More reports on problems with the credit-card sized Kensington WiFi Finder: I posted a report from Bob Rudis on his early experience with the first cheap and small device that alerts you to Wi-Fi networks. Now, even more bad news via Kensington's technical support quoted in a post to Dave Farber's Interesting People list as to why networks aren't being found:
There are 2 possibilities: 1) Your work has an encrypted network, by
design the wifi finder will not detect networks that do not want to be
detected. The wifi finder will detect a peer to peer network at your
work site but you had better check with your helpdesk/IT manager before
setting up peer to peer wireless networks - this can compromise your
companys security and maybe even your job!
2) Your work is using a recently upgraded form of 802.11g. Network
speed helps productivity so it is likely your IT manager is always
looking for ways to go faster. The wifi finder design uses a version of
802.11g prior to that standards finalization. It is possible that your
network has been upgraded and wifi finder does not yet know how to look
for that network protocol. Look for updated Kensington wifi finders
coming soon.
Uh, what about our existing units? Will Kensington replace them? There's no interface, so I can't see how they'd provide a firmware upgrade.
Maybe it will use the wireless interface to upload a firmware patch =P lol i doubt it. They will probably just expect people to buy a new one. bastards.
First, it's simple. You turn it on and it tells you if you're near a hotspot.
Second, it's erratic. The indication of signal strength varies greatly depending on the direction the device is pointing.
Third, it's cheap. The on/off button doesn't work very well. I had to press it about 20 times to get it to turn on, then when I was done, I couldn't turn it off. After a couple of days, the batteries died.
Conclusion: $30 for a use-once-and-throw-away WiFi Finder is too much. I'll use my Axim, thank you.