Two WiFi detection and analysis devices were launched on the South African market this month.
Local online retailer Nanoelf started distributing the Digital Hotspotter from US company Canary Wireless, aimed at mobile users who need to get connected at different venues.
"It can take five minutes just to power up your laptop, wait for it to boot, then discover that there are either no available wireless access points or they are encrypted," says Nanoelf CEO Paul Maher.
The Digital Hotspotter is a pocket-sized second-generation WiFi detection and analysis device that provides information about most wireless 802.11 b/g WiFi networks, such as signal strength, channel, SSID and type of encryption.
The second product, the DWL-30 WiFi detector from consumer network connectivity group D‑Link, is also a pocket-sized device that quickly establishes the availability of wireless network signals in an area, says Karien Wood, marketing communications executive at D-Link Africa.
"We`re rapidly transforming from a world wrapped in wires to one that is wireless, so this little device makes life so much easier, especially when you are travelling," comments Wood.
The D-Link Wireless 2.4GHz WiFi detector can instantly detect any WiFi hotspot in the vicinity, and then indicate its signal strength via five LED lights, Wood claims. She adds that the device will detect 2.4GHz ISM band signals only, so no signal confusion can result. All other wireless signals are filtered out.
The device is available through Pinnacle Micro and Drive Control Corporation.
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