NetAlly EtherScope nXG Reviews

I use it primarily to troubleshoot wireless WiFi networks. I look for channel interference, I look for signal level problems, and I channel-ize things on the fly with it, very successfully.

I use it at least once a week. It depends on the jobs, as I do all kinds of different jobs. Sometimes I'll use it every day during the course of a job. Sometimes I'll use it just to analyze an existing system, to define what needs to be fixed or addressed. I also use it just to double check that what I install is the way it's supposed to be, as far as channelization and signal levels go.

I have the unit that came with the extra antenna and I also have the SFP, but I mainly use the main base unit for troubleshooting.

It works great. It's basically a souped-up Android device that does all the troubleshooting that a souped-up laptop could do, if the laptop had the correct software and interfaces. It's a lot easier to get around and do your thing with it.

The number-one thing that it has done for us is that we do event WiFi sometimes. We have literally provided WiFi for a hackathon and there are people who are not good people in the mix, and they do malicious things with WiFi hotspots. You need to find those rogues, and you need to find them really quickly. I can't think of a better tool to do that with.

Also, using the NetAlly cloud makes it really easy to collect all your tasks and reference them when you're trying to come up with proposals for fixes for existing systems that need to be fixed or replaced.

It provides visibility into networks that I could only get by using many other tools. I'm something of a "road warrior," so anything I can do to keep my mobile office — ie, my backpack — lightweight, helps. Having that and one go-to laptop really helps out a lot, instead of having multiple testing devices.

It has definitely reduced my troubleshooting time. The amount of time really depends on the scenario and what I use it to find, but it can save me anywhere from 10 minutes to a whole day's worth of work. It has definitely made me more productive.

People also think it looks cool. When you're meeting a new client, and you have this thing and you need to answer their questions and troubleshoot stuff on the spot, it separates you [from your competition].

The most valuable part is absolutely being able to assess existing WiFi networks quickly. You get very powerful details of networks, details that you couldn't see unless you had multiple pieces of software and hardware. This does it all in one thing.

The pre-programmed AutoTest feature finds network problems quickly, just like all of NetAlly's tools. There are three or four core things that you need to be working on a network and the EtherScope gets to it quickly, for troubleshooting.

It's very easy to use. If you're trying to figure out: What are these SSIDs? What kind of APs? What channels are they on? There's no easier way to drill into those details. It also provides deep diagnostics for sure. It has a lot of features that I don't need for everyday use, but it's nice to know they're there if I ever do need them.

There is room for improvement in the battery life and price.

I have been using NetAlly EtherScope nXG for about a year now. 

I don't think it's crashed on me once.

I really do wish the battery lasted a little bit longer. I feel that I have to be very conscious of the battery life on it. That's really the only negative thing.

I can't say I have plans to increase usage of it. It's probably going to be the same load. This isn't something I intend to buy for other people. Frankly, it's too expensive and I would get other devices, for my employees, from NetAlly. But I don't think I would do another EtherScope. One is good enough for my company.

I've used Fluke, which eventually became NetAlly, after everything got bought and sold. As things actually needed upgrading I got NetAlly. I was going to get a NetAlly regardless, because of their reputation and the other devices that we've had from the company that became Fluke. We trust them. It works. I know they would back it if I called for support. I just haven't had to.

For me, there was very little learning curve. I did go through the whole manual because it was an investment — it's not cheap — to make sure I was doing things right. It was actually really easy, but it depends on the network knowledge you have going into it. It could be really confusing if you don't know that stuff.

I have seen ROI through the work on corporate events; there is no tomorrow. You have to fix it right now, and if you don't fix it right now you might not get paid; and you might not make your quarter and you might not make your year. It's critical. High-end corporate events, where their name is on the line, means our name is on the line at the same time. It can pay for itself in one use, depending on the scenario.

You learn your lesson from one bad day. Not having it, and wishing you had it to get out of a scenario, justifies it right there.

The stuff is expensive. I really do wish the price would come down. I don't really call support. I haven't had a problem. But it's really expensive and every year I have to pay them a ton of money. I don't want to make up reasons to justify that cost, but I'm not using the support. I understand they have to do R&D and do updates; I get that. But it is an expensive device. It costs as much as some peoples' cars.

I don't even know if there is another option anymore. There are some things out there for people who are just searching the internet, but network professionals are all going to use the NetAlly at this point. I don't think Fluke even makes equipment anymore for network testing.

