Introduction
0WM, pronounced /zʋʊm/ or /oʊm/, is a next-generation Wi-Fi mapping solution using off-the-shelf components and open standards to perform hassle-free, large-scale Wi-Fi surveys.
0WM is gradually shaping up to provide a production-grade infrastructure for Wi-Fi mapping. As we are smoothing out the rough edges, don’t hesitate to check back from time to time to see our progress.
Wi-Fi has become so popular in recent years that your devices, at home or at work, are less and less likely to be connected to the Internet using a wire. Laptops themselves are slowly losing their Ethernet ports. And yet, deploying a reliable Wi-Fi network is no easy task, because of walls, urban wave pollution, or even weather radars. Professional Wi-Fi survey tools are so expensive that private individuals, associations, and small businesses cannot afford them, and free ones are too cumbersome.
The 0WM project strives to make high-quality Wi-Fi surveys affordable to everyone. Why would you need a dedicated device for Wi-Fi surveys when you already have a phone packed with sensors? Why would you need a dedicated wireless sensor when you already have factory-calibrated omnidirectional APs?
Getting started
The 0WM software suite consists of the following components:
- 0WM Server, 0WM’s backend, featuring all the hidden bits of logic, and exposing REST and WebSocket APIs;
- 0WM OpMode, an operator frontend allowing to upload floorplans and position them on a map with precise georeferencing;
- 0WM Client, a mobile frontend allowing to perform real-time Wi-Fi surveys;
- 0WM AP, pieces of software and configuration to properly setup an AP for 0WM.
Prerequisites
To setup 0WM on a production environment, you need:
- A supported platform to run the server;
- An access point with OpenWRT installed;
- A smartphone with WebXR support and a wired connection to the AP (most likely through a USB-C to Ethernet adapter).
Software
0WM Server
The 0WM Server is the central backend of 0WM, handling all its core logic. It manages floorplans and Wi-Fi measurement sessions, stores the data, and exposes REST and WebSocket APIs used by the project’s frontends.
0WM OpMode
The 0WM Opmode is an operator dashboard frontend that communicates with the server to upload floorplans, edit boundaries, and position them on a map with precise georeferencing.
0WM Client
The 0WM Client is a mobile frontend that allows you to perform real-time Wi-Fi surveys. It fetches floorplans from the server, retrieves Wi-Fi scan data from an access point, uses WebXR to track position and movement, and streams measurements back to the server in real-time.
0WM AP
Unlike the other 0WM software components, this one is more of a collection of tools and settings to configure compatible access points (currently those running OpenWRT).
Your first survey
Once the software components are configured and running in your environment, a typical survey workflow operates as follows:
- Upload your floorplan in 0WM OpMode and fill in the necessary information;
- Perform the survey in 0WM Client by navigating in your building and taking measurements;
- Review your survey in 0WM OpMode (feature not yet available).
You can find more information on how to use all the 0WM components in our dedicated page