• SDR
  • Beginner
  • 8 min
  • Web ESP SDR

Recipe · Beginner · SDR, Wi-Fi, BLE

How to scan the 2.4 GHz band with ESP SDR

Sweep the 2.4 GHz band to find activity, then open an active frequency in Live SDR.

2.4 GHz radio activity illustration.
A wideband sweep visits several tuning centers to build one view of the selected range.
Step 1

Start and connect the SDR adapter

Switch to USB mode and open Adapters:

mode usb
adapters

Select ESP-SDR Raw 2.4GHz. The board reboots into SDR mode.

Close the terminal, open Web ESP SDR and click Connect. Select the board’s USB port.

Step 2

Scan the band

Select Wideband Analyzer, set Scan range · MHz to 2400–2483.5 and click Start scan. Start with manual gain at 41 of 82 and Sensitive scan detail. Let several sweeps complete.

Step 3

Find activity

Use Peak hold to see the strongest levels and Occupancy to compare activity across sampled visits. Click a frequency in the spectrum or waterfall to open it in Live SDR.

Result

What success looks like

The spectrum and waterfall show activity across the selected band. Sweeps visit frequencies in sequence and can miss short bursts.

Troubleshooting

  • Slow sweep: Stop and choose Balanced or Fast scan detail, or narrow the range.
  • Missing burst: Open Live SDR at the expected frequency and repeat the device operation.
  • Unstable comparison: Keep manual gain and antenna position fixed; reset history before comparing runs.

ESP SDR FAQ

Does occupancy measure channel airtime?

No. It counts sampled visits above the local noise floor, not continuous airtime.

Do frequency guides identify a protocol?

No. They mark known channel frequencies; they do not decode packets or identify transmitters.

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