5 Free Wireless Network & Hotspot Scanners

(1) NetStumbler

NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:

    * Verify that your network is set up the way you intended.
    * Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.
    * Detect other networks that may be causing interference on your network.
    * Detect unauthorized "rogue" access points in your workplace.
    * Help aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.
    * Use it recreationally for WarDriving.

General Requirements :-

The requirements for NetStumbler are somewhat complex and depend on hardware, firmware versions, driver versions and operating system. The best way to see if it works on your system is to try it.

Some configurations have been extensively tested and are known to work. These are detailed at http://www.stumbler.net/compat. If your configuration works but is not listed, or is listed but does not work, please follow the instructions on the web site.

(2) inSSIDer

inSSIDer is an award-winning free Wi-Fi network scanner for Windows Vista and Windows XP. Because NetStumbler doesn't work well with Vista and 64-bit XP, we built an open-source Wi-Fi network scanner designed for the current generation of Windows operating systems. A year later, inSSIDer was discussed by Lifehacker and Tekzilla!

What's Unique about inSSIDer?

    * Use Windows Vista and Windows XP 64-bit.
    * Uses the Native Wi-Fi API.
    * Group by Mac Address, SSID, Channel, RSSI and "Time Last Seen."
    * Compatible with most GPS devices (NMEA v2.3 and higher).

How can inSSIDer help me?

    * Inspect your WLAN and surrounding networks to troubleshoot competing access points.
    * Track the strength of received signal in dBm over time.
    * Filter access points in an easy to use format.
    * Highlight access points for areas with high Wi-Fi concentration.
    * Export Wi-Fi and GPS data to a KML file to view in Google Earth.

(3) Retina WiFi Scanner

Discover all active wireless devices and connections on a company network

The Retina WiFi Scanner application was designed to be a comprehensive wireless detection tool that incorporates Retina Network Security Scanner technology to discover all active wireless devices and connections on a company network.

Installed on a Windows laptop or desktop PC, Retina WiFi enables security and IT professionals to detect wireless access devices, scan for service and generate detailed reports on their wireless security. Retina WiFi Scanner for Windows can push data to eEyes REM Security Management Console to integrate into a companys overall vulnerability management system.

System requirements:
- Internet Explorer Version 4.01 or higher
- System RAM: 64 MB
- Storage: 20 MB
- WiFi wireless LAN capabilities
- Wireless card: Supporting NDIS 5.1 or later

(4) outSSIDer

outSSIDer WiFi Scanner scans for unencrypted networks while you are walking with your laptop and automatically tries to connect to them. It verifies the connection by attempting to download the Google favicon icon, thereby excluding pay services that redirect you to a login page. If the software finds an available network, it alerts you via distinctive sound signal, allowing you to keep your laptop screen closed to save battery power.

Note: Due to the lack of open networks in our immediate area, we could not fully review the software and did no assign a rating at this time. No installation required.

When you hear a ding, stand still and wait. Next you'll hear either a hihat or a "ding ding ding ding". The hihat means that it failed connecting and that you must carry on walking. The license of this communication software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this Communication software.

(5) Vistumbler

    * Supports Windows Vista and Windows 7
    * Find Wireless access points - Uses the Vista command 'netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid' to get wireless information
    * GPS Support
    * Export/Import access points from Vistumbler TXT/VS1/VSZ or Netstumbler TXT/Text NS1
    * Export access point GPS locations to a google earth kml file or GPX(GPS eXchange format)
    * Live Google Earth Tracking - Auto KML automatically shows access points in google earth.
    * Speaks Signal Strength using sound files, windows sound api, or MIDI
    * Open Source ( AutoIt Scripting Language - http://www.autoitscript.com )