Anybody in any kind of business that includes roaming knows that getting wireless access beyond your office doors can be a real hassle, and resources on hotspot finders for beginners can be a huge relief for those who are just starting to navigate this complex task. Basically, with the right wireless hotspot locator equipment and a little knowledge about wireless systems, it can get a whole lot easier to link up away from home.

For beginners who are looking to get schooled in just how wifi hotspot finder software or equipment works, the web can be a good resource. With hotspot finders and hotspot location strategies all over the Internet, a few points and a few clicks can get readers closer to solutions that will help them represent their business nearly anywhere, including:

1. In urban public areas where it can be tough to figure out where your next signal is coming from without a wireless hotspot finder.

2. In buildings where a signal may be particularly elusive.

3. In rural areas where getting signal strength means scouring the land for correct access points.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for basic guides to wifi hotspot finder systems

The web can help out beginners with hints and clues about how the process of finding wireless signals gets done, starting with finding your wireless signals, and on to the process of using compatible LAN/WAN equipment, identifying open or encrypted networks, and getting access to them in legitimate ways.

I recommend: Use pages like this JiWire Guide to Hotspots to figure out how hotspots are found and what kind of equipment you need. Or check out sources like this Manager's Guide to Wireless Hotspots from sources like TechRepublic.

Find sites helping with locating hotspots with wifi hotspot finder info

Other sites include directory type resources that help with finding specific points to get onto wireless networks. Browse these to find sites in a precise area, or tips for generally hunting these points of interest anywhere they happen to be, from airports to business operations where a wireless signal may provide a civic service.

I recommend: Use the Wi-Fi Hotspot List to find hotspots in a particular locale. Or find tips for hot spot locations from MakeUseOf. Connect to lots more hot spots around the world from sources like WiFinder.

Compare wifi hotspot finder gear

Another thing beginners may want to do to get accustomed to talking about locating hotspots is checking out the specs on various wifi finders and equipment. Lots of equipment product sites have details on the interfaces used to find wireless hot spots and get onto wireless networks. Check out product specs, screen shots and more for figuring out how users connect to networks with the software included with these products.

I recommend: Check out IOGEAR wifi equipment at sites like Academic Superstore. Get more info on this kind of equipment from WareSeeker.

Hotspot finders help you find a wireless Internet signal. WiFi is the technology that enables a 802.11 network signal to be broadcast into the air. Short for wireless fidelity, the signal has relatively short range, covering a small business or store location unless WiFi repeaters are used to boost the signal over a wider range, such as a hotel building or airport.

Locations where WiFi signals can be received are called WiFi hotspots. Many businesses advertise this service in order to attract customers. National chains such as Starbucks or McDonald's may have WiFi; also check your local coffee shops. Online WiFi hotspot finder websites help you find hotspots in advance.

What you need to take advantage of public WiFi:

1. A portable computing device that surfs the Internet: most likely, a laptop computer, though some phones, PDAs, and handheld gaming devices also use WiFi.

2. An Internet browser and an email client if you want to access your messages.

3. An optional membership to a pay WiFi provider gives you more choices when there are no free WiFi hotspots available.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a free WiFi hotspot finder from your home or office computer

Plan ahead when using free WiFi finders on the Internet. Search for WiFi hotspots in the locations you'll be travelling to before you leave your office.

I recommend: Use the wireless hotspot finder from USA Today to find both free and pay WiFi hotspots. Find free hotspots with Wi-Fi Free Spot. AnchorFree has a WiFi searchable database to download to your iPod. Find WiFi hotspots worldwide by location with WiFinder.

Buy a pocket hotspot finder device

If you're not the plan-ahead type, you may not know where the nearest hotspot is located. Consider purchasing one of these small gadgets to let you know if you happen to be within range of a WiFi signal.

I recommend: Choose from a variety of hotspot Finders at TigerDirect. Purchase a WiFi detecting watch at ThinkGeek.com.

Download free hotspot finder software to make wireless connection easy

Conveniently install hotspot locator on your laptop to find a WiFi signal. These applications also make connecting to various WiFi networks much easier.

I recommend: Download the JiWire Hotspot Helper or Easy WiFi Radar from Makayama, software that helps you find and connect to WiFi hotspots on the road.

Make your own hotspot with wireless hotspot software

If your business serves the public and having a WiFi hotspot in your location would attract more customers, consider setting up your own hotspot. Software helps you do that, including pay and free options, though you may also need to purchase wireless hardware.

I recommend: Create a WiFi hotspot for your customers with HotSpotSystem.com or FirstSpot for hotspot finder software.

Sign up for a pay service that is hotspot locator and provider all in one

If you frequently travel to locations where WiFi is not free, you can save one-time use fee by purchasing a membership plan. Connect to pay WiFi hotspots in various locations, including restaurants, hotels and airports.

