Hotspot Hunters

You can connect to a wireless hotspot from almost every airport, coffee house, or library. But unless they visibly advertise this "free" service, you'll need a Wi-Fi detector to locate nearby hotspots. Nothing could be more trying than unpacking your gear, and walking around with an open laptop to detect any available wireless networks. So take a look at these portable Wi-Fi finders, all small enough to fit inside your purse or even hang from your keychain.

For a quick hotspot check, take a look at the IOGear GWF001 WiFi Hotspots Explorer. LED indicators light up when detecting a Wi-Fi access point within 500 feet. Its compact size makes it easy to attach to your key chain or carry inside your pockets. Other keyring detectors include the Mobile Edge WiFi locator or Kensington's WiFi Finder Plus which also has a Bluetooth detector. These simple detectors will cost you around $20 to $40.

But detecting a signal doesn't mean you can always use it. It all depends on whether the signal is coming from a public hotspot or a private secure connection that requires a password. To gauge on the signal's availability, you'll need a device like the ZyXEL AG-255H which is one of the first hotspot finders to detect all three 802.11a/b/g protocols, as well as network names (SSID), security, and signal strength. It displays all this information on a tiny LCD screen.

Another similar device is the Linksys WUSBF54G that works as a wireless adapter and hotspot detector. You can select one of 15 networks simply by scrolling through them. Once you select the desired network, you just plug it into your notebook to start a connection. Like the ZyXel AG-255H, it also shows you the network name, channel, signal strength, and security settings on a built-in LCD display. What I like about this one is that it has a docking cradle with extended cord for those hard-to-reach USB ports. Also, before heading out, check out websites like the Wi-Fi Free Spot to find out if your destination offers free internet access.