AirMagnet Survey vs Observer GigaStor comparison

NetAlly and Viavi Solutions are both solutions in the Network Troubleshooting category. NetAlly is ranked #8 with an average rating of 6.7, while Viavi Solutions is ranked #15. NetAlly holds a 6.3% mindshare in NT, compared to Viavi Solutions’s 1.5% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Viavi Solutions users who would recommend it.

AirMagnet Survey

Read 39 AirMagnet Survey reviews

363 Views
204 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Observer GigaStor

Read 7 Observer GigaStor reviews

82 Views
63 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AirMagnet Survey

Observer GigaStor

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

AirMagnet Survey and Observer GigaStor are two powerful tools in the network analysis category. AirMagnet Survey has the upper hand with its specialized wireless features, while Observer GigaStor is strong in comprehensive data capture and analysis.

Features: AirMagnet Survey offers detailed Wi-Fi site surveys, heat maps, and network planning tools. Observer GigaStor provides extensive packet capture, historical analysis, and deep network assessments.

Room for Improvement: AirMagnet Survey needs faster processing times, improved stability, and fewer software crashes. Observer GigaStor requires a more intuitive analysis interface, better reporting functions, and simplification of features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AirMagnet Survey has a straightforward setup process and reliable customer support, making deployment easy. Observer GigaStor's deployment process is more complex, and customers have mixed experiences with their support services.

Pricing and ROI: AirMagnet Survey is more affordable initially, providing quicker ROI due to its focused features. Observer GigaStor, though more expensive, offers value through comprehensive features, justifying the investment with its deep analysis capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed AirMagnet Survey vs. Observer GigaStor Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. Observer GigaStor

April 2025

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Helped 847,959 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

AirMagnet Survey

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

8th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Modeling and Simulation (2nd)

Observer GigaStor

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

15th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (92nd), Network Packet Broker (NPB) (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of AirMagnet Survey is 6.3%, up from 5.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Observer GigaStor is 1.5%, down from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

David Olofson

Manager at DD&P Services LLC

It fixes so many problems quickly that we don't regret spending more on high-end tools than most companies

It would be nice to have some more training resources for younger techs. We can use them if we need some assistance, but that usually requires one of us who knows what we're doing to calibrate the programs properly. There's one thing our nXG handhelds do that AirMagnet doesn't do out of the box. The nXG devices can analyze the wired and wireless networks simultaneously and map the networks out. We find it handy. However, if I have that plugged into our older OptiView XG tablets or our laptops, I have no way to analyze both the WiFi and the wired network at the same time and build a single picture with all that data. So far, that's something only our nXG handhelds can do. It would be nice if there were a way to integrate all the network discovery, troubleshooting, and mapping of the WiFi and the wired at the same time. There are almost no products that do that currently. If they managed to do that, they'd probably open up their market pretty quickly.

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Jeroen-Dubbelman

Director at Bitrate

Aids significantly in the threat-hunting process and provides a score-based evaluation of user experience

There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies. The retrospective network analysis capability of Observer GigaStor has been beneficial. It's a pivotal feature for network performance solutions. However, I prefer to consider the entire solution suite - GigaStor, along with GigaFlow and Apex - for comprehensive network visibility and monitoring. So, I prefer to integrate all three solutions to provide the best visibility. They complement each other well, with Apex aggregating and correlating data from both GigaStor and GigaFlow to enhance environmental understanding and troubleshooting efficiency.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The benefit is with the ease of use of the software, I am able to show the customer, "Here is what your wireless coverage looks like." It is set up in a fashion that non-technical people can understand it."

"The most valuable features are the survey, spectrum analysis, and reporting."

"Customer service is great."

"The addition of the AirMapper software on the nXG and our AirCheck G2s has helped a lot because we're mostly not drilling down into the data. Local managers only need to see the coverage on their end and whether there are performance bottlenecks. These things are easy enough for us to ascertain with iPerf."

"The heat maps are quite good, and some features are easy to use."

"We use the solution for Wi-Fi and networks."

"Clear and easy to use maps."

"Using the products to ensure the safety of our equipment that we have a lot invested in."

More AirMagnet Survey pros

"The ability to capture packets. It is not only for monitoring. That is very important for a company that wants to keep an eye on the packets, the transactions, the flows..."

"This solution allows us to see exactly what is going on in the network and we can very quickly solve issues with users."

"There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies."

"It can help to write your rules, organize firewalls, your block, and also your protocols and IP address to come in or out of your network."

"It's able to capture packets and, after a long time, you can come and use that information; to check, to analyze - everything you would want to do. So it's very good and helpful if you want to protect your data. It is stored in a certain place where you can access it every time you want to analyze it."

