WiFi Seeker, Finder, Detector Roundup

captainJam points to this review at handtops.com of five reasonably priced hardware WiFi finders. A snippet: "If you're not using a WiFi enabled PDA, you either have to turn on your handtop or laptop, or wake it from standby just to check if there's a network in the area. While a WiFi Finder / Seeker won't make a connection out of thin air, it will conveniently tell you whether there is a WiFi network in the area."

Comments

Re:Encryption and Access

[The Cisco Kid]

The point is to save you the trouble of opening the laptop if there is *NO* wap in range.

So what's inside?

[Alwin Henseler]

With prices ranging from $25-$50, I can't help the obvious thought: what needs to be inside such a WiFi finder, and... what should a simple thingie like this cost?

Duhh.. antenna (cheap), plastic box (cents), couple of LED's/switches (cents), batteries (included?), small PCB (cheap), some dedicated IC's (???, anyone got some info here?), design/packaging/retail etc. (large portion of street price?)

Easy to build yourself as hobby project? Estimated price a couple of years from now?

Re:time

[Erwos]

Have you ever tried to take out a laptop and do something useful with it while walking?

I could easily press a button on a keychain while walking. Hell, even that $50 fancy one looks easy enough to manage. There's NO WAY your laptop is going to be as easy to use.

If I am hunting for a WiFi signal, I don't want to stop, find a place to rest a laptop, spend thirty seconds setting it up, and then clicking a couple times to see if, indeed, there is a signal even ONCE. Screw doing it over and over.

"I don't really see the use for these devices"

Stop being so self-centered, and maybe you would.

-Erwos