Running a Wi-Fi network is like stumbling in a cow pasture in the dark. You step on cow pats and bump into cattle, never quite knowing what’s out there. Those who try to maximize the performance of their networks are often frustrated by the other residents of the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band over which commonly used Wi-Fi runs. (The newer 802.11n standard can use the wide-open fields of 5 GHz as an alternative.)

Until recently, you would have had to spend thousands of dollars to get that special geek the kind of equipment that would allow the scanning and graphical presentation of signals that are criss-crossing the overused “junk” band, one of nicknames for the 2.4 GHz range. Bluetooth phones, medical equipment, microwave ovens, and other devices are all legal to spread their rays across those frequencies, often to deleterious effects.

MetaGeek fills this need with two models of the Wi-Spy: a base model ($199) that divvies the 83.5 MHz of spectrum in the unlicensed band into 1 MHz slices; and the Wi-Spy 2.4x ($399), which slices thinner into 328 KHz chunks with greater range as well. The 2.4x comes with an external antenna, which can be removed and replaced with a more powerful or different antenna. Both are USB dongles.

Software is available for the Wi-Spy for graphical display from both MetaGeek and third parties; they provide a full programmer’s interface for development. This allows support for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

Now your only worry would be your favorite geek carrying the USB dongle around to test everywhere–the equivalent of trainspotting for frequency freaks.