HOW TO FIND A HOTSPOT
Wireless Internet connections are great, if you can find one. But
I'll tell you how to know when you have access, even without a
computer! The 802.11b and faster 802.11g wireless access protocols,
better known as WiFi are beginning to appear in an ever-growing number
of public places. Most notable is McDonald's, the world's largest
restaurant chain that recently announced "Hot Spots" in 75 locations
in the San Francisco area alone. The fast-food chain is charging $4.95
for two hours of WiFi access, but buy a burger and fries and you can
use the technology for free. Hot Spots are appearing at other popular
food places such as Starbucks, and Schlotzky's delis based out of
Austin, Texas. Hot Spots are also appearing in libraries, airports,
hotels and there's no end in sight.
Normally, these places post some kind of signage to announce it's a
Hot Spot but you could easily miss the signs if you aren't looking
closely. So the only other way to find if the location sports a
wireless connection was to keep your computer or PDA turned on. Now
that's not too big an inconvenience for a PDA, but walking around with
your notebook open is awkward at best and people will look at you
funny. So the good people at Kensington have come up with a better way
to locate a WiFi connection.
 This
amazing little gadget is aptly called the "WiFi Finder" and what's
really nice about it is that it's so tiny, it fits on a keychain!
Kensington is billing their little WiFi sniffer-outer as the only WiFi
detector on the market today. The device is about a simple as it gets
when it comes using it. It sports just one button and three green
lights. Press and hold down the button. If you are standing in or near
a WiFi connection, the lights will glow. Three means you are standing
in a location with a strong signal, two for a weaker one and one for
just barely there. But even if only one light is glowing, according to
Kensington, you still have enough of a signal to go online. Your
access speed is directly proportionate to the signal strength, so one
light means you won't be surfing at blazing speeds but it is good
enough for sending and receiving text email.
Kensington says their WiFi Finder will detect a valid WiFi signal
up to 200 feet away. The unit is smart enough to know the difference
between WiFi and other wireless signals. If filters out things like
signals from cordless phones, Bluetooth networks, cell phones and even
microwave ovens, all of which you'd most certainly find around you
while sitting in a McDonald's.
The WiFi Finder uses a small watch battery and sells for $39.95. If
you plan to frequent Hot Spots, you'll really appreciate having one of
these little units dangling on your keychain. Imagine all of those
impressed looks you'll get when you tell the inquisitive that you are
"Scanning for an 802.11b signal." They may even give you a Happy Meal
for that one.
www.kensington.com |
