific thing that you're looking for. 

In terms of hardware-based improvement, the battery would be the biggest issue. The battery goes out very quickly.

It would be nice to be able to use the device to test from the device and do a hyper-wireless to wired, while using the same device. You would plug it in on one side of the device and then use a wireless to run a throughput test of the wireless without needing a separate device. That would be great. 

Finally, the AirMapper Site Survey for wireless surveys still needs a lot of work. It's not as intuitive as it could be and it can only take readings one at a time. It doesn't do continuous surveying. It's okay at gathering WiFi site survey data, but it could be better. It's stop-and-go.

I have been using NetAlly EtherScope nXG for a little less than a year. I use the tool most in our company but there are three people that I trust the tool with. I handle the maintenance of the tool, in my role as network engineer.

I haven't used the technical support. I wanted to, one day, but it wasn't easy to find who to call. I normally like to call to open a ticket. It wasn't as intuitive as I would have liked. I went to their website and I searched for "support." I was hoping to get a phone number I could call. 

I know we bought support for this product and I don't know when it expires. A portal, or something like that, would be a nice way to know what your support status is. Also, a portal where you could open a ticket would be nice.

I used the Fluke in the past, but the interface was horrible. It was hard to navigate so I mostly used a computer to access network devices to figure stuff out. Obviously, I used cable finders and cable tracers, but I really didn't use anything like this.

The learning curve is a little steep in the beginning. I wish there were more videos showing how to use it. The videos that are out there are very entry-level, very broad and light. It would be nice to have additional video content, besides the documentation, although the documentation is good.

The cost of the tool versus its ability to save time or solve problems faster depends on the client. For most clients, it probably doesn't justify the cost if they're not too big or they don't have the need for it. A cost of $9,000 is hard to justify. But if you have heavy usage and find yourself trying to troubleshoot something over and over again, it's worth the cost. You have to have that level of use. It's not for the average, medium-sized company. You would need this for a larger enterprise. It's not easy to justify the cost for most smaller companies. If your company has more than 500 people then it would make sense.

For me, the ROI has been slow. It grows with time. It would grow a lot faster if we had many and many people who could use it. But when there's only one person using it, it's a very expensive tool. I'm not always the one who does the testing, so a lot of people end up doing testing without the tool. It's not a tool that I just give out and send everywhere, again because of the cost. If it were a less expensive tool and we had several of them, it would be easier because everybody would be using it. It would be a part of the toolbox that we would give out to everybody.

It's very expensive. I wish I could buy a few more and give them to all the people who could use it, or perhaps send it to a client, given that some of its features are easy to use. But sending something worth $8,000 or $9,000 is nerve-racking. It would be nice that if it were a lot less expensive.

It is quite a delicate tool. And for $9,000, I wish they included a nice pouch to protect it; something to carry it. The Ekahau Sidekick is an expensive tool but it comes with something to carry it on your shoulder. This one is easy to drop and it's $9,000. So you have to be super-careful as well.

NetAlly's marketing was good. I knew about them, knew what they were doing, so I didn't look further, past them. I always had it in my sights. When I bought it, it was them and nobody else, to be honest.

I've been using it quite often, several times a week; sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on what's happening.