Kensington Wi-Fi finder

I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
device anyway and my results are:

Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
-76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
-Frank

>I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
>searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
>this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
>not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
>device anyway and my results are:
>
>Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
>went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
>network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
>perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
>100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
>incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
>-76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
>my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
>information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
>-Frank

Mine finds my network and my 2.4Ghz phone.
------------
When your PC gives a little they give a lot.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/disco

Frank wrote:

> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> device anyway and my results are:
>
> Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> -Frank

What I read and heard is that it will not find a silent network. This
is a network in which the AP broadcasts its SSID but there is almost no
traffic on the segment. Leads me to believe that it is deaf to SSID
bradcasts.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Frank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> device anyway and my results are:
>
> Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> -Frank

Yeh, I also ordered the Kensington last week...unfortunately, because
today I read this:

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/008341.php#008341

Sigh!

--
Stork

What is your network, 802.11a, b, or g?

Bill Crocker



"Frank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> device anyway and my results are:
>
> Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> -Frank

You can always return it! It's not like its software.

Bill Crocker


"Stork" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:stork-(E-Mail Removed).. .
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> Frank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> > searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> > this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> > not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> > device anyway and my results are:
> >
> > Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> > went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> > network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> > perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> > 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> > incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> > -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> > my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> > information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> > -Frank
>
> Yeh, I also ordered the Kensington last week...unfortunately, because
> today I read this:
>
> http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/008341.php#008341
>
> Sigh!
>
> --
> Stork

This to respond to both of your posts, thanx:

My network is an 802.11b, and each of the networks in the stores was
also 802.11b. Returning the device isn't really a possibility, as it
does detect the networks in the stores. This implies something
different about my network. In good concience, at this time, I don't
feel good about returning it. Also, walking around town, there have
been multiple networks detected, but as it is Labor Day, I have not
been able to detect which stores the signals are emanating from. I
just think it would be nice if it would detect my network.

On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 22:33:29 -0400, "Bill Crocker"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>What is your network, 802.11a, b, or g?
>
>Bill Crocker
>
>
>
>"Frank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
>> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
>> this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
>> not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
>> device anyway and my results are:
>>
>> Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
>> went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
>> network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
>> perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
>> 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
>> incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
>> -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
>> my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
>> information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
>> -Frank
>

> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having

Should have googled this group!!

I don't see why anyone would consider buying a device that lights an LED
at a 2.4GHz signal! What does that tell you?

MAC filtering in use? Nope

It's a valid wireless signal? Nope

That you know the WEP key? Nope

There's a VPN requirement? Nope

There's WPA? Nope

802.1x? Nope

That you actually have permission? Nope

802.11b? Nope

802.11g? Nope

802.11g with b mode turned off? Nope

It's a paperweight, and I haven't got one.

I just bought one of them on a whim. But I did not open it until I got home
to do some google searches and I checked on Amazon where people comment.
Appears I was silly when I thought it would be a valuable tool. Its going
back.


"Frank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> This to respond to both of your posts, thanx:
>
> My network is an 802.11b, and each of the networks in the stores was
> also 802.11b. Returning the device isn't really a possibility, as it
> does detect the networks in the stores. This implies something
> different about my network. In good concience, at this time, I don't
> feel good about returning it. Also, walking around town, there have
> been multiple networks detected, but as it is Labor Day, I have not
> been able to detect which stores the signals are emanating from. I
> just think it would be nice if it would detect my network.
>
> On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 22:33:29 -0400, "Bill Crocker"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >What is your network, 802.11a, b, or g?
> >
> >Bill Crocker
> >
> >
> >
> >"Frank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
> >> I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> >> searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> >> this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> >> not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> >> device anyway and my results are:
> >>
> >> Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> >> went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> >> network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> >> perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> >> 100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> >> incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> >> -76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> >> my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> >> information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> >> -Frank
> >
>

Mine picks up my network, but roughly at about 1/2 the signal strength I
would expect based on my laptop and readings.
It did not get triggered by a 2.4 GHz video transmitter, nor by my 5.8 GHz
phone (as expected). I'm not too surprised that it picked up your 2.4 GHz
phone, although it says it shouldn't... did you have to have it close to
the phone?


Charles


"AJ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> >I have just purchased a Kensington Wi-Fi finder. Before this, I
> >searched the internet, and only found one report from anyone having
> >this device, and that report said that nine times out of ten, it did
> >not indicate his home Wi-Fi network. I went ahead and purchased this
> >device anyway and my results are:
> >
> >Almost ten times out of ten, it does not indicate my home network. I
> >went to local computer stores, and in every one that had a Wi-Fi
> >network working, the finder indicated that network. My network works
> >perfectly between my desktop and my PDA. Scanner software indicates a
> >100% signal strength on my home network. Looking at the power of the
> >incomming signal, it states that in the stores I am receiving about
> >-76dbm, and at home I am receiving about -50dbm. To my understanding,
> >my home network should be indicated. Does anyone have any more useful
> >information about the Kensington Wi-Fi finder? Thanx,
> >-Frank
>
> Mine finds my network and my 2.4Ghz phone.
> ------------
> When your PC gives a little they give a lot.
> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/disco