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NetAlly EtherScope nXG pros and cons

Vendor: NetAlly
4.4 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

NetAlly EtherScope nXG offers comprehensive network testing capabilities in one tool, including WiFi troubleshooting, network validation, and cabling validation.
It provides detailed insights into channel utilization and traffic on air without needing extensive manual data collection and analysis.
The device enhances productivity by enabling remote troubleshooting and monitoring, which allows network issues to be resolved without the need for extensive travel or onsite visits.
Its lightweight and portable design compares favorably to more cumbersome equipment, making it ideal for fieldwork.
NetAlly EtherScope nXG significantly reduces troubleshooting time for network cabling issues, decreasing reliance on external vendors for testing and problem resolution.

CONS

Battery life needs improvement, often requiring the use of a power cord or a backup battery during extensive use.
Airtime utilization measurements can incorrectly classify traffic as non-802.11, leading to inaccuracies.
There are issues with the device's 5 gigahertz radio, potentially due to hardware problems.
Remote reboot capability is lacking, necessitating manual intervention when the device locks up.
Inconsistencies in uploading test results to the cloud may require manual intervention.
 

NetAlly EtherScope nXG Pros review quotes

SS
May 14, 2020
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.
ScottSmith2 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 9, 2024
My impression of the ease of use is that it definitely is easy to use both the handheld device and the app walking around.
Dan Jones - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 23, 2022
The things that I find most valuable are the Wi-Fi app and the Discovery app. Those two things help a lot when I'm doing the initial discovery of a space. I also use the AutoTest feature quite a lot, especially if I'm troubleshooting.
Learn what your peers think about NetAlly EtherScope nXG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
BA
Nov 24, 2022
Among those features that are important are the AutoTest to create a profile and then see that the network connection is in line with that profile. Also, the LANBERT test to have an idea about the quality of the cable. It is often the case that you have no reports on the cable infrastructure, so this test is also very valuable for us.
JD
Aug 30, 2020
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.
TB
May 14, 2020
One of the key measurements that we use out of the device is the channel utilization measurement, how much traffic is on the air in a given channel. That's the most valuable feature for us. The ability to make a very fast measurement of how much traffic is on the air is a key value. Otherwise we'd have to do a packet capture and do some analysis. It speeds up our testing.
RU
Oct 19, 2020
The whole product is valuable because it's really a bunch of features that make up the one testing utility. Between auto tests, wireless assessments, its ability to do iPerf speed and traffic testing, as well as packet captures — all of those really contribute to a very successful product and allow me to do my job in a better manner.
Chase McGee - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 30, 2022
The AirMapper Site Survey app is one of the biggest highlights of this product. When somebody asks me, "Why should I use this device?" it's the first thing I show them, and they usually love it. Its ability to gather WiFi site survey data is absolutely amazing.
John D'Amico - PeerSpot reviewer
May 4, 2023
It cuts the time down in half. You don't need to get a laptop out and do different testing. We can just grab this one tool, bring it, and do all our network testing, surveying, and reviews to figure out what the problems are with just one device, instead of having to use multiple people and devices to do that. You cut down time by 50% because you won't normally need multiple people onsite. A lot of times, you can do everything with one person and one tool.
AD
Aug 31, 2020
The most valuable feature is the ability to identify the switchboards, when you plug the EtherScope into the network drop, and all other details about the switch. This is very useful because when you are not in that IDF or network closet but far away from that switch, you can identify the board and then configure the board for your needs, remotely.
 

NetAlly EtherScope nXG Cons review quotes

SS
May 14, 2020
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... It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the product itself, as much as it is some kind of unique hardware problem.
ScottSmith2 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 9, 2024
On a hardware spec, it'd be nice to have something above 10-Gigs.
Dan Jones - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 23, 2022
AirMapper is very quick and easy once everything is on there, but I would like to see an improvement on how you get things on there. Currently, rather than being able to build up buildings or a site of things, every map is an individual piece. We should be able to set up an AirMapper survey easily and more effectively. At the moment, we just have separate floor plans. It'd be great to be able to build a building and tell where different floors are so that if it hears an AP on the floor below, it doesn't put two APs, one on that floor and one on the other floor, and it knows that there are two floors here. One is on top of the other, and it won't put the AP at both places. It would put it on one of the floors where it would be strongest. This would be one of the biggest improvements.
Learn what your peers think about NetAlly EtherScope nXG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
BA
Nov 24, 2022
The small screen is a little bit of a handicap. It would be nice if we could, for instance, connect a larger screen to the device, but it's very user-friendly. You're only limited by the size of the screen. That's the only negative aspect of doing surveys with this device.
JD
Aug 30, 2020
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.
TB
May 14, 2020
The one thing that it doesn't do well, when it's doing airtime utilization measurements, is that it will classify things as non-802.11, and that isn't correct. What it could do better is make sure that it classifies all traffic that's in the air correctly.
RU
Oct 19, 2020
The only improvement I can come up with is the battery life. If they could improve the battery life, that would be great.
Chase McGee - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 30, 2022
The only issue that I have ever had is the battery life. It does drain a little bit quickly... While it's true that by the time I'm finished with my assessment it's usually dead, I have usually finished what I need to do and everything has been pushed to Link-Live. But occasionally, I might need a backup battery if I need to do something for multiple hours.
John D'Amico - PeerSpot reviewer
May 4, 2023
We have had to use a battery pack unit, bringing it with us, when we are doing long testing or a lot of testing. It is like a mini computer, so it does use a lot of battery life.
AD
Aug 31, 2020
There are some inconsistencies in how it uploads the test results to the cloud, but it might just need a minor improvement on the software side. When you don't have an internet connection on the EtherScope when you do the testing, it saves the results into memory. When it has an internet connection, it uploads those results, but it doesn't work all the time. Sometimes, you need to manually push it.