Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A
by Hawking Technology
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Hawking TechnologyModel: HWUG1A
Product features:
- Sold Individually
- AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable (50 Feet/15.2 Meters)
- AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable (14 Feet/4.2 Meters)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A
Customer Review: Like the Beverly Hillbillies rickety ride out west, so does this adaptor barely hold together
Summary: 2 Stars
I own the original MacMini, which does not accomodate an internal AirPort card. My Mini also only reasonably accomodates OS 10.3.9. Therefore, my need for this product was admittedly narrow and specific. My previos fix for this issue was the ubiquitous D-Link DWL-122 uber usb adapter, which uses the same Ralink chipset that makes this little Mac-to-router tango work at all.
While this usb network adaptor currently works, it took considerable frustration and expertise to get it to function in the slightest.
The driver installation is difficult for MacUsers because it uses a lot of complicated network jargon that is more akin to a PC power user (not us happy, dumb Mac-ies who rely on expensive, simple bulletproof products). It is clear Hawking just took their cues from the PC version (HWUG1) and assumed they could "hawk" this product on the few Mac users who fall beyond the seamless purview of total AirPort architecture.
After clearing this software hurdle, I found (by wading through screen after screen of confounding PC speak) that the adaptor was working only intermittently: it received most of my router's transmission seamlessly, but correctly transmitted few if any of my requests back.
I went to Hawking's tech support website for this product. No dice. Found same confusing PCesque brochures in pdf that I held in my hang in paper form.
I called Hawking's 24/7 support line. After a worthless conversation with an otherwise unpleasant Indian woman (who did little more than read prompts off her computer screen and, I might add, didn't share 1/1000th the investiture in my problem), I came away knowing that it was MY problem for not knowing how their adaptor worked with MY router. MY router is an AirPort Express...perhaps the most common router an average Macuser might choose. Did tech support (online and via phone) have a specific fix for it? No.
I called two expert buddies. One works at a major healthcare conglomerate in networking. The other works for Apple. They got the job done. I repeat: a network professional and an Apple employee are required to get this junk to function. If you aren't connected enough to work this product yourself, I suggest you look for a MacFriendlier product.
They both informed me that the whole thing would run a lot smoother on WPA encryption rather than WPA2 encryption. They were right. DON'T run this product on the safer WPA2 unless you wish to find yourself in my particular predicament.
More Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A reviews:
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Description of Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A
Wireless G USB Network Adapter w/ external SMA jack Apple CompatibleDigital Cameras & Photo Categories
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