RockWiFi Pro's heatmap view offers multiple visualization layers, each highlighting a different aspect of your wireless environment. Switch between layers using the toolbar above the survey canvas.
Signal Strength (dBm)
The primary layer. Shows received signal power across the survey area. This is what most clients care about.
- Green (-30 to -50 dBm) — Excellent signal
- Yellow (-50 to -67 dBm) — Good signal
- Orange (-67 to -75 dBm) — Fair signal
- Red (below -75 dBm) — Poor signal
Sample Density
Shows where you've taken enough samples for confident results. Dense areas are well-mapped; sparse areas may have interpolation artifacts. Use this layer to decide where to add more samples before finalizing a survey.
SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)
Signal minus estimated noise floor. More meaningful than raw signal strength because it accounts for the RF environment.
- Above 40 dB — Excellent
- 25–40 dB — Good for data
- 15–25 dB — Marginal
- Below 15 dB — Expect connection issues
Channel Overlap
Shows how many APs have overlapping channels at each sample point. High overlap means co-channel interference, which degrades throughput even when signal strength is adequate. This layer is useful for identifying areas where neighboring APs fight for the same spectrum.
AP Count
Number of visible access points at each sample location. Very high counts may indicate over-deployment; very low counts indicate dead zones. Compare this layer with Signal Strength to distinguish between "no signal" and "signal from too many competing APs."
Confidence Overlay
Toggle this to see where the Kriging interpolation is confident vs. uncertain. Semi-transparent circles indicate areas where predictions are based on nearby samples. Large gaps mean more samples are needed. This overlay can be combined with any other layer.
Kriging vs IDW
RockWiFi Pro uses two interpolation methods:
- Kriging (default) — Uses Gaussian Process Regression for smooth, statistically-grounded interpolation with confidence estimates. This is the final output method.
- IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting) — Faster but less accurate. Used as a live preview while Kriging computes in the background.
Reading the legend
Each layer has its own color scale and units. The legend updates automatically when you switch layers. Hover over any point on the heatmap to see the exact interpolated value at that location.
Tips
- Always check sample density after completing a survey.
- If confidence is low in critical areas, go back and add more samples.
- Use Channel Overlap alongside Signal Strength to get the full picture — strong signal with high overlap still means poor performance.
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Still need help?
If you're still experiencing issues, contact us or email support@rockriverresearch.com.