Wi-Fi Hotspot Detector Shootout

Performance

The two key criteria we used for performance were range and accuracy. How well the detectors worked at finding available networks, and weeding out interfering signals.

Both scored 100 percent in our location hotspot tests, where we went out to various coffee shops and hotels offering Wi-Fi access, and scanned around. They worked even better than the built in AirPort Extreme card in our PowerBook, which has relatively poor range. Unfortunately, this also meant that some of the networks we detected with the keychain devices could not be found by the PowerBook when we tried to connect!

We really loved the Digital Hotspotter's SSID display feature, which helped us determine whether the network was a public one or not, and whether it was encrypted. The Wi-Fi Finder can only tell you that a signal is present, with no details. On the other hand, the WiFi Finder Plus is able to give a dynamic signal strength readout, gradually increasing as you get closer to an access point, while the Hotspotter can't do that. You need to re-press the button to get a new readout in each location you try, and if there is more than one network around, you'll end up having to cycle through all of them before you get back to the one you want, a time-consuming process that makes the Hotspotter almost useless for this task. It's easier to drag out your laptop at this point and use the signal strength meter for your Wi-Fi card.

In apartment or office environments with many Wi-Fi networks around, however, the Digital Hotspotter is the hands-down winner. In my house, which is next to a small triplex apartment building as well as a few single-family houses, it found no less than six available signals, including one cloaked network (with the SSID unbroadcast). It correctly showed low signal strength for all but my router, and helped me determine that I had better change the channel on my router to avoid interference from the neighbors. The same capabilities would be very useful in an office or public hotspot environment for site planning and detection of rogue access points.

With many networks around, the WiFi Finder Plus (like all the other analog detectors) simply falls down. It can't distinguish between multiple available networks, and even when held next to my router, it could only manage a single red blinking light. With Wi-Fi around, the Bluetooth detector also doesn't function, since Wi-Fi detection takes precedence. It didn't find my office Bluetooth devices.

Features

Design-wise, the WiFi Finder is much more attractive than the Canary. It's half the size, half the price, has a penlight, and a true keychain attachment. It's also easier to read outdoors, since the Canary LCD is not backlit. The Hotspotter has a slot that could possibly attach to some keychains, but it would be difficult. It's a device you'll need to keep in your laptop bag, rather than in your pocket.

One interesting feature the Hotspotter boasts is the ability to detect 13 channels of Wi-Fi (used in Europe), not just the 11 used in North America. On the other hand, it supposedly cannot detect certain popular models of routers, detailed on the Canary Web site, although we did not have any problems.

Battery Life

The Hotspotter automatically turns itself off after 30 seconds, to help save power. It takes two AAA batteries, which account for the large size of the case compared to other WiFI detectors (it's about double the size and weight of most). The WiFi Finder Plus takes two button batteries that turned out to be the same as the ones in my Volvo key remote. This was lucky since the batteries it shipped with were DOA. So I cannibalized my car remote for this review. The battery cover on the Kensington was also problematic. It requires a mini Philips-head screwdriver to open. Again, I was lucky that I had a mini Philips handy for opening computer cases. We used both detectors frequently over the course of several weeks, and they are still going strong. The companies say they should last a couple months in normal use.

The Bottom Line

If you're looking for a pro-level Wi-Fi detector that gives you information similar to Stumbler software on your laptop, the Canary Digital Hotspotter is the only game in town, and a very good one. If you just want to be able to find the best reception in Wi-Fi cafes or airports without first dragging out your laptop, the Kensington WiFi Finder Plus hits the spot for half the cost, and also detects Bluetooth.