Customer Reviews

Canary Wireless The Digital Hotspotter

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

VERY happy with this. There are cheaper WiFi detectors around, and smaller ones, but this one is highly portable (check the picture with it in a hand for size) although a little too large for a keyfob. However, what it lacks in smallness, it more than makes up for in utility. As well as giving directionally sensitive signal strength information, it shows the name of the network and whether or not it is secure. Having all this information BEFORE hauling out and booting up your laptop is a real timesaver. You can also use this to troubleshoot your home or office network.

Use is simple, for example, enter hotel lobby or Starbucks, remove from pocket. Press button once. It then reads: "Wifi detection: scanning: -= T-Mobile - Open" and you know you're good to go.

My only minor criticism is that its cool design seems to lend itself to slipping out of my hand more often than if it was just boring and flat. That does not prevent me from giving it a 5-star rating though. Everyone with a wireless laptop should have one of these.

Just got my "Canary", and I am very pleased! Drove up to a church, a diner, a coffee cafe, triggered the Canary, and voila, found an "open" (free) WiFi connection at all three places.

This neat device would rate five stars except for two points. The lcd data screen is unreadable in low light, and the ergonomics of the device could be improved: the start button should be to the front of the device rather than at the rear; and the lanyard ring should be at the rear of the device (and upsized a bit) rather than on the front end.

Works great - definitely a plus to not only show whether a WiFi signal is available, but whether or not it is encrypted. Highly recommend it.

Hello! As a very "tech" cat, I take my trusty laptop nearly everywhere with me and usually spend hours with it at a coffee shop. Eventually I became curious as to just how many wireless accesses are out there. So when I found out about Canary Wireless Digital Hotspotter, I was hooked like a cat on catnip!

As soon as I got the item, I could hardly wait to try it out. The next day on the way to/from work, when I'm stopped at a traffic light, I would use the device. WOW! A hit. I press the button again and get another hit! Another press and yet another hit. I got many hits, especially in busy areas. It was loads of fun to look around and try to figure out which building emitted the signal. I'm not certain as to what the range for this device is, but it has to be pretty wide! One of the commentors here said it's about 1/4 mile radius - that sounds right to me.

I have a secure wireless router deep in the center of my home. So I walk outside to the front of my immediate neighbor's house. Yep, the device could detect my router! So I keep moving away until I'm at the third house away. Still a hit, albeit with a weaker signal. There were other hits coming from my neighbors, too, many of them marked "open". Makes me glad that mine is cloaked (certainly not foolproof, but better than nothing).

The hotspotter also helps me determine the wireless strength of the coffee shops that I go to. If it's a nice day outside and the strength is strong enough, I enjoy the internet outside.

Pros: Among numerous other good points, it's very intuitive. Tech "newbies" shouldn't have any problems figuring it out. It seems to last a while on two AAA batteries.

Cons: The device is square-ish and fits the palm of my paw, but it's kind of awkward to hold. Probably would be better if it were shaped like a rectangle. It's also made of smooth plastic which could slip out of your hand. So that made me wish it had grooves/rubber for better grip. These are minor peeves, though, it still gets 5 stars from me!

Conclusion: Highly recommended, especially for those who travel with a laptop, or for tech geeks who get a kick out of finding wireless accesses. This device rules. Rowr!

(This article was written in September 2006. It's March 2009 now, and I still have this device! I still use it, too! It goes to show that it's purr-tty durable if it's handled like a newborn kitten.)

This is a great wifi finder. While traveling it is nice to be able to find an open or free hotspot. Knowing that it is open is of key importance to me. I don't want to keep stopping only to find out, after getting the laptop out, that it is secure. It is priced higher than several other brands but it is well worth it.

This unit works perfectly....it is very simple...simply push a button and you get wifi in an area of about a 1/4 mile radius. It tells you the name of the wifi...if it's secure or available...and it's signal strength....all in a matter of seconds. Very simple to use. So much better than powering up your laptop then finding "nothing". Highly recommend it.

This device is more expensive than most, but well worth it. Instead of needing too long to detect to be practical, it locks in after just a couple seconds when there is a decent signal, and finds even weak signals in a few more seconds.. Plus, it tells you the name of the WAN, and whether it's open or secure, so you don't waste time with a secure network.

This is a great product. It tells you everything you need to know, including the ssid, the signal, and if it is encrypted or not. Now I don't have to pull my laptop out to see if there is a wifi signal around or not. Much easier to handle than my laptop.

It is fun to use this as you walk or drive around and see all the open networks, with default names and presumably admin passwords, that people have set up. Also nice to see channel numbers, in case you want to change yours. A few small problems:
1. Button on the front gets pressed in your pocket or bag, harming battery life (mine said "low battery" shortly after purchase).
2. It showed nothing at Logan airport, but when I fired up my laptop there was a very strong signal.
3. Text scrolls quite slowly. Also, you press button again to see next network -- would be nice if it said total found up front.

Works flawlessly. With this little gadget on the market I would never consider spending money on a Wi-Fi finder that doesn't have the ability to tell whether a hotspot is open or encrypted. The only improvement I would suggest is to recess the button to avoid accidently turning on the unit while carrying it in the pocket. I have started carrying it in my jacket pocket, rather than my pants pocket and that seems to have taken care of that issue.