Small utility for finding Wireless Networks?

[Eóin]

Hi all, I'm just wondering are there any nice utilities for discovering wireless networks available or are you limited to the software which comes with the adapter?

I'm asking as my folks are off to USA for a holiday and want to keep in touch with home via Skype. My Dad was just wondering is there a nice app which makes finding available networks quick and simple?

Kind regards,
Eoin.

[Carol Haynes]

"Windows Network Connection" will show you if there are any wireless networks available where you are. Just right click on the little connection icon in the system tray and choose "Show Available Wireless Networks".

(By the way I'm pretty sure it is illegal to connect via a wireless network without the owners knowledge and permission.)

[mouser]

netstumbler:
http://www.stumbler.net/readme/readme_0_4_0.html

[Eóin]

(By the way I'm pretty sure it is illegal to connect via a wireless network without the owners knowledge and permission.)

That's a fair point, but there are also open networks out there, such as in hotel lobbies, which you can connect to. I don't think my folks are looking for unprotected networks to abuse .

netstumbler

Thanks, looking into it now.

[Carol Haynes]

Fair enough I wasn't implying anything about your parents - just thought it was worth noting in case others got ideas

[vegas]

"Windows Network Connection" will show you if there are any wireless networks available where you are. Just right click on the little connection icon in the system tray and choose "Show Available Wireless Networks".

(By the way I'm pretty sure it is illegal to connect via a wireless network without the owners knowledge and permission.)

Actually it's more illegal to leave a network unsecured.  Unless you are using an unsecured network to do illegal activties, there are not clear laws against using them.  This is here in the states anyways (so far)

[Wordzilla]

netstumbler:
http://www.stumbler.net/readme/readme_0_4_0.html

Yeah, I would too recommend Netstumbler all the time for such purposes, and it's especially good at hunting wireless hotspots.

I used the app quite a lot when I was trying to improve the wireless signal quality and coverage in my uncle's company since it gives you very detailed and constantly updated signal info about each network.

[Eóin]

Unfortunatly netstumbler doesn't seem to be working with our laptop, an old win2k pc with a pcima wireless card . I'll play around with it a bit more and see if I can get it to work.