AirMagnet Survey vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG comparison

AirMagnet Survey and NetAlly EtherScope nXG are both solutions in the Network Troubleshooting category. AirMagnet Survey is ranked #8 with an average rating of 6.7, while NetAlly EtherScope nXG is ranked #4 with an average rating of 9.0. AirMagnet Survey holds a 6.9% mindshare in NT, compared to NetAlly EtherScope nXG’s 11.5% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of AirMagnet Survey users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of NetAlly EtherScope nXG users who would recommend it.

AirMagnet Survey

Read 39 AirMagnet Survey reviews

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204 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Read 23 NetAlly EtherScope nXG reviews

1,461 Views
446 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AirMagnet Survey

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

AirMagnet Survey and NetAlly EtherScope nXG are prominent tools in the network survey and analysis domain. NetAlly EtherScope nXG seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced feature set and robust performance capabilities.

Features: AirMagnet Survey is noted for detailed wireless site survey capabilities, ease of use, and comprehensive data analysis. NetAlly EtherScope nXG offers powerful multi-functional network analysis, comprehensive diagnostics, and robust performance capabilities.

Room for Improvement: AirMagnet Survey users indicate the need for better integration options, faster processing speeds, and a more intuitive interface. NetAlly EtherScope nXG users suggest improvements in software updates, occasional stability issues, and enhanced reporting features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AirMagnet Survey has a straightforward installation process but some users mention a steep learning curve. NetAlly EtherScope nXG is easy to deploy and comes with responsive customer support.

Pricing and ROI: AirMagnet Survey is considered budget-friendly, offering good value for its price. NetAlly EtherScope nXG is costlier but is perceived to deliver higher ROI due to its extensive features, with most users justifying the investment by its performance and capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed AirMagnet Survey vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

April 2025

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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)

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

4th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Diagnostics (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of AirMagnet Survey is 6.9%, up from 5.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetAlly EtherScope nXG is 11.5%, down from 14.3% 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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Doug Dickerson

Manager at Northwestern

Handheld form factor, intuitive interface that is easy to use, helps us quickly troubleshoot network problems

It would be helpful if this product interfaced with AirWave. The battery life should be improved. The real negative to the product is the horrible battery life. We had hoped for it to be able to deliver configurations to our network switches, and I think they're developing something for that. However, it doesn't do that now. We were hoping that we would, as we replace or refresh network components, be able to use this tool to push a config file to the switch. For example, the Aruba switches that we're deploying come with a Bluetooth function where we can push configs from our phones. It would be much more convenient to use this device, rather than using our personal cell phones to do it. I think that the capability is there, but it just hasn't been figured out yet.

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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

"I would like to rate the product as eight of ten."

"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 feature is the predictive survey. The antennas' RF patterns are reflected correctly on the drawing when preparing predictive heat maps."

"The predictive survey is the most valuable feature. I use it quite often."

"Customer service is great."

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

"It allows us to prepare more real designs. Later, we validate them with actual surveys."

"Clear and easy to use maps."

More AirMagnet Survey pros

"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 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."

"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."

"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."

"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 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 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 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%."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

"It'd be nice if it was cheaper, however, you get value for your money."

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

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

"Less time consumed doing the real surveys."

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

More AirMagnet Survey cons

"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."

"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."

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

"On a hardware spec, it'd be nice to have something above 10-Gigs."

"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."

"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."

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

"The battery life could be better. There have been a couple of times that I used it and put it down, then I went to pick it up and the battery was dead. So, I need to take the power cord with me in order to continue using it."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"This product is very expensive."

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

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

"The pricing needs improvement."

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

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"It's a pricey device, but I see value in it from a business perspective."

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

"I don't consider the pricing to be a problem. It's not a cheap device, but it's a very capable device for the money. It's a good value."

"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... 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."

"It's the best 10Gig network tester for the price on the market."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

Government

Manufacturing Company

Government

10%

Healthcare Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

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...

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What do you like most about NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

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.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

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

See all answers

What needs improvement with NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

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 a...

See all answers

Comparisons

Ekahau Site Survey vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 81% of the time

iBwave Wi-Fi vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 6% of the time

AirCheck G3 vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 4% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 3% of the time

Wireshark vs AirMagnet Survey

Compared 3% of the time

More AirMagnet Survey Competitors

LinkRunner vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 47% of the time

AirCheck G3 vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 27% of the time

LinkSprinter vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 10% of the time

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey

April 2025

Download AirMagnet Survey product report

Buyer's Guide

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

April 2025

Download NetAlly EtherScope nXG product report

Also Known As

No data available

EtherScope nXG, EtherScope, netAlly EtherScope, OptiView XG

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

Multi-technology, all-in-one handheld network tester that enables engineers and technicians to get more done faster, from deployment to maintenance and documentation of their ever-changing Wi-Fi and Ethernet access networks.

The Etherscope nXG is the the industry’s first handheld analyzer for Wi-Fi 6/6E surveying (with AirMapper™ Site Survey), troubleshooting, and analysis.

NetAlly

Sample Customers

Houston Methodist Hospital, Love's Travel Stops

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

April 2025

Free Report: AirMagnet Survey vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Find out what your peers are saying about AirMagnet Survey vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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