A new app called myNetLyzer has just been released for the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick to analyze your local WiFi networks. The app provides several pieces of crucial network information to help you determine the ideal settings to achieve the best WiFi signal for your Fire TV devices. Here’s an overview of its features and how to use them to improve your network connection.
When launched, the first thing myNetLyzer shows you is a list of WiFi networks within range sorted by signal strength. Each network is listed with a numerical value for its signal strength, indicated by the “dBm” number, which is more precise than the Fire TV’s default signal strength indicator in the network configuration are of the settings menu. Also listed is the network’s encryption protocol. You can switch between a list of 2.4GHz or 5 GHz networks in the app’s settings. If you have multiple WiFi networks to choose from, this screen will give you an easy way to quickly determine which network is best and by what margin.
Note that if your devices is using ethernet, you’ll receive an odd error message. You’ll have to disconnect your ethernet cable before the app can display WiFi network information. If you don’t have a WiFi network to connect to, but still want to use the app to analyze the networks in your area, you may need to launch the app from the Fire TV’s Settings > Application menu.
The app’s “Current WiFi” screen gives you a graphical representation of much of the same information on the previous screen. With this you can easily see which WiFi channels in your area are most congested, as well as the signal strength of each network. For the least signal interference, you should set your router to use a channel that is least used, farthest from congestion, and farthest from strong neighboring WiFi networks. Based on the chart above, my AFTVnews network should be moved from channel 6 to channel 4. Channels 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11 are also not being used by neighboring networks, but channel 4 is best because it’s farthest from congestion and strong networks.
The “Time Graph” screen shows you a real-time chart of network signal strength. It’s set to update every 10 seconds by default, but can be configured to update as quickly as every second from the app’s settings. This chart can be used to determine the best placement of your Fire TV , router, and router antennas for the strongest WiFi signal. Being able to see in real-time how even a slight repositioning of your device or antenna orientation affects signal strength is very handy. I suggest setting the scan interval to 1 second and playing with various positions. Just be sure to stand clear each time you check the graph because your body can easily interfere with signal strength.
The last handy feature of myNetLyzer is its built-in speed test. The feature simply loads fast.com but it should come in handy to see if your network changes show any real world improvements. Remember, this test is measuring your Fire TV’s connection speed to the internet and not its connection speed to the router, which are two different things. Just because you don’t see speed improvements with this test, doesn’t mean you haven’t improved the Fire TV’s connection to the router.
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Finally!
Very cool! Thanks for the heads-up!
This is definitely a B+ utility as I was just able to install and bring it up on my Fire TV, adjust/change the 5G channels on my router, and then observe the changes/results in near real-time on the Fire TV, which is both groovy and bitchin’.
The only reason for the B+ rating is that navigation/access to all app functions requires more than just the Fire TV remote, as in a keypad or other similar input device, but it’s a definite keeper nonetheless.
All in all, it’s a definite keeper.
This is an awsome solution specially for this WiFi segment as more and more devices are getting dependent upon this area.
Nice application. will this work for the nvidia shield tv as well? or is there an app similar to this for the shield?
Hello Josh,
Nvidia Shield TV is an excellent product and runs the Android operating system. Any tablet or device based on standard Android OS the myNetLyzer will operate..
Jim
I recall that for the 2.4Ghz, only channel 1, 6 and 11 should be used. Has to do with overlap.
In the 2.4 GHz band, 1, 6 and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels. We found setting to a non-standard channel (standard channels being 1, 6, 11) was better when there are other networks using 1, 6, 11 in the area using these channels as 1, 6, 11 caused interference and signal dropping on a fire stick.
Really awesome app, especially for the price! (Free.) Easy to use and showed that I and my neighbors on either side of me were all using Channel 10. I dunno, maybe that’s the default router setting or something. But I easily changed the WiFi channel on my router. While the Fire TV’s reception didn’t seem to improve very much, my iPhone’s reception skyrocketed!
Thanks very much for showcasing this app.
Knowledge is Power
If I have an Ethernet connection, will it give me my speed?
It currently works only with WiFi, not a wired Ethernet connection.
Has this app been pulled? Can’t find it via the link or seaching on the Amazon App Store.
We were developing an improved dashboard and data back to the user. myNetLyzer Pro is now available and you should take a review of it.
We were developing an improved dashboard, complete new code and data availability back to the user. myNetLyzer Pro is now available and you should take a review of it. The basic app is still free, but the subscription app delivers much more.
WTF? This app isn’t around. How do we check our speed on the fire tv?
myNetLyzer is available on Amazon and a new myNetLyzerPro version with Alexa voice commands is live.
Had to search for the app by complete name.
Worked in Japan although the domestic speed check server isn’t functioning.
Others work so it’s all good.
No longer available – at least in the US.
myNetLyzer is available and now with a myNetLyzerPro subscription version. We completely reworked the dashboard, code and it is better than ever. Available today on Amazon.
mNetLyzer is no longer in the app store $1.99/month for Pro? I don’t think so.