Home handypeople may be familiar with the “StudSensor,” a device that uses ultrasonic signals to find wooden studs behind the sheetrock in the walls of your house. Now computer peripheral maker Kensington has introduced an alternative for users looking for Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) connections when they’re on the road: The WiFi Finder, a handheld wireless network detector that works completely independently of your computer.
With the WiFi Finder, you can figure out if there’s a wireless network before you haul out your iBook or PowerBook to see if you can actually get a connection. The pocket-sized device measures about 2.95 x 0.39 x 2.17 inches, and sports a button that you depress to activate. A three light display indicates signal strength, much the same way as Airport’s menu bar signal strength meter functions.
What’s more, the device is designed to filter out wireless signals emanating from other devices, like cordless phones, Bluetooth networks and microwave ovens. Kensington claims the WiFi Finder sports a signal range of up to 200 feet, and detects both 802.11b (AirPort) and 802.11g (AirPort Extreme) networks.
Suggested retail pricing was not available from Kensington’s Web site when MacCentral posted this article, but street prices run about US$22.