StarTech Wi-Fi Detector : Access Point

By Sean Kerner, published on April 18, 2008
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: , , | Themes: Networking
Contents

4. StarTech Wi-Fi Detector : Access Point

In addition to serving as a standalone Wi-Fi detector, the Wi-Fi Detector can also connect to a Windows PC. Plugging in recharges the device and also lets you use the Wi-Fi Detector as either a Wi-Fi client or as an Access Point.

The software is actually the ZyDAS IEEE 802.11b+g Wireless LAN–USB feature, and it works reasonably well. On the wireless client side, it’s just a common Wi-Fi operation of finding the access point and connecting. In our testing there were no issues with hotspot identification or connections - it just worked. As is the case with the standalone mode, though, the device is limited to 802.11 b/g, and will not detect 802.11 a/n access points.

startech wifi detector

As an Access Point, the Wi-Fi Detector is also easily set up as a basic 802.11 b/g station. The only potential shortfall is on the encryption side. As a client, the WIFIDETG can connect to both WEP and WPA encrypted access points, but as an access point, the device only seems to be able to provide WEP. So unless you’re just planning on running an open access point with the WIFIDETG, you probably won’t get much use of the device as an access point.

startech wifi detector

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Comments


Deleted profile 04/18/2008 11:11 AM
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Great review and very helpful. Thanks!
koinkoin 04/19/2008 5:38 AM
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koinkoin
Would have been nice to see how they stack up to the internal catcher you have integrated in notebooks.
Deleted profile 04/20/2008 8:22 AM
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That's it? Only 2 devices tested? I am disappointed.
LCARS 04/20/2008 11:20 AM
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LCARS
Yeah, I'm with Droseph on this. Surely there are more than 2 of these devices on the market.

And I owned the Kensington detector. It was a useless piece of junk.
LCARS 04/20/2008 11:21 AM
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LCARS
Yeah, I'm with Droseph on this. Surely there are more than 2 of these devices on the market.

And I owned the Kensington detector. It was a useless piece of junk.
Deleted profile 04/22/2008 2:59 AM
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There's really little point in Carrying one of these devices nowadays anyway. Many Nokia N & E series mobile phones have WiFi built in and come with an app on the main screen that constantly scans for access points, lists their names & allows you to dive in to find out what encryption & signal strength is available. Even older Nokia (WiFi enabled) mobiles that didn't have this as a main screen app allowed you to do the same by loading the "connection manager" app. Far more convenient than carrying an extra device.
Deleted profile 04/23/2008 12:39 PM
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Save yourself the money and hassle and buy a Nokia N95 :D
Sandbags 04/24/2008 4:08 AM
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Sandbags
...or you could just open Safari or Mail on your iPhone and it will tell you for certain not only what Wi-Fi is available, but which are locked for security which the other devices won't do. Keychain devices have a bad habbit of picking up WiFi that has no SSID broadcast so even if it claims there's a clear signal, dragging out the notebook usually results in finding out you can't log on anyway.

Most people with a notebook and a need to use WiFi in multiple places typically have PDAs or smartphones anyway, so who do these keychain devices really target anyway? They're just an accessory for retailers to push on people buying a new laptop, or on a kid starting college...
Sandbags 04/24/2008 4:09 AM
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Sandbags
...or you could just open Safari or Mail on your iPhone and it will tell you for certain not only what Wi-Fi is available, but which are locked for security which the other devices won't do. Keychain devices have a bad habbit of picking up WiFi that has no SSID broadcast so even if it claims there's a clear signal, dragging out the notebook usually results in finding out you can't log on anyway.

Most people with a notebook and a need to use WiFi in multiple places typically have PDAs or smartphones anyway, so who do these keychain devices really target anyway? They're just an accessory for retailers to push on people buying a new laptop, or on a kid starting college...

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