Anybody recommend a decent, proper (and, ideally, free) wifi detector app' for the iPhone?

I've looked at several in the app store and downloaded a couple of them and they ALL seem to, basically, be just an app that detects your location and then gives you access to a database of known wifi hotspots near you.

I have a thing called "InSSIDer" for the PC which actually detects every hotspot around you and gives you info' such as the signal strength, encryption etc as well.

That's the kind of thing I'm looking for; ideally something that'd allow you to wander around and actually triangulate the position of a wifi signal and display it using google maps or summat, though I'm not sure if that last part would be possible.

*EDIT*
Oh, I just read that Apple have, apparently, got rid of all wifi detectors from the app store.
Marvellous.

Strangly enough i was looking for an app like this yesterday and couldnt find any, i guess thats why lol.

I wonder why Apple would block it?...

Another good reason to be jailbroken.

Why do you need an app in the first place, just go into the wifi settings and it'll show you all the available routers in the area, you would have to go into the settings to do this anyway even with the app as an app is not allowed to use Apple APIs and change the iphone settings directly from the app.

Apple banned then because it encourages people to steal peoples wifi from unlocked routers. Plus there was no benefit to the app.

There would be plenty of benefit from such an app. There is at least one app available for android, the very thing Si is after.

As for the reason to ban it...what you have said is marketing spiel...i.e. total rubbish. Apple have no problem banning apps from their store...then miraculously releasing an app that does exactly the same thing.

If an app accessess Apples locked down APIs then they will ban it. The trouble with that is that Apple can change the goal posts a bit and an app that used to be readily available then becomes banned.

It's not marketing spiel, its just the way it is with Apple. It's their product they have the final say what does and doesn't get used on their phone.

There are a number of apps that will tell you where there is free wifi and how close you are to it. O2 have one as I'm sure does every other phone company. It's not necessarily real time though and will only tell you where they are.

The phone still has this function built into the settings, so why you would still need an app is questionable. Just because Android phones can do it isn't a proper answer as to why the iphone should.

I want to see if there is a wifi router where I am, I go to wifi and search for one. If there is an open router where I am I can click on from where I am in the settings. I still don;t see how an app will change or improve things apart from givin it a glossy sheen.

If you can explain the benefit of such an app over what can a,lready be done on the phone then I would be happy to hear it and reconsider why I think it is not required.

OK, this is somewhat different from the


respose you gave in an earlier post. This bit is marketing spiel. What you said in this post sounds more accurate as to why its banned.


The android app,I referred to, scans the area you are in, and lists wifi networks along with their channel, signal strength and encryption. This is useful when setting up your own wifi network, as you can see which channel is free in your 'area'. Also it can alert you to when a wifi comes into range, if your using your 3g connection. The android app is wifinder, incase your interested.

OK, the channel thing that the android app does could be very useful when setting up your own network so I see your point of view on this one.

However, for the majority of people they wouldn't know what a channel number is on their router let alone how to change it or what happens if a neighbour uses the same channel. Apple could have allowed an app to report back on routers and channels, but maybe there are privacy issues they don't want to get into so just banned it out right. Again, most people don't need to know this information and Apple does have a habbit of reducing features for the real hardcore users who prefer Androids more open platform and app market. But for those people (which I count myself as one) there is the jailbreak option, which really isn't going to worry the technical sort who wants to drill down into his home network settings.

The iphone seems to be marketed as a one for all device - This is what it does now go and use it as we want you to.

Android appears to be more along the - Here's your phone, do what you want with it.

Neither are bad approaches as at least Apple can ensure to some extent that everything that runs on the phone should have no affect on the phones performance and so every user should have a consistent experience regardless of technological ability. And Android don't really seem to care what you do so you are free to explore what works for you and what doesn't, it leaves it up to you to decide if any performance issues due to a tweak are worth the added features.

I chose Apple, I'm happy with my choice. I only jailbroke so I could teather my phone (but I have also added a small bit of customisation as an added bonus to the jailbreak. Barrell, Bite SMS and SBS Settings) and not pay o2 for more date when I'm on an unlimited plan already.

So what your trying to say is the iphone its the idiots phone. It wont let them do anything that might cause issues. Maybe thats what the i stands for, idiot.

I am only pulling your leg. So dont bust a gasket. I do know what apple and android are doing with their phones, and the differences. You pays your money and takes your choice. If your happy with your phone, then you have made the right choice.


You do make one good point, is that Apple do to some extent ensure the experience is a very good one, and that very little if anything will cause your phone to slow-down crash etc. This is great, but for me the straight-jacket that they put on you as a user to achieve this, isnt for me. If I wasnt a technically minded person, then maybe the iphone would be the phone for me.

One thing that annoys me with apple users is that they say the iphone/ios is perfect, then they jailbreak it. Well if its perfect then why do you jailbreak it? This isnt aimed at you, but a general observation I have made.

Yeah, not really the point.

Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed some rather, erm, "interesting" wifi hotspots appearing on my phone while I've been out walking the dogs and I was hoping to use a suitable bit of software (one which displays signal strength) to see if I could track down the source.

Oh well, I suppose I'll just dust off my old WinMobile smartphone and use that instead.
Would probably look a bit too conspicuous wandering about with my laptop, running inSSIDer.

On that note, inSSIDER was a great help setting up my own wifi network in my house, allowing me to view signal strength in various places and ensure that I was on an unused channel etc so I think it's wrong to say they have no valid purpose.

Not really relevant, but for Android, Wifi Analyzer does a great job. I use it regularly as it saves me firing up the laptop and running inSSIDer. Probably one of my most useful apps.

FYI max99, take a look at WiFi Manager and WiFinder.