WiFi Finder Finds Itself Returned

posted on august 11, 2003, tag: tech

Just before I got Cable Internet access at the apartment two weeks ago, I was at the end of my rope. I was, daily, "about to call" the satellite Internet company and sign my life away to a one-year contract at $99/month for spotty, badly-reviewed service.

Two days before I got that lovely phone call from TWC telling me I finally had high-speed access, I was pulling hairs trying to figure out some way to get a fast connection in my apartment. One idea, prompted by a new gadget, was to try to find out if someone else in the area—with a high-speed connection—had a wireless network set up. Then, shamelessly, I planned to see if it was open (ie: not encrypted) so that I might latch onto it and steal some speed. Obviously this plan is flawed... there is no way it would work long-term. But, at the time, I was willing to try anything. (Note that I also had plans to find a WiFi network and approach the owner, willing to pay to share the service... I'm not all bad).

Enter the Kensington WiFi Finder (should absolutely be renamed WiFinder), the gadget that would help me execute my plan (in theory). It's a great idea: a small device that will detect both 802.11b and g WiFi "hot-spots" with the push of a button—no computer required. It has three LEDs on its small silvery plastic face, and depending on signal strength they light up (red equals no signal, two green lights for strength).

I made a stop at the Circuit City on Union Square and picked up the last one of three they had (it's a new product). Before buying it, I pushed the button through the plastic, and the device showed I was in a WiFi hot-spot of one-light strength. I asked the cashier if they had WiFi, and he said no. Then he reminded me that Starbucks does have a network—and it's a few hundred feet away. Not bad, I thought. But the signal then turned red. I tried it again, and could not manage to get the signal to pick up, even when I walked to the window facing the Square. But it was only $30, so I bought it.

On the walk home from the subway station (about 4 blocks), I constantly pushed the button, looking for signal. I found two places where the green lights were lit, but only in one of two would the lights come back after searching again. I realized this meant nothing to me, unless I was planning on living in the street 3 blocks from my apartment. In my apartment, though, is where it really got interesting.

I have an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station, running in 802.11b/g compatibility mode (I'm using my iBook for some xPad testing in Panther), and it would only detect the network, while standing next to the Base Station, and even then, only every few times. When detected, the signal would only be one green light, unless I was utilizing the network (then it was two). I guess the WiFi Finder has an easier time finding active networks than inactive networks (which is stupid, since most of the time it would seem like you're looking for either, not just a network that's pumping bytes).

In the end, the WiFi Finder was absolutely useless to me. Not just because it found no other networks around me, but because when it did find a network, it was too anonymous. I knew nothing about it. One green light could mean 10% signal strength for all I know, or the network could be locked, and why would I want to find those networks? This device would be useful for walking around NYC making a map of hot-spots, but not as useful as, say, a laptop. I know the point here is to find a hot-spot without having to take your laptop out, and for that it will at least work partially (assuming people are actively using the network), but it's not worth carrying around unless you're a die-hard war-driver (in which case you probably prefer using a laptop anyway).

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