Hawking HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter
by Hawking Technology
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Our Price: $174.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $54.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Hawking HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter
Customer Review: OK for XP, not for Vista
Summary: 2 Stars
I used this device happily in my RV under Windows XP. It's not nearly as fragile as it looks and travels very safely in the padded box it arrived in.
Using XP, it has great software that shows you both signal strength and signal quality for all available WiFi networks. Once connected, it has a series of blue lights on the base that indicate signal strength so you can fine tune the direction you aim it in. My only gripe was that it's hard to aim at low transmitters without shimming up the base (that, and the usual clueless tech support).
It works best if you disable any internal WiFi card in Device Manager.
All that goes out the window for Vista. No meters at all, the lights on the base never change --- ever, your WiFi connection will be lost periodically, and your browser will crash often.
The people at Hawking have known about these problems for about two years. Why they haven't fixed them is a mystery to me since it's costing them many thousands of dollars in sales.
Customer Review: Works great but only for extending range
Summary: 4 Stars
Only until now I truly see the real worth of this device.I purchased this item to pick up signals that were around my neighbourhood but realised that it gave the same performance as my built-in labtop wireless networking.But I just decided to use it to push out signals or extend a wireless connection from a friend and it really does extend your wireless range 300% or even more as they claim...So I must say it does what it is really intended to do.It pushes out signals better than it receives.But don't expect to use this device to pick up poor signals or get stronger signal quality from existing wireless networks.If the network or access point you are trying to connect to is in your line of sight u may be happy with it.IF not it may function just as your ordinary built-in wireless on your labtop or any other device that does the same job...I may be wrong but that is my opinion on what this device is capable of doing.But I must say it really works and does it's job as hawking said it delivers.Customer Review: Some basic design flaws
Summary: 3 Stars
On the up side, it's easy to install and the speed is in fact very good. Even while the device itself says it has only a 60% connection or whatnot, it moves faster than most of my other NACs. Software has a nice layout and is pretty user friendly.
Downside, it has some killer design flaws. The dish is pretty loose in its frame and fell right out several times. This pulled the little wire inside loose and "broke" the device. Glue the dish on.
The software absolutely throws a fit if the device isn't working. It won't even start up. No error codes or anything. You won't know why it isn't working, just that it hates you all of a sudden. And it locks Windows out from your configuring your wireless connections with their tool.
Customer service was abysmal.
Fortunately, it's pretty easy to fix. A quick clean-up with an alcohol wipe, twisting the wire this way and that, dumping the spring and washers in there, and off I go.
Customer Review: Looking for a wifi link?
Summary: 4 Stars
this can definitely help, if your trying to pirate your neighbor's unsecure link or on the road; just pull up into any shopping area (one with a Starbucks would usually do), but just remember that this is usually unsecure, meaning that someone can tap in (like a phone call). It is kind of fragile if you have rough hands. It does not fold up, so it will be a challenge for constant moves. Easy to install, and the LEDS show the signal strength, as you can see by pointing the dish at various locations and angles. But cannot install on Linux OS (popular with some netbooks). Just install the driver on the CD. For the more advanced, you can check out the features on the user friendly screen that let you switch to different WEP keys, MAC filters, Xmt power, tran/rec rates, frag and RTS/CTS thresholds and more. It can also be used with your AP to boost your signal if you WANT your neighbors to access your network (if they're paying you???).Customer Review: Just Plain Works
Summary: 5 Stars
I was recently in a situation where I needed to reach a signal that was just barely out of range. After struggling with several different adapters that I own I went and acquired the Dish Adapter. The software installed easily with no problem. I tried it with two different computers. I was able to attach to signals that previously I could see but not reach or previously not even see.
From now on this device is going with me when I travel, particularly when camping. A lot of RV parks offer a wireless link, but many times it is very hard to connect to. I think this device will be just the solution I am looking for.
It worked better than my internal adapter, and better than an external adapter that I had. The software gives you a good reading on the strength of nearby signals.
I wonder whether the reviewers who were negative were using the same device.