HS-20 Digital Hotspotter - Find Your Wireless Network Quickly and Easily! (Black)

Bought this to verify my WIFI install w/o using the laptop works great and its smaller than most pagers - bit delicate dropped mine the case needed tape but not an issue don't use it all the time - would recommend to anyone needing such a device..

This wi-fi hotspot finder came complete with batteries. Very simple, one button activation. I was able to detect even the weakest signal.

I purchased this product for my husband as a gift for Father's Day. It seemed like the perfect gift. According to other reviews, it worked as stated.It is easy to use. There's only one button to push to make it scan. However, it does not pick up all available networks. We've tried it in numerous places. It picks up very few signals. You still have to turn on your PC to find the other available networks. Even in our home, it will not show our network from the next room.After disappointment with the product, I have been unable to get in touch with Canary Wireless. I emailed them, then placed multiple phone calls to them which is an answering machine. They haven't returned my call 12 days later. I gave them time before writing this because I do not like to give bad reviews. Now it's time to warn others, beware.

The unit did not work correctly from day one. I think it may have been used or refurbished. I got it so I could find where Wi-Fi was being used near me and get away from it. I have a bad reaction to strong energy and radiation fields and thought this might be helpful. It was not, but maybe only because it had a problem? Returned it to try something else.

As another reviewer mentioned, it turns off to quickly. After 30 seconds actually. That's not even long enough to read all the data on the display. I would prefer the display stay on for 2-3 minutes (after all, it has a manual on/ off button) and the backlight should stay on for at least a minute. Even better, the backlight should have a momentary ON-BUTTON like pagers have. It also should come with a protective case, belt-holster or a belt clip. Actually, I'd have given it a 3.5 of 5 stars if half points were possible. I would buy it again. I love that it displays the CHANNEL of each AP it picks up. Yes, a laptop has greater reception-range but why do I need to know about distant networks with weak signals? The strong signals are what would be of concern to me (one way or another). I'm glad I could buy this item here at Amazon!

For the technically inclined this is a nice tool to have in ones possession when "sniffing" out WiFi Hot Spots. The accuracy of this tool is right on, picks up all available WiFi signals within its range. Have used this in a high-rise office building where it detected WiFi signals from the buildings across the street. Definitely a handy tool to have in ones possession to stay mobile.

This device is six or seven times cheaper than some I have purchased in the past and does a good job for the price. I am in Kabul, Afghanistan on a camp where routers are constantly being stolen and moved around by various warring factions who feel they are entitled to better wireless internet than the other residents of the camp. I use the Canary Hotspotter to find the culprits and steal my routers back, all at a reasonable cost. The Canary HS-20 scans multiple signals manually. The signal strength refresh is activated by pushing the power button quickly. Device powers off after 30 seconds with no input. Good value but be careful of the plastic face over the LED readout - it scratches quite easily once you take the protective wrap off.

You have to be right on top of the WAP for the Hotspotter to pick it up and even then it does a poor job. I work in a large Industrial environment and there were many different types of WAPs for this device to pick up. The seller (tiger direct) gave me a shipping label to return the item.