The Pitch and Product
| Canary Wireless Digital Hotspotter | |
|---|---|
| Summary | First 802.11b/g access point finder that reports SSID, channel and encryption status in addition to signal strength |
| Update | None |
| Pros | • Shows SSID, signal strength and encryption status • Detection range consistent with PC card clients |
| Cons | • Makes a real bulge in your pocket • Display is not backlit |
The Digital Hotspotter from Canary Wireless has caused quite a stir in the WLAN detector market since it's the first product to provide more than just raw signal detection. A push of its single button activates a scrolling display that shows the SSID, signal strength, encryption status and channel number of in-range 802.11b or g access points and wireless routers (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Displayed information
Figure 2 gives you an idea of the size of the Hotspotter, which I found to be on the large-ish side. I suppose those who wear cargo pants wouldn't have a problem using it as a keychain fob, but carrying it in normal slacks or jeans pockets is likely to elicit a variation of the old "... or are you happy to see me?" line.
Figure 2: Sizing it up
(click image for a larger view)
The Hotspotter is powered by two AAA cells (included), which is a plus for their wider availability over button-type cells, but a minus in that they contribute to the product's heft.
Figures 3 and 4 show views of the board, which uses a Microchip PIC16F74 8-bit microcontroller. The other large device in Figure 3 is an Atmel ATF1504ATV PLD (programmable logic device).
Figure 3: Board top
(click image for a larger view)
The side of the board shown in Figure 4 contains the antenna (left side of picture) and the RF components making up the receiver.
Figure 4: Board bottom
(click image for a larger view)
By the way, the Hotspotter appears to have been designed by Delta Mobile Software. But when I asked them to confirm this, I never received a reply.