«

Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
model?

" MS" <> wrote in message
news:eMe$...
> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?
>
>

I use a Cirrus Logic finder that I got for free at the CES earlier this
year. Works great.
--
Bearman
If it's got tits, tires, tubes, or transistors, it's trouble.

MS wrote:
> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?

The Hawking model will find Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless phones and microwave
ovens. It can't distinguish between them.

> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?

They work fine. I guess it depends on your need. You can identify wireless
locations, but you still have to login to your computer to determine whether
they are protected or open.

-Frank

I tried one, and don't find it very useful. I'll be returning it to the
store. I wondered if some are better.

Actually a rather high-end one I got--the Kensington "Wi-Fi Finder Plus".
(It was on sale, so price not bad.) The couple times I tried it, I haven't
found it very useful. I think it only registers a signal if it is pretty
high, not registering at all lower signals that might still be usable.

It has IMO a very questionable feature--it shows Bluetooth signals (separate
indicator-a blue light) as well as wi-fi signals. I use Bluetooth a lot,
actually, have a BT phone and headset, etc. But no one searches for
"Bluetooth hot spots", etc., no such thing exists. People who use BT have
their own BT devices that connect to one another, they do not search for a
BT signal, no need for a "BT Finder".

The thing is--the device cannot show both a Wi-fi and a Bluetooth signal at
the same time. If both are present, it can only show one or the other. It is
supposed to give preference to wi-fi in such a situation, but I don't always
find that to be the case. I have seen the BT light go on (and no wi-fi
indicator) when I know a wi-fi signal is present and usable. As I always
have BT with me (carrying the BT phone and headset), that bluetooth
indicator can get in the way of the wi-fi indication. (Besides being a waste
of power, for that blue light to go on often.) (No way to turn off the BT
indicator, from what I can see.)

Anyhow, I'm planning to return this one, and wonder whether some really work
well.

From responses so far, I see the following--

Bearman writes that the Cirrus Logic one that he got for free works well. (I
don't recall seeing that one for sale anywhere though.)

Dan R writes that the Hawking model picks up wi-fi signals, but also
wireless phones and microwave ovens, and cannot distinguish between them.
That doesn't sound like a good model.

Frankster writes: "They work fine". Could you please be more specific,
regarding the word "they" here? Which ones have you used, that work fine? I
have not got good results with the Kensington model I tried, and Dan did not
get good results with the Hawking model he tried. Those two models
obviously did not "work fine" for us. I doubt you (Frankster) could have
tried every model available, so could you please elaborate on which models
you have tried, and how they worked. (Of course, as you write, the "finder"
cannot tell for you if the wi-fi connection is open or protected. But please
tell us how well the one or ones you have used pick up and indicate wi-fi
signals of different strengths, and whether they also, as Don's Hawking
model did, pick up unwanted signals such as microwave ovens and telephones.

Thanks to all for your responses.




"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news:_o-dnaU1Qa479M_eRVn-...
> > Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> > model?
>
> They work fine. I guess it depends on your need. You can identify wireless
> locations, but you still have to login to your computer to determine
whether
> they are protected or open.
>
> -Frank
>
>

" MS" <> wrote in message
news:eMe$...
> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?
>
>

Cant say as I know why people would want them outside of a technical need
for their job. I just downloaded and installed Netstumbler and when I turn
my laptop on, it and my NIC's associated prog find any nearby wi-fi hotspots
if they are open to be found by anyone. The difference with netstumbler is
that it can record the presence and other things of found networks. I use
Netstumbler if with someone with wi-fi and trying to impress on them that
being open with no encryption is not a good idea. You wouldn't believe how
many people still think that no harm will come of it. I point out that
anyone doing anything illegal with wi-fi on their connection may never be
seen by them but the feds will have the details of their logon and point the
finger at them. That seems to change their minds. Think of the most
disgusting name for what people get arrested for, when using Internet and
point out how easy it would be for someone to use their network and ask them
who the feds will think was using it. One person I convinced was actually an
officer in child protective services. Absolutely no clue about how dangerous
wi-fi can be.

MS wrote:
> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?

This might be a good one.
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1647

"DanR" <> wrote in message
news:BgD4f.2259$ ...

> This might be a good one.
> http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1647

That product is really a whole different ball game than ordinary wi-fi
finders. It is supposed to detect security, which protocols, etc., and is
also a USB wi-fi adapter. Nice idea, if it really works as advertised, and
is accurate in its readings. It looks like its price is around 3-5 times as
much as normal wi-fi finders, so it really is a whole different class of
product.

" MS" <> wrote in message
news:eMe$...
> Has anyone found one of these little things to be useful? If so, which
> model?
>
>
Haven't bought one yet but if I did it would be the Canary HS-10 currently
$59.99.
Shows SSID, signal strength, encryption status, and channel. For the price
I find it simpler to just carry around my laptop.

http://www.canarywireless.com/

Ted

"Ted" <> wrote in message
news:...

> Haven't bought one yet but if I did it would be the Canary HS-10 currently
> $59.99.
> Shows SSID, signal strength, encryption status, and channel. For the
price
> I find it simpler to just carry around my laptop.
>
> http://www.canarywireless.com/
>
> Ted

That is similar to the one DanR referred to (Zyxel) in the Realtech article.
That one actually has a couple advantages over the Canary one, in that it is
1)smaller, more pocketable, 2)doubles as a USB wi-fi adapter, and 3) detects
A as well as B and G. It is a little more expensive though, the lowest price
I saw was at $69.99 (* URL below, re-branded as "Allspot") , and up from
there.

(http://www.allnet-usa.com/html/shop.php?kat=WiFi+54Mbit

(Scroll down that page to find it.)

Certainly those two models (I wouldn't be surprised if more are coming)
offer much more functionality than a normal "wi-fi finder", but at a much
higher price. I would certainly want to read reviews of them before shelling
out that kind of money, to see how well they actually work.