Canary Wireless Sings A New Wi-Fi Tune

Another CES has come and gone, giving us more new-product announcements than an army of tech journalists could give their proper due. As usual, the big players grabbed the lion’s share of the pub, while smaller companies garnered less, including Canary Wireless and its second-gen Digital Hotspotter HS-20, a Wi-Fi detector/analyzer with a scrollable, backlit LCD (96 x 64) displaying network ID, encryption status, signal strength, and other details of 802.11b/g/n networks.

The 2-ounce HS-20 runs on two AAAs, doesn’t need additional software, and measures just 2 x 3 x 0.5 inches. Canary also says the use of a true 802.11 engine means there are no false Bluetooth readings. The HS-20 is expected to start singing in Q1 2008.