The PC on which you install it will, of course, need to be connected to the Internet itself and have Wi-Fi capability so it can provide access to other devices. This very nifty piece of free software lets you turn a Windows 7 PC (it only works with Windows 7) into a Wi-Fi hot spot that can be used by nearby devices - your smartphone, for example, or devices that your co-workers are using in the same location. However, if you want more detailed information, including the relative signal strengths of all nearby wireless networks, InSSIDer is a better bet.Ĭompatible with: Windows XP SP2+, Vista and 7 And there's no denying the overall coolness factor of a radar-like display. It also shows the relative physical distance between you and each hot spot on its display. Why use Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector rather than MetaGeek's InSSIDer? Wi-Fi Inspector's simpler, cleaner layout makes it easier to see information about all of the hot spots at a glance. In a pane next to the radar, Wi-Fi Inspector shows you even more detailed information about the network to which you're currently connected, including your internal IP address, external IP address, DNS and gateway information, and so on. A separate pane offers detailed information about every hot spot it finds, including signal strength, the kind of network (802.11n, for example), the router vendor, the channel on which the network transmits and whether it's an access point or an ad hoc network. Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector shows any nearby hot spots on a radar-like display. This is another excellent program that sniffs out Wi-Fi networks and shares pertinent information about them, such as how close or far away they are. Whether you need to troubleshoot a network or find Wi-Fi hot spots to which you want to connect - or you're just plain curious - this is one app you'll want to download and try.Ĭompatible with: Windows XP, Vista and 7 (32- and 64-bit) You can either avoid using a computer in those spots or else try repositioning the wireless router to see if it helps with coverage. ![]() Walk around your home or office with InSSIDer installed on your laptop to see where signal strength drops. Hopefully, these steps help you too.You can also use the software to detect "dead zones" that don't get a strong Wi-Fi connection. I used these steps and was able to hunt down a cleverly hidden router. InSSIDer will show you how close your computer is to a wireless access point. Trace cables from the power or networking ports to see if you can find a router connected to them. The Amplitude should grow as you get closer to the router. When you reach a point where the network Amplitude is near the top, start looking for any power outlets or network ports.Have a look under the “2.4 GHz Channels” and “5GHz Channels” tabs to see if the network you are hunting is listed. ![]() Launch inSSIDer on the laptop and walk to a place in range of the rogue network.The software costs $19.99, but you can get a free 7 day trial license. Download and install InSSIDer on the laptop.Grab a Windows or Mac laptop and charge the battery.Here are the steps I took that led me to find the exact location of a wireless router that was hidden out of my sight: How do you find the physical location of a hidden wireless router though? I had to find it and shut it down though. ![]() I had no idea where the cable ran to this rogue wireless router.
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