I recommend: Pay a monthly fee to get reliable high-speed Internet access from Boingo Wireless. Choose from several rate plans, including prepaid, to be able to access WiFi from any T-Mobile HotSpot.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use an antivirus software and a firewall to keep your computer secure when using public WiFi. Consider getting a special program to protect your passwords if you use your browser's password saver to store them.
• •  If you connect to a network at work or at home and your workgroup name is 'MSHOME' (the default workgroup name in Windows), change the workgroup name to something less common so other WiFi users won't be able to share your files when you're using public WiFi.
• •  If your device is relatively new, it already has WiFi built in; for older laptops, you can purchase a wireless networking card.

In our increasingly mobile society, many business travelers use an Internet hotspot finder of one kind or another to find wireless Internet access near the location where they will be. You may be one of these business travelers, or you may be able to take advantage of those searching for WiFi hotspots.

Working with HotSpot Finders can involve different options depending on your goal. Here are some ways you can use WiFi finders in your business:

1. Use one of several ways to find WiFi hotspots for your own use or that of your employees while working and traveling.

2. Let potential customers know your business offers WiFi by adding your location to an online WiFi location list.

3. Add a hot spot finder to your business website as a service to your visitors and as a way to bring traffic to your site.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a portable WiFi hotspot finder when you're out and about

Install hotspot finder software on your web-enabled phone, so you can quickly find a hotspot while you're away from your computer. Use a convenient hotspot finder device to find hotspots in unfamiliar places.

I recommend: Download a WiFi Finder for your iPhone or iPod touch from JiWire. Install a hotspot finder app on your Nokia Communicator 9500, available at Clickapps.com. Choose from a number of portable WiFi hotspot finders reviewed by PC Today.

Find the best kind of wireless hotspot finder for your purposes

One way to take advantage of hotspots is to plan ahead and check the Internet for hotspots located where you plan to travel. If you don't plan your trips ahead of time, a portable device might be a better option. If you absolutely have to have wireless Internet access, you might consider paying for a plan that provides it.

I recommend: Read mini-reviews about five different kinds of WiFi finders at MakeUseOf. Get tips and resources to help you find WiFi where you need it at YouCanWorkFromAnywhere.com.

Bring business to your location by adding your hotspot to a wireless hotspot finder list

Online websites list free WiFi hotspots. Internet surfers can search for hotspots in the zip code where they plan to travel. They may visit your place of business, if they know you have WiFi access.

I recommend: Fill out the form at WiFiFreeSpot.com to add or remove a hotspot to its online list.

Bring traffic to your website by adding a wireless hotspot locator

Your website appears in Internet search results because of keywords that apply to the topic of your site. Add extra traffic by being able to add WiFi finding functionality to your site. The codes are simple, and the service is often free to add.

I recommend: Sign up for Site Exchange, a free way to add a hotspot locator to your website, at The HotSpot Haven. Click on the link that provides you with the code to put on your website to add a free WiFi finder to your site at TechNewsWorld.

Hotspot finders are ways to find places that offer wireless Internet access. Connecting to a public hotspot can be risky, as you may need to worry about the hotspot's security. Learning how hotspots work can help you understand how to go about making your connection secure.

One way to find a hotspot is to buy a hotspot sniffer. You can carry a hotspot sniffer in your pocket to check for hotspots as you travel.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hotspot security

Several software applications exist that change a user's connection to a wireless network into a virtual private network. This makes the connection secure from anyone who might want to maliciously access the information transmitted over the connection.

I recommend: Read an article about hotspot security at Wi-Fi Planet, a division of WebMediaBrands.

Wireless local area network

A local area network (LAN) is a way for a group of computers to share information. When you put the word 'wireless' in front of it, it means that the computers use wireless technology to communicate instead of cables. A WLAN is often the way computers share an Internet connection and other information.

I recommend: Find a definition of WLAN at GSMArena.com.

Access point

An access point connects wireless devices to the rest of the network. Since connection speeds are faster through cables than wireless connections, part of the network usually connects via Ethernet cables.

I recommend: Find out more about access points at About.com.

Gateway or router

A router is a device that controls the flow of network communication. When you use it to allow wireless access to the network or the Internet, it can be a gateway. All routers can connect to computers using Ethernet cables, but most modern routers also provide wireless access.

I recommend: Check out a glossary of terms related to wireless computing at Quantum-Wireless.com.

Virtual private network (VPN)

A virtual private network (VPN) is a way of making part of a larger public network secure, so you can send and receive information without the users of the public network accessing it.

I recommend: Check out a Wi-Fi glossary, including the term VPN, at Comtrad Cable.

Hotspot sniffers

Hotspot sniffers are small, handheld devices that can tell you whether the area you're in has wireless Internet access. They save you the time of unpacking and booting up a laptop computer only to find you can't get service.

I recommend: Read mini-reviews of several models of hotspot sniffers at PC Today.