Keychain accessory finds hot spots

01:49 AM CDT on Thursday, October 6, 2005

By WALT ZWIRKO / WFAA-TV

Walt Zwirko / WFAA-TV

Five green lights means a strong signal.

If you're a road warrior, you probably count on wireless Wi-Fi connections to keep up with the Internet while you're on the go.

If you're in the vicinity of a Starbucks, or in a big airport terminal, you know that a "hot spot" is likely to be present. But that invisible beacon lurks in a great many unexpected places.

Obviously, it's not very convenient to lug your laptop around while seeking a wireless Internet connection. It's also murder on your notebook battery.

That's why computer users on the go will welcome the Iogear Wireless Hotspot Finder ($30). It's a handy device about the size of a remote car door opener and designed to be attached to your keychain.

Operation couldn't be easier. Just press the "detect" button and four green LED lights begin flashing as the unit searches for a signal.

If a hot spot is unearthed, one or more green lights will remain lit—the more lights, the stronger the transmission.

A fifth LED, colored red, is your signal to try another location.

The primary problem is that the availability of a signal is no guarantee you'll be able to use it to link to the Internet (at least not for free). In some cases, you'll be detecting a private, encrypted signal. Other hot spots are public, but require a subscription to access.

With that caveat, this is still a product that can save you time when you're desperately seeking a mobile Web fix. If you rely on hot spots as part of your daily routine, you need the Iogear Wireless Hotspot Finder.

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E-mail askwalt@wfaa.com