I also use Ekahau and I do like Ekahau a lot. I'm not at the point where I'm going to replace it, but hopefully I can because I don't want to pay for two expensive things. I'd rather only pay for one expensive thing.

The EtherScope is such a unique tool. Everyone is going to use different features for different purposes. I am more WiFi oriented.

Regarding the unit's multi-technology functionality, I'm not using it too much on the wired side. I do have a lot of tools. Much of the time, when I'm doing wired troubleshooting, it's just simple continuity tasks more than anything. I use the EtherScope for WiFi more than anything, but it is nice to have the wired abilities when needed.

I have used the AirMapper Site Survey app once, just last week. I did not use it fully. I just used it to do a quick assessment. I'm actually curious to find out more about it. It was very easy. I haven't used it with the software. I haven't been able to dump the data into the software and see it fully yet, so I can't say I have a real opinion of it yet.

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.

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.

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.

We mainly use NetAlly EtherScope nXG for troubleshooting. Linksprinter helps us solve problems and understand how things work. For example, SpamTitan is automatic, but beginners might not understand how it works. So, we use tools like Wireshark to capture packets and learn how DNS and CDP work. Linksprinter just helps us solve the problem.

One of the standout features is its ability to serve as an advanced handheld packet analyzer. It excels in discovering both wired and wireless networks and automatically documenting them, which is really valuable. The tool provides insights from the physical layer up to layer seven, including HTTP, which helps diagnose network issues effectively. This automated documentation feature sets NetAlly apart from competitors, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in network management and recommendations. When the EtherScope nXG identifies a problem, it alerts us, allowing us to use more advanced tools for deeper analysis.

Regarding PoE testing capabilities, I haven't explored them extensively, but I'm aware of their importance, especially for detecting issues like overloading switches with too many PoE devices. Integrators are becoming more cautious about these issues, but specialized tools like those from other vendors may offer features like microburst dashboards, which EtherScope nXG currently doesn't provide.

The main area for improvement that stands out is the lack of a microburst dashboard, which some other vendors offer. However, NetAlly has carved out its niche by focusing on comprehensive network analysis up to layer seven, including automatic network mapping with tools like CyberScope. While there may be some features missing compared to competitors, NetAlly remains strong in its specialized market, providing robust solutions like EtherScope for detailed customer scans, despite being on the pricier side.

  I have experience of using NetAlly EtherScope nXG for the past one year.

EtherScope has been very reliable in my experience. I haven't encountered major glitches, although occasionally there are minor display issues that don't affect its overall functionality.

Customer support from NetAlly has been solid. I haven't needed to contact their engineers much because their online resources and local partners have been helpful.

Positive

Deploying NetAlly EtherScope is more complex. It involves a deeper understanding of network analysis and may require training from NetAlly's academy. Features like packet analysis and TCP/IP diagnostics require more expertise and possibly multi-day training sessions in specialized centers. It requires more extensive preparation and knowledge to utilize its full range of features effectively.

In terms of pricing, EtherScope isn't cheap. It's a significant investment, and not a budget option.

Overall, I would rate NetAlly EtherScope nXG as an eight out of ten. It's a robust solution with great features, though there's room for enhancement in certain areas like the Microverse dashboard.

NetAlly EtherScope nXG is an all-round tool we use for front-end troubleshooting, performance tests, and cable testing.

The biggest benefit of NetAlly EtherScope nXG is getting a full discovery on the wide and Wi-Fi side, getting it all under one discovery, and seeing how it all maps out together.

Being able to do a Wi-Fi walk-around survey with a handheld tool is one of the most valuable features of NetAlly EtherScope nXG. The advantages of NetAlly EtherScope nXG are that it is handheld, Android-based, and very up-to-date.

NetAlly EtherScope nXG's reporting and table qualification could be improved. The disadvantages of NetAlly EtherScope nXG are its password life and end reporting.

I have been using NetAlly EtherScope nXG for three years.

NetAlly EtherScope nXG is a very stable product, and we have not faced any issues with it.

Overall, NetAlly EtherScope nXG is a very scalable product, and it's good for what it does straight out of the box. However, if you don't pay support for it, they shut some features down on the product. We have four NetAlly EtherScope nXG users on-premises and sold 46 units.

