Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender
by Hawking Technology
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List Price: Our Price: $69.99 You Save: $10.00 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $41.95 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender
Customer Review: Solve your Ipod Touch signal problems.......
Summary: 5 Stars
My setup: 2 1/2 story house, approx 3200 sq/ft, Netgear N wireless router on 1st floor, unable to receive a strong enough signal for laptop or Ipod touch on most of 2nd floor and not at all on third floor.
After quite a few hours of researching how to resolve my problem (looking at what were advertised as more powerful wireless routers with a better range, piggybacking another wireless router onto the Netgear, and even a wireless powerline adapter) I decided to givet the Hawking HWREN1 repeater a try. The cost was much less than any other alternative, the solution seemed quite simple compared to the others and the positive reviews here sealed the deal.
Installation and setup of the HWREN1 took less than half a beer. Seriously, 5-10 minutes. After setup, I took it upstairs and located it at the top of the stairwell on a table. As soon as it was plugged in it had internet connectivity. I had powered down my Touch completely and went to the furthest point away on the 3rd floor. I powered it up and in less than 30 seconds it recognized the new wireless connection (the original connection was named, lets say 'Smith' and the HWREN1 connection named 'SMITH2') ALL of the signal bars were lit up. I went into the attic, the bathroom at the end of the house, I turned on every computer in the house with wireless connections, every ceiling fan, every bathroom fan, the microwave....everything I could think of that would cause interference. Still, the signal bars were at the top no matter where I went in the house.
I went outside on the deck...the driveway...the signal was still max.
So, this thing works. Now the real beauty of all this is that the signal from the HWREN1 is so strong EVERYWHERE in the house that I just stay signed into that all the time now...in this case 'SMITH2'. There is no need to change over to your original wireless connection as you move around the house.
Great product, does exactly what it says but even easier to use than they describe. I tried a laptop around the house later on and of course there was no problem as the wireless pickup on a laptop is 3-4 times stronger than an Ipod Touch.
The only drawback is that my wife may miss the times when I'd lay in bed, Ipod Touch in hand with my arms stretched out waving back and forth trying to pick up a signal. Then again, she may not.
Customer Review: Could not get device to work
Summary: 1 Stars
Even though I read several reviews suggesting that the set up could be difficult, I decided to buy the device anyway. I frequently tinker with my home network setup, and although I'm no Cisco engineer, I don't see myself as a novice either. I think I spent about 4 or 5 hours trying to get this thing to work before I finally gave up.
First of all, I simply could not get the setup wizard to work. I followed the quick start instructions to the letter, but the set up wizard could not find the device. Reluctantly, I opened the user manual and found that the URL for the admin console for manual setup was [...]. All the devices in my home run on a network other than the 192.168.1.X subnet, so I thought this was my problem.
I dig out an old standalone router and plug my laptop and the repeater into it, thinking this should work. Again, no luck with the setup wizard. I check my ip address on the computer, and I see that it's 192.168.0.100. Crap, this old router is set up on a different subnet too. I go into the router's console to change the IP of the router to be on the same network as the repeater. Run setup wizard again and still no dice. I then switched over to manual setup by entering the url into a browser. The page comes up, and finally, I think I'm in business.
I configure the product with the appropriate SSID, WPA encryption, etc... The device restarts and I try to connect wirelessly to it. It doesn't work. I then realized I never changed the IP of the repeater to be on the same subnet of my home network, so I go through another exercise of plugging everything back into the standalone router to get to the manual set up. I restart everything and try once again to reconnect wirelessly with my laptop. Finally success. I get a signal, and I can get to the internet.
I unplug and move the device to the place where I think would get the best coverage. I try to
connect with my ipad. No luck. I try to connect with my laptop. No luck. I plug the device back into the router to access the manual set up screen. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed. Try connecting again, no luck. At this point, I called support. After 15 minutes on the phone, I realized it was going nowhere. It's the standard call center overseas with operators following a script. I hang up and repackage everything. I'm returning the thing today.
Customer Review: Why did it take me so long to find this!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
While I have bought hundreds of things on Amazon, this is my first review. I simply don't have time to write these. However, this product was such a godsend that I am compelled to at least write a short review. I have had a problem with my wireless N ever since I bought my current home 6 years ago. The problem is the distance between my router (D-Link DIR625) and my wife's PC that needs wireless for internet access. The 2 points are on different floors and at opposite corners of my house. To make matters worse, there are lots of walls, shingles, electrical wires, bathroom mirrors, etc. that block the path of the signal between the 2 points. I could never get a signal better than 1 bar on my wife's PC.
