Wireless G USB Netw.ad./apple

Average customer rating: 4.0

Finally, a removable antenna

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Wireless G USB Netw.ad./apple

Manufacturer: Hawking Technology
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B000NDTR9Y

Related Categories:

Audio & Video Accessories

Product Description

Hawking Technology's HWUG1A 2.4Ghz Wireless-G USB 2.0 Network Adapter with removable antenna, packs the latest wireless technology into a compact unit, capable of transferring data at speeds up to 54Mbps and 108Mbps capable when paired with the Hawking HWRGM1A Mimo Router. The external dipole antenna can easily be removed and upgraded to a Hawking Hi-Gain Antenna for extended wireless range. For piece-of-mind wireless security, the HWUG1A supports 64/128-bit WEP data encryption that protects your wireless network from eavesdropping. It also supports the WPA and WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security standards that combine IEEE 802.1x and TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) technologies. Client users are required to authorize before accessing to APs or AP Routers, and the data transmitted in the network is encrypted/decrypted by a dynamically changed secret key.

Customer Reviews:

Finally, a removable antenna.......2007-04-07

I've been waiting a couple years now for a wireless manufacture to "get it" and realize there is a market for a USB wi-fi dongle with a detachable antenna. For all the PC Card versions out there with detachable antenna, it's taken forever for someone to come out with a USB equivalent. Finally, Hawking has, with the HWUG1.

The version I purchased is the Macintosh version (HWUG1A). This comes with a driver from a chip maker called Ralink. Ralink has been doing a public beta with this driver for a few years now, and I was already familiar with it. It's in pretty solid shape now. I guess you could say it's ready for prime time. And now that Ralink are actually getting money for it directly from OEMs like Hawking, MacSense and a couple of others, the driver is likely to be maintained and kept in good condition through OS X upgrades. This is an important consideration because, unlike some other nework interfaces, a wi-fi dongle requires a driver apart from anything that comes with the standard Mac OS X install.

The screw on antenna uses the popular and common SMA connector. Hawking sells several omni-directional and directional antennas that are compatible. I have also attached it to a Cantenna which works very well. But lately my favorite solution is to add a Tritium Flatenna reflector. I like the Flatenna because it packs so flat and slips right into my laptop case with my papers. Ironically, the Flatenna doesn't require a detachable antenna. But I still regard this feature as important.

Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase. I wish it had cost a bit less. I have been able to purchase D-Link wi-fi USB dongles, that I was previously using with the Ralink beta driver, for as little as $20. I paid over $50 for the Hawking. Also, the D-Link comes with a nice, weighted USB stand and extension cable. The Hawking does not. But with the included, foldable antenna, there is less need of a remote stand base.

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Electronics