I've had customers who have dropped units and had issues with some faults that they caused themselves. NetAlly EtherScope nXG's fantastic technical support proactively resolved those issues.

I have previously used the OneTouch from NETSCOUT and the Optiview from Fluke Networks.

The solution is easy to set up, but you need to ensure you register your product. NetAlly EtherScope nXG is deployed on cloud. For NetAlly EtherScope nXG's deployment, you need to claim it onto the cloud tester, and all the test results get pushed to the cloud service for reporting.

NetAlly EtherScope nXG is priced too much and needs to come down by about 15 percent of its current price.

You need to pay an annual maintenance fee for the maintenance provided by the vendor.

I recommend that users go through the online training on YouTube that NetAlly provides to get the product's full potential.

Overall, I rate NetAlly EtherScope nXG a nine out of ten for the additional features you can add because it is an Android device.

The main thing I wanted to do with it was to inject noise into the line but I also used it to see how much noise was on the line. I also used it to measure the cable length and the pairing quality of the cable. 

In addition, I could remote in from my computer, as long as it was on a network, so I didn't have to go back and forth. If I needed it in the lab, I'd place it there and go to my laptop and control it. I could read all the tests and do any tests, all I needed to, which was really good.

It has not improved the way our company functions because we just used it, in a test situation, for one sample problem we were going through. We were looking for a tool that would give us what we needed, which was to look for noise and to create noise. Unless there is a part or function I was not aware of, it only reads noise; it does not create noise.

I really liked the remote login. That way, if I needed to do something inside of a ceiling, I didn't have to sit inside the ceiling. I could just plug it in and leave the instrument in the ceiling and go to my laptop and use it remotely. That was really good. I really liked that.

We do WiFi testing with our AP, but I didn't get a chance to use it because of COVID. However, I did do a quick test. One thing I liked was that it would tell me signal strength, the noise in the nearby ones, and it would even tell me about some hidden ones. That was cool, as most units don't tell you that. Another good thing I really liked was that it would not only tell me the IP address, but it would tell me more info. It would grab the CDP off of the CDP profile and read all the info it could get, so I knew what I was looking at. The WiFi and the wired were really good. While I didn't use very much of the WiFi, what I did use was good.

It has automated tests where it goes through each process. It took a while but I would just let it do its automated testing and I was happy with that. If I'm not mistaken, there were two pre-programmed functions. One of them was to check reports and why traffic was not running. The other one was checking cable noise and cable quality. I used the automated testing for cable noise and cable quality more than I used it for protocol and trafficking. On the side I did use it, it was good. I liked it. It was accurate. I know because I used another tool, a Fluke, and they were really close to each other, so I'm assuming they're both calibrated the same way.

If I could reset it remotely, meaning reboot the unit, that would be helpful. One time, the test would not respond; the script would lock up. I had to go and manually reboot it. If I could have sent a command to reboot and it would have automatically connected to the wireless, that would have made it perfect. That was the only thing that it did not do. If you're sitting remotely, at your desk, and the unit is at a customer's site and you need to reboot, the only way you can do that is to call up the customer and ask them, "Hey, can you go reboot it for me?" and customers usually don't like that.

I used it for between a month and two months. I was the only in our company who was using it. We were testing the product.

Other than the script locking up once in a while, it was pretty stable.

I didn't use technical support for the device. I used the manual that came with it, and that was about it.

EtherScope offered more things than the other ones offered. The other ones only offered cable length, cable quality, but no noise readings. This one gave you more in-depth networking protocols, noise readings, all that good stuff. I haven't seen another one that does as much as this one.

As for the learning curve, once I messed with it a little bit, I got to know how to use it pretty well. It was fairly easy to just plug-and-go, to do the basics. I was able to get up and run a test within 15 minutes. Within a day I was able to use all the functions just fine and was very comfortable using all the functions. And it could also provide deep diagnostics.

I also looked at an Agilent meter reader, which has two handheld units and you connect the cable. It's not as fancy as the EtherScope.

This could save a lot of headaches on troubleshooting networks, connections, and cables. It's got a lot of options and it could definitely save a lot of time if used properly.

I would rate it about an eight out of 10. It's not a 10 because there were a few bugs. It could be improved. Also, I don't know if it has this feature or not, but if I could write my own script to use on that machine, it would definitely be a 10. If it doesn't have that, I would stay with my eight. Most people who are engineers like to automate things, and they would want to write their own script to do their own testing.