FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the signal never show 100%?

By design. Proximity maps signal strength on a 0–99% scale, where 0% is the minimum usable signal (−80 dBm) and 99% means the signal is strong enough that it's no longer the limiting factor. Proximity reads the actual signal — which may be −35 or −30 dBm when you're close to the router — but anything above −40 dBm still shows as 99%, because at that point differences in signal strength have no practical effect on performance.

Showing 100% would imply a theoretically perfect signal. 99% is the honest ceiling: signal strength this strong, and everything beyond it is handled by other variables. It also keeps the menu bar label to four characters instead of five — which matters when menu bar space is tight.

What's the difference between Router Mode and P2P Mode?

Router Mode connects to your GL.iNet or UniFi access point and reports your camera's actual signal strength on the network — the link between the camera and the router. This is the most accurate measurement for tethering workflows and requires a supported router.

P2P Mode measures link quality directly from your computer to the camera, with no router or additional hardware required. It's a good starting point and works anywhere — useful when you're testing, traveling, or working with a camera that creates its own WiFi hotspot.

Which routers are supported?

Proximity communicates with your router via its native API — it speaks GL.iNet and UniFi natively, so any hardware from those families should work, not just the specific models we've tested.

GL.iNet — Tested on Flint 2 (GL-MT6000), Mudi 7 (GL-XE3000), Beryl AX (GL-MT3000), and Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE). Any GL.iNet router running firmware 4.x or later should be compatible.

UniFi — Tested on the U7 Pro Outdoor managed by a local UniFi OS controller. Most UniFi access points on a local controller should work. Note: UniFi SSO and cloud-managed accounts are not supported — a local administrator account is required.

Does it work with any camera?

Proximity monitors WiFi signal, not camera communication — so it works with any camera that connects wirelessly to your network, using any tethering software. Whether you're shooting with Capture One (including 2nd-Gen Wireless Tethering), Lightroom, or no tethering software at all, Proximity works the same way. Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Sony, and others all work. The camera just needs to be on the same WiFi network as your router.

Why does Proximity need location permission?

macOS requires location permission to read WiFi signal strength (RSSI) from the network adapter. This is an Apple platform requirement — Proximity uses it only to measure signal and never accesses or transmits your location.

Can I change how the signal displays in the menu bar?

Yes. Proximity has three display modes, selectable in Preferences → Display → Icon Style. All modes use the same color coding.

Why is Proximity showing a red alert even though signal looks strong?

If your camera connects on the 2.4 GHz band, Proximity automatically enters Critical state regardless of signal strength. 2.4 GHz uses narrower channels (20 MHz) than 5 GHz or 6 GHz (80 MHz), which limits camera tethering throughput to 6–11 MB/s — roughly a 6–10× penalty compared to a modern 5 GHz or 6 GHz connection.

The signal may look fine at −33 dBm, but the throughput is severely degraded. Proximity flags this so you can fix it before it affects your shoot. The fix is to check your router's band steering settings and ensure the camera is connecting on 5 GHz or 6 GHz.

What happens when the trial ends?

After 30 days, Router Mode locks and Proximity falls back to P2P Mode automatically. P2P Mode is free forever — no time limit, no expiry. To re-enable Router Mode, purchase a license and enter your key in Preferences.

How many Macs can I use it on?

Each license covers one Mac. If you get a new machine and need to move your license, reach out to us at and we'll help transfer it.