Internet tests and privacy
ARRF’s internet tests measure the path from your iPhone to the internet
against NeuralConfig’s test server, arrf-probe.neuralconfig.com, which
runs on Cloudflare’s network. They send small timing packets, short speed
bursts and a random install ID — no account, name, location, Wi-Fi name,
survey data or photos. You can point them at your own server, or switch them
off and keep every test on your own network.
Which servers does ARRF contact?
Section titled “Which servers does ARRF contact?”In words, an experience test talks to three kinds of host:
- Your router. The phone times round trips to its gateway for Wi-Fi latency, jitter, loss and the voice test. This stays on your local network and runs whether or not internet tests are on.
- The test server,
arrf-probe.neuralconfig.comby default. The phone measures latency to the nearest edge and runs short speed bursts against it. - Public services, for a one-off network policy check: Cloudflare’s and
Google’s STUN servers (
stun.cloudflare.com,stun.l.google.com), Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1, plain, DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-HTTPS viacloudflare-dns.com), Cloudflare’s time server (time.cloudflare.com), and Apple’s captive-portal test page (captive.apple.com). Each sees this iPhone’s public IP address, as with any website.
The RUCKUS pack adds its own traffic — your access points over SSH, and your RUCKUS One region’s API host if you connect a tenant. See Setting up a RUCKUS One account.
What is sent, and what isn’t?
Section titled “What is sent, and what isn’t?”| Sent to the test server | Never sent |
|---|---|
| Small timing packets | Your name or any account (there is no NeuralConfig account) |
| Speed-test data — short bursts, tens of MB on a fast line | Your location |
A random install ID in the X-ARRF-Install header, used only for fair-use limits | The Wi-Fi network name (SSID) |
Your trial state (trial or unlocked) in the X-ARRF-Tier header; the server ignores it and doesn’t store it | Survey data, cubes, floor plans or photos |
The install ID is a random UUID created on first use and stored in the iOS Keychain, so it survives reinstalling the app on the same iPhone. It carries no identity. The server keeps only usage counters: bytes per install ID per day (the last 7 days, for the fair-use allowance), and which Cloudflare location answered.
What does the Internet tests sheet ask?
Section titled “What does the Internet tests sheet ask?”Before the first survey or Network Test that would contact the test server, ARRF shows a one-time Internet tests sheet explaining the above. It has three choices:
| Choice | What it does |
|---|---|
| Continue | Use NeuralConfig’s test server. |
| Use my own server | Enter the host of a self-hosted copy of the ARRF probe server (HTTPS, port 443), then tap Use this server (or Back). It must be a bare host name or IPv4 address — no https:// or path. |
| Skip internet tests | Turn internet tests off. “Skipping keeps every test on your own network: router latency, jitter, loss, voice and roaming still run. Speed bursts need a local iperf3 server.” |
How do I change it later?
Section titled “How do I change it later?”Everything lives under Settings → Experience:
- Internet tests — on by default. Turning it off stops all contact with the test server and the policy-check services: no internet latency, no internet call lane, no policy check, and no cloud speed bursts. Router latency, jitter, loss, voice and roaming still run, and the Survey lobby reads “Phone-measured · internet tests off”.
- Test server — shown while Internet tests is on. Blank uses
arrf-probe.neuralconfig.com; enter your own host to self-host. - Local iperf3 server — host or host:port (default port 5201). Speed bursts
then run over your own network only; run
iperf3 -son a wired machine.
What does ARRF’s App Store privacy label say?
Section titled “What does ARRF’s App Store privacy label say?”ARRF’s privacy manifest declares no tracking and one collected data type: Device ID (the random install ID), for App Functionality and Analytics, not linked to your identity and not used for tracking. Surveys are saved to the app’s own storage and never uploaded; credentials stay in the iOS Keychain.
The full policy is at neuralconfig.com/privacy/arrf/.