Hot item for spotting Wi-Fi networks

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 12/23/2004 | Howard Wolinsky

[Mike Bates]

Canary Wireless LLC, a Chicago start-up, has launched the first hand-held device that not only detects Wi-Fi hot spots and measures how strong their signals are, but can tell whether they are open for subscribers or available for a free ride to check e-mail.

Wi-Fi buff Ben Kern, 34, a technology lawyer with Gordon & Glickson, who founded Canary Wireless, said, "Wi-Fi is booming, and people need an easy way to find hot spots they can use."

[Mike Bates]

Pocket protector alert.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[cyborg]

I predict he'll be a billionaire.

[grb]

PING

[melbell]

A wi-fi beeber stuner!!

[BunnySlippers]

My new Mac PowerBook just logs me onto an open network ... it doesn't even ask. How can it be easier?

[RosieCotton]

I can still see the use of this, though - it's a lot easier to drag out than a laptop if you just want to check! Cool...

Be pretty useless up here in the stone age, though...though it's slowly getting better.

[Portnoy]

When I turn the WiFI on in my Dell Axim, it immediatley looks for open networks, then lets me choose.

When I was in New orleans, the hotel I was staying in charged $6 an hour for WiFi. In my room on the 12th floor, I could pick up the signal from another hotel two blocks away that was giving it away free....

[Mike Bates]

When I turn the WiFI on in my Dell Axim, it immediatley looks for open networks, then lets me choose.

And your machine isn't even a Mac? Wow. :)

[BigSkyFreeper]

When I turn the WiFI on in my Dell Axim, it immediatley looks for open networks, then lets me choose.

Much the same way cellphones operate.

[Pharmboy]

But can it locate free range MOOSE??

[melbell]

whoops..you lost me there...I don't know the MOOSE reference.

Please educate me.

[philetus]

FYI ping

[BunnySlippers]

I can still see the use of this, though - it's a lot easier to drag out than a laptop if you just want to check! Cool...

So far I have not found anywhere that I cannot pick up wi-fi ... but then I am in the city. Undoubtedly it would be harder to find in a rural area.

[scab4faa]

He's with my sister and the cheese.

[BunnySlippers]

And your machine isn't even a Mac? Wow. :)

Better yet, let's all go out and buy a Wi-Fi Spotter!

[KevinDavis]

Talk about a good product... I wonder if this company is on the stock market...

[tm22721]

But can it track down ovulating women ?

BUMP

[Sloth]

$25

http://www.softwareandstuff.com/CES10383.html

[Mike Bates]

I'll have to get out the dictionary and find out what that means.