Kensington WiFi Finder Plus

Kensington WiFi Finder Plus

by Adam Cochran
September 2005

Kensington's WiFi Finder Plus is one of the most useful devices a portable computer users can carry in his bag.

Almost every computer on the market today comes with built-in WiFi capabilities. This means that if you are at a hotel, truck stop, campus or home that offers WiFi access, you can connect to the Internet without wires or special software.

Finding a WiFi hotspot can be difficult though. You could easily use up your entire battery just scouting neighborhoods for a signal. Kensington's WiFi Finder Plus is the solution to this scenario. Pressing the button on the device scans the area and shows the availability and power of WiFi signals. The WiFi Finder Plus also detects Bluetooth signals as well, but I found that the device reported a variety of signals as "Bluetooth" including wireless Internet and cordless phones in some cases.

Although the WiFi Finder does not report whether a network is open or closed, simply detecting networks is all you really need. Once you detect a network you know whether or not you need to pull out the laptop and try to connect.

Recently, while traveling through downtown Denver, Colorado, I pulled out the WiFi Finder and found that almost every block had at least three WiFi areas without WiFi.

I keep my WiFi Finder in my car and use it several times each month as I carry my laptop. I also use it at client's houses. Before I have them invest in broadband Internet or a WiFi router, I check the spot for a signal. If I find one, I setup my laptop and see who is broadcasting the signal.

Often neighbors are more than willing to share some of the expense for their connection in exchange for sharing the bandwidth. Check with your service provider to see if this violates the contract, and do not connect to an open network without permission.

If you travel with your laptop, I think the WiFi Finder Plus is an essential accessory.

Castellini on Computers Rating (1-5 mics)
Recommended Market:	Anyone who travels with a laptop and wants to connect to wireless web access.
Approximate cost:	$30
Company and Web Site:	Kensington