"I also have the ability to see an application's performance, to see what's going on, why a network is slow, why this program for this user is experiencing a delay or some network issue"

Cons

"When you conduct an active survey and then want to use it for design work, it's actually not very useful."

"But it's definitely a more expensive solution than other ones."

"The user interface needs a lot of improvement. The auto-placement of access points is not accurate."

"AirMagnet Survey needs to support Wi-Fi 6E otherwise they can lose to the competition. They also need to allow better grouping of SSIDs to one AP, removing the need to filter manually. At the moment, you can filter by channel or SSID, but grouping all those SSIDs together is a difficult task."

"The throughput should be more advanced in the future. They need to add more versions of WiFi than just one."

"The surveying features are in need of improvement, along with general usability."

"I would say some of our newer techs that are going out to job sites can be a little bit intimidated by the interface."

"Printouts are JPEG printouts. The AirMagnet software is proprietary. I can't send my customers a file, because it is AirMagnet file, even for building projects. I can only send JPEGs or screenshots of heat maps."

More AirMagnet Survey cons

"Graphics need improvement. Because a lot of the information there you have to input first in some case to have full potential. It could be more automated."

"I would like to have more than 4TB of storage available in the portable version of this solution."

"Maybe the graphical user interface could be simplified to allow people to use it more easily. It's already good, but they can work more on it to make it even easier."

"GigaStor feeds into Apex. So, the area where there could be improvement would be in artificial intelligence. For example, the incorporation of more advanced machine learning or AI capabilities could enhance its functionality."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing needs improvement."

"For technical support, you need an annual license, but it is not worth it."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"This product is very expensive."

"There is an annual cost of the solution. There are some additional charges, such as support and maintenance."

"The licensing of AirMagnet Survey is different when compared to Ekahu. It is a third of the cost of Ekahau but there are no dedicated laptops to the Sidekick. AirMagnet allows you to license an adapter and share that adapter."

"The moment we began needing more of the vendor's support, the cost became very high; we switched to another solution."

"It's quite expensive."

"It depends on the requirements you have. There are three types of license. There's the updates license, the work group license, and the workstation license."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

28%

Computer Software Company

18%

Manufacturing Company

10%

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about AirMagnet Survey?

We use the solution for Wi-Fi and networks.

See all answers

What needs improvement with AirMagnet Survey?

AirMagnet Survey needs to support Wi-Fi 6E otherwise they can lose to the competition. They also need to allow better grouping of SSIDs to one AP, removing the need to filter manually. At the momen...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for AirMagnet Survey?

We use AirMagnet Survey, for site verifications after the wireless system has been installed. We conduct pre and post-install surveys with it. We have reduced the use since now our customers requir...

See all answers

What do you like most about Observer GigaStor?

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Observer GigaStor?

I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten. It's quite expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Observer GigaStor?

GigaStor feeds into Apex. So, the area where there could be improvement would be in artificial intelligence. For example, the incorporation of more advanced machine learning or AI capabilities coul...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 82% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 4% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 3% of the time

Wireshark vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 21% of the time

NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 16% of the time

AppNeta by Broadcom vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 14% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey

April 2025

Download AirMagnet Survey product report

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor

March 2025

Download Observer GigaStor product report

Overview

AirMagnet Survey PRO enables network professionals to design, deploy, and validate Wi-Fi 6 networks for optimal performance, security, and compliance. It also calculates the ideal quantity, placement, and configuration of APs for a successful wireless LAN deployment. AirMagnet Survey PRO goes beyond simply verifying RF coverage by plotting actual end-user network performance in terms of connection speed, throughput, and packet statistics by allowing you to use any Wi-Fi adapter or AirMapper™ Site Survey on the AirCheck™ G2 and EtherScope® nXG. Survey PRO helps you get Wi-Fi installations right the first time, preventing costly rework and user complaints.

NetAlly

Observer GigaStor is a network analysis tool that comes in a variety of form factors, including rack mount, portable, and virtual. Capable of storing up to a petabyte of traffic for later analysis, GigaStor helps ensure optimal network and application performance.

Viavi Solutions

Sample Customers

Houston Methodist Hospital, Love's Travel Stops

Cisco Systems, Hawaiian Telecom, Renown Health, State of Nevada, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Allstate Insurance, Jack Henry & Associates, United States Airforce, US Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Chicago Board Options Exchange

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. Observer GigaStor

April 2025

Free Report: AirMagnet Survey vs. Observer GigaStor

Find out what your peers are saying about AirMagnet Survey vs. Observer GigaStor and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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