This Hawkins range extender has accomplished what I thought was impossible. It was relatively simple to set up and I now have 5 (count 'em, 5!!!) bars on my wife's PC! It's a miracle! I needed a little help from the tech support folks to get it right, but I got a live voice (Indian, of course) quickly and with 2 phone calls they were able to help me get it set up correctly. I am reasonably capable, but no chip-head. One important point to remember is that the location of the range extender is critical. I did not simply put the extender halfway between the two points. Instead, I actually put is in a different line than the shortest route between the 2 points. If you were to draw a right triangle and imagine that the hypotenuse was the line between the router and receiving PC, I actually put the extender at the base of the imaginary triangle. I tried to pick two lines that would minimize not distance, but rather the number of walls and objects that would block the signal. This really helped with the signal. Also, don't put the extender too far from the router, as it can't amplify a signal it isn't recieving. Use an extension cord to plug in the extender and experiment with a few locations before you pick your permanent location for the extender.
I have been using the extender for a couple of months now and it works GREAT! The web is now fast and furious (and reliable) on my wife's PC. I am now very popular with my wife. I tried a number of other solutions previously (new router, router that uses wall wiring to transmit signal, new antenae, etc.), but with no success. I had almost gven up, but this product saved me. I highly recommend it!
Customer Review: Does Not / May Not Work With AT&T DSL Service
Summary: 1 Stars
I ordered this because there were solid reviews and a decent price on Amazon. That was a big mistake and has led to my first ever Amazon review. In case you stop reading here, my advice is to buy something else if you have the 2Wire700 router/modem that AT&T provides for its DSL service.
After getting it, I first followed the self-install CD but that led to an error message. Then, I called Hawking tech support and they told me I needed to adjust router settings, but they had no idea how to do that. So, I had to get off the phone with them and call AT&T just to verify that I knew what I was doing with the router settings. After talking to AT&T, I tried to reconnect the Hawking, but that cut out all of my internet servies. Next, I restored internet service and called Harking tech support a second time, but this person did not really know what he was doing, put me "on hold," and went away for 15 minutes at which point I needed to go (having spent about 3 hours trying to get this device to work with my router). On the next day, I tried again, but it still did not work. I called Hawking tech support again (call number 3). We spent about 30 minutes trying different features and settings without success. Finally, he asked me what router I had (something I had said at the beginning of that conversation and every earlier conversation). When I told him it was the 2Wire700 with AT&T DSL service, he said that Hawking has a known problem connecting with those routers and that sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Suffice it to say, mine was one of the isntances where it did not work.
So, after 3 calls to Hawking tech support, 1 call to AT&T tech support, and nearly 4 hours of my own time, I have: (1) no working product from Hawking; (2) no extension of my network from the device; and (3) no desire to ever purchase another Hawking product. Maybe this will work with other routers or other ISPs (and it may even work using the 2Wire700 router AT&T provides). But, I would strongly recommend buying something else if you are an AT&T customer with a 2Wire700 router especially when Hawking knows there might be a problem with these devices working together yet still markets the device as working with any network and any router. As for me, I am still looking for a good device to extend my wireless network if anyone has suggestions.
Customer Review: Hawking 300N network extender problem
Summary: 1 Stars
After over 8 hours of frustration trying to get the Hawking 300N to work with my Verizon wireless, I finally gave up and I am taking it back to get a different brand (LinkSys, etc). I am certain the problem is with this product because it did not work with 3 different devices: 1) PC XP Service Pack 3, 2) Mac-book Pro with latest OS Leopard 10.6, and 3) Latest iPhone 4.
I am a computer professional and called Hawking tech support 3 times. Initially when I first powered up the extender before configuring to the Verizon router, the extender asked for a password but would not accept my WEP password for my router. The Hawking tech said I need to get the correct WEP password from Verizon but I insisted the password I entered was correct. I told the Hawking technician the extender was asking for an additional password configured for the Hawking extender but I did not select that option during configuration. Then we reset the extender several times hoping to clear the password but it still asked for a password. I was finally able to clear the password from the extender by removing the power for more than the 30 seconds the tech told me to unplug it (I left it unplugged over night and that seemed to clear the password - finally!).
But then it would not recognize my router after configuring it via hard-wired Ethernet as described in the instructions. I called Hawking tech support again. The Hawking Tech kept telling me (in an extreme Indian accent) the problem was with Verizon, such as my Verizon modem must be set to Channel 11. I called Verizon and they patiently explained to me in clear English that the Verizon modem was already set to Channel-11 and told me how to check the channel which was easy. The Verizon tech also said the channel number should not matter. When I called back Hawking, the tech agreed the Channel number did not matter so I was just given a run-around by the previous Hawking tech by him pointing the finger at Verizon.
I don't know how the average non-computer person can get this extender to work. I have never experienced anything like this in my 30 year career. Maybe the problem was only with the particular unit I had purchased but after the bad experience with Hawking tech support, I have decided to go with another company.