Using Powershell to list all WiFi networks near you is easy, this example below will list all WiFi network SSIDs within range of your antenna.
PS C:\Users\Intel i5> (netsh wlan show networks) -Match 'SSID ' SSID 1 : TelstraD22F23 SSID 2 : OPTUS_D02825 SSID 3 : Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G9363 SSID 4 : ARLO_VMB_2383814567 SSID 5 : WiFi-BF2E SSID 6 : Aussie Broadband 8478 |
I did another scan and there was a Dash Cam near me.
PS C:\Users\Intel i5> (netsh wlan show networks) -Match 'SSID ' SSID 1 : TelstraD22F23 SSID 2 : OPTUS_D02825 SSID 3 : ARLO_VMB_2383814567 SSID 4 : WiFi-BF2E SSID 5 : Blackvue750XPlus-E66393 PS C:\Users\Intel i5> |
The ARLO_VMB_2383814567 is a security camera, that communicates over WiFi.
Apparently, the SMA3011518747 is a Solar Power inverter. Why is that connected to WiFi? I guess it is the Internet of things.
It is also possible to match a string and then change it.
PS C:\Users\Intel i5> (netsh wlan show networks) -Match 'SSID ' -Replace 'SSID','WiFi SSID' WiFi SSID 1 : OPTUS_D02825 WiFi SSID 2 : TelstraD22F23 WiFi SSID 3 : ARLO_VMB_2383814567 WiFi SSID 4 : WiFi-BF2E |
I am not sure why netsh cannot show the signal strength as a number for each network, you must be connected before you can view the signal strength. On Linux, this is easy to do.
(base) ┌─jason-Lenovo-H50-55@jason⬎ └─◉ 5.1-/etc/netplan-16:48-⚫ ◉--[$] ☕ sudo iw dev wlx000da32609b6 scan | grep 'SSID:\|signal:\|freq:' freq: 2412 signal: -65.00 dBm SSID: OPTUS_D02825 freq: 2432 signal: -67.00 dBm SSID: WiFi-BF2E freq: 2437 signal: -61.00 dBm SSID: TelstraD22F23 freq: 2452 signal: -75.00 dBm SSID: VX220-FF05 freq: 2462 signal: -67.00 dBm SSID: ARLO_VMB_2383814567 freq: 2462 signal: -81.00 dBm SSID: Aussie Broadband 8478 freq: 2462 signal: -87.00 dBm SSID: DIRECT-f0-HP M277 LaserJet |
This works perfectly, the comprehensive output may easily be tamed by using grep. This shows the signal strength of each WiFi network as well as the SSID and frequency. My current WiFi adapter only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi so I can only list 2.4 GHz networks.
Doing another scan showed even more networks.
(base) ┌─jason-Lenovo-H50-55@jason⬎ └─◉ 5.1-/etc/netplan-17:17-⚫ ◉--[$] ☕ sudo iw dev wlx000da32609b6 scan | grep 'SSID:\|signal:\|freq:' freq: 2412 signal: -65.00 dBm SSID: OPTUS_D02825 freq: 2437 signal: -59.00 dBm SSID: TelstraD22F23 freq: 2457 signal: -47.00 dBm SSID: Zoo Wee Mama freq: 2462 signal: -79.00 dBm SSID: SMA3011518747 freq: 2462 signal: -65.00 dBm SSID: ARLO_VMB_2383814567 freq: 2412 signal: -73.00 dBm SSID: Telstra6C5A3A freq: 2412 signal: -77.00 dBm SSID: Mels freq: 2432 signal: -65.00 dBm SSID: WiFi-BF2E freq: 2437 signal: -77.00 dBm SSID: Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G9363 freq: 2452 signal: -79.00 dBm SSID: VX220-FF05 freq: 2462 signal: -79.00 dBm SSID: Aussie Broadband 8478 freq: 2462 signal: -75.00 dBm SSID: Telstra62FD freq: 2437 signal: -81.00 dBm SSID: Den TV.b, freq: 2447 signal: -83.00 dBm SSID: TelstraA66E2D freq: 2437 signal: -77.00 dBm SSID: PS4-B5DCB77E852D freq: 2442 signal: -81.00 dBm SSID: Pretty-fly-for-a-wifi freq: 2437 signal: -83.00 dBm SSID: DIRECT-m2-BRAVIA |
This is a very useful tip for scanning WiFi networks on a Linux machine.