Wifi Detection

I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I would like
to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that can tell me if it
detects an 802.11g network, signal strength, channel, mode and presence of
encryption. Would appreciate recommendations from others on suitable
devices, price range and source.

Regards,

Terry

"Terry Smythe" <smythe@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:21rmi.119619$NV3.46185@pd7urf2no...
>I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I would like
>to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that can tell me if it
>detects an 802.11g network, signal strength, channel, mode and presence of
>encryption. Would appreciate recommendations from others on suitable
>devices, price range and source.
>
> Regards,
>
> Terry

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-330.../dp/B0002XHFPS
>
>
>

Dana wrote:
> "Terry Smythe" <smythe@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:21rmi.119619$NV3.46185@pd7urf2no...
>> I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I
>> would like to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that
>> can tell me if it detects an 802.11g network, signal strength,
>> channel, mode and presence of encryption. Would appreciate
>> recommendations from others on suitable devices, price range and
>> source. Regards,
>>
>> Terry
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-330.../dp/B0002XHFPS

That, like a lot of the cheap stuff, will only do the first thing the OP
wants (not actual computerSSID, channel, mode, encryption, internet
availabilty etc)... For something that does all that and fits in your
pocket, about the only thing I have found is a PDA (with WiFi, and running
something like Ministumbler or Cironds WinC).. Tried the kensington thing,
now do the PDA/software thing and have it velcroed to the steering wheel of
my car, so I can see the screen as I drive.

"Dana" <raff242@yahoo.com> hath wroth:

>"Terry Smythe" <smythe@shaw.ca> wrote in message
>news:21rmi.119619$NV3.46185@pd7urf2no...
>>I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I would like
>>to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that can tell me if it
>>detects an 802.11g network, signal strength, channel, mode and presence of
>>encryption. Would appreciate recommendations from others on suitable
>>devices, price range and source.

>http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-330.../dp/B0002XHFPS

That one will only tell you that there's a wi-fi signal, not any of
the other information requested. I usually use a laptop running some
kind of sniffer software, but that's not pocket size. My XV6700 cell
phone runs WiFiFoFum, but that's a rather expensive solution.

One gizmo I've used with an LCD display showing connection details is
this one for about $100:
<http://www.trendnet.com/products/TEW-429UF.htm>
<http://www.trendnet.com/products/TEW-429UF_1.htm>
It's also fairly big for pocket size.
97.3 x 28.6 x 14 mm (3.8 x 1.1 x 0.6 inches)

This one has been discontinued, but a new version is coming
real-soon-now:
<http://www.canarywireless.com/apache2-default/products_hotspotter.html>

What I've found is that a pocket wi-fi detector is next to useless. If
I'm in a coffee shop, I already know that there's wireless. If I'm
trying to find an open wi-fi connection in a crowded area, it responds
to secured and unsecured networks equally. If I'm in a wi-fi crowded
area, the list on the LCD display to far too long. It's both quicker
and easier to just fire up the laptop and see what I get, than to try
and 2nd guess what's available with a pocket wi-fi detector. The only
good thing about them is that they'll detect networks that are not
broadcasting their SSID.

Incidentally, there seem to be huge variations in sensitivity among
the various wi-fi detector products. I have on of these:
<http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GWF001>
and it's about right, matching the range of my laptop quite well.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Terry Smythe wrote:
> I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I would like
> to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that can tell me if it
> detects an 802.11g network, signal strength, channel, mode and presence of
> encryption. Would appreciate recommendations from others on suitable
> devices, price range and source.

There are several USB combination detector/adapter units with LCD
displays that fill your bill. Someone already mentioned Trendnet's
entry. In addition look at the ZyXEL AG-225H (the one I have) and
Linksys' WUSBF54G. These things were all the rage when they first came
out a couple of years ago but to get one now you'll probably have to
order it online (hope you have time before you leave). Not many
brick-and-mortar stores stock them any more. You might be able to get
the Linksys at a Circuit City store near you by asking for it to be sent
there, and CompUSA at least used to carry both it and the ZyXEL. At any
rate, I'd go ahead and pop for one of these rather than settling for one
of those cheap LED detectors that only give you a vague idea of what
they find-and can't be used as an adapter in a low-signal-strength pinch.

Another option is these guys:
http://www.jiwire.com/jiwire-downloads.htm
I don't work for 'em, but I did give them $25 for their VPN service.
Works good.

Terry Smythe wrote:
> I will be travelling on the road. with a vacation trailer. I would like
> to carry in my pocket a wifi detector of some kind that can tell me if it
> detects an 802.11g network, signal strength, channel, mode and presence of
> encryption. Would appreciate recommendations from others on suitable
> devices, price range and source.
>
> Regards,
>
> Terry
>
>
>

"Airman Thunderbird" <airman.basic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:RJ6dnWTorN5y6wfbnZ2dnUVZ_hjinZ2d@netdoor.com. ..
| Another option is these guys:
| http://www.jiwire.com/jiwire-downloads.htm
| I don't work for 'em, but I did give them $25 for their VPN service.
| Works good.

Good concept but the data base appears to be screwed. Regardless of what I
ask for I often as not get a list of everything including sites that are not
there.

On Jul 17, 2:27 am, "NotMe" <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
> "Airman Thunderbird" <airman.ba...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:RJ6dnWTorN5y6wfbnZ2dnUVZ_hjinZ2d@netdoor.com. ..
> | Another option is these guys:
> |http://www.jiwire.com/jiwire-downloads.htm
> | I don't work for 'em, but I did give them $25 for their VPN service.
> | Works good.
>
> Good concept but the data base appears to be screwed. Regardless of what I
> ask for I often as not get a list of everything including sites that are not
> there.

Have you seen this thingy called an Easy WiFi radar (www.makayama.com/
easywifiradar.html)? Apparently it lets you connect to the nearest
unsecured network.
Dunno if its legal but sure worth a try!!

In article <1184743921.588363.285300@e9g2000prf.googlegroups. com>, outbackwifi <shivkumar.jags@gmail.com> wrote:

>Have you seen this thingy called an Easy WiFi radar (www.makayama.com/
>easywifiradar.html)? Apparently it lets you connect to the nearest
>unsecured network.

So what in the world does this product do that Windows won't do when asked to
search for available wireless networks???

Art

On Jul 20, 12:16 pm, art.shap...@unisys.com (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:
> In article <1184743921.588363.285...@e9g2000prf.googlegroups. com>, outbackwifi <shivkumar.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Have you seen this thingy called an EasyWiFiradar(www.makayama.com/
> >easywifiradar.html)? Apparently it lets you connect to the nearest
> >unsecured network.
>
> So what in the world does this product do that Windows won't do when asked to
> search for available wireless networks???
>
> Art

1. It *automatically* connects to the strongest access point
2. It tries to load a web page--if it can't, it goes on to the next
strongest AP.
3. When it has a live connection it lets you know.

--all things Windows won't do all by itself!