Hawking Hi-Speed 54M Wireless G Router (HWR54G) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this one as a replacement for a wireless D-Link DI-784 router that was glitchy and could not be programmed at all. And this was quite a change! While this router is not too sophisticated in terms of either available wireless security protocols or some other features, it has everything one needs to create a home network, and more.
Namely, compared to similar wireless routers from better known brands (DLink, NetGear, Linksys) this one:
1. Is PROGRAMMABLE. That is, it does not stop working or deos not develop glitshes when you change modes and parameters. (Many others present you with a whole spectrum of glitches when you start changing default settings.)
2. Supports any Internet connections, not only cable/DLS. You CAN use it with a leased line, you CAN connect it to another router with a static address, etc.
3. You CAN assign it a static IP address, and it works. (MOST others don't.)
4. It does support opening additional ports for your special applications (such as IP telephony - see below), and it works. (Many others don't do it properly.)
5. You can switch the DHCP feature off, and the router still works. (Many others don't.)
6. VPN pass-through works, and one can really connect to your work networks from home without glitches.
SUMMARY: I have successfully set the router up so that it currently supports 3 wired computers, 1 wireless, and a Vonage IP phone router. I couldn't do it with other routers from manufacturers mentioned above, because all of them were glitchy and actually could not work with static IP addresses and/or other routers and/or DHCP off, etc.
All wireless features work fine, and the speed/range are acceptable. One can use a long WEP key (26 Hexadecimal characters), and communication is fast and stable.
For those who are interested in configuring IP telephony: Vonage offers great phone plans, but it currently sends you a regular Linksys router of of its own with 3 RJ45 ports and 2 phone ports. So IF you have more than 3 computers and/or computers using wireless, you need to set up TWO routers to work together. And I succeeded in doing this with the Hawking one. Namely, I have connected the Hawking HWR54G to the cable modem, and it is the "primary" router with DHCP enabled. All 3 wired computers are connected to it as well as the wireless laptop.
The "secondary" Vonage router is connected to the primary one using a STATIC IP address (outside of the range used by DHCP). That way you can guarantee that it will always have the same address irrespective of the number of reboots. This configuration makes it possible to MAKE calls, but not receive them, because the system (primary router) doesn't know where to send incoming call data packets, and also blocks some of the ports by default (firewall function).
So I opened the IP telephony ports on the Hawking router and set up re-routing of these data packets to the Vonage Linksys router at its static IP address. Also, I had to open port ranges used by Vonage by adding these to the list of custom applications. Ports to be opened on the router/firewall:
69-69 (Vonage 1)
5060-5063 (Vonage 2)
10000-20000 (Vonage 3)
All three apps should be checked.
That way the phone works both ways, i.e. you can receive calls as well!
On the negative side, the only thing that I noticed was as follows: from time to time (once a day if you work intensively for the whole day) the router can "hang", and wireless networking stops working. As soon as you unplug it and then plug it in again, it reboots, and everything works fine. Nothing else is needed (no computer reboots). Generally speaking, this is quite a good result compared to some other models, and I can live with it. Recommended.


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Hawking Technologies HWUN1 Wireless NUSB Network Adapter extends your wireless network 4 times and boosts your data throughput 12 times!It is capable of transferring data at up to 300Mbps.

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Hawking HWUG1 Wireless G USB Network Adapter with External SMA Jack Review

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(More customer reviews)This adapter works with Mac OS X, version 10.4, with a driver available from Ralink Technologies. I have tried this on both a Power PC (Powerbook G4) and an Intel machine (Imac). It worked on both.
To get the driver, go to ralinktech DOT com, navigate to support, then to Macintosh, and download the driver labelled RT2571...USB. Install the driver package, restart your machine, and then insert the adapter in a USB port. A "USB wireless utility" will then start. There is no documentation, but the utility is more or less self-explanatory. If you also have a built in airport card, it probably makes sense to turn off airport before using the adapter, just to be safe.
Out of the box, the sensitivity of this adapter seems to be at least as good as that of the built in airport card in my Powerbook. The adapter allows use of an external antenna. I expect that in situations where the built in airport cannot get an adequate signal, this adapter with an additional antenna could do better.

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Hawking Technology's HWUG1, 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 HWUG1 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 combines 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.

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Hawking HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)(see my latest update at bottom)
We purchased this unit to try out on vacation at a beach house rental where typically we have to connect to neighborhood hot spots. At best we usually have to manipulate our laptop to just the right position to find a sporadic at best connection (you know-- we're ultimately standing on our head, wearing a foil helmet, and holding the laptop on edge etc-- that kind of thing).
I'll have to report back to you from the beach house next week but right now I just pulled it out of the box in our urban neighborhood setting at home. We typically have an abundance of signals here but only 1 or 2 have been connectable using my Netgear Rangemax 240 (which does better than my other standard b/g wireless adapter cards).
The Hi-Gain picks up a ton of signals in each direction I point it and is able to connect to nearly anything with a signal strength of 20% or better.
The Quick Start guide warns you all over the place to be gentle when moving the antenna on its axis or swivel, so comments from others on fragility seem to be correct. It looks like for travel purposes you'll need to keep it packaged in its box (6"x8"x4")
But I'd have to say-- so far so good. I have no immediate criticism or disappointment, other than the Wireless LAN Utility has a somewhat undersized window showing available network info--but this is a small issue.
I'll report back from the beach house next week to share what our final verdict is.
Oh the USB cord is no more than 6 feet long so you will need an extension or a longer USB cord (I ordered a 10' extension for $8). By the way, if you intend to replace the USB cord rather than use an extension, it uses a mini-USB connector (the type you see on cameras and camcorders-- your standard connector as you see on printer will not work.
-----------------------------------------------
AUGUST 4TH BEACH HOUSE UPDATE
As promised, here is a bit more after a week of trying it out. The good news is it does consistently work. The ability to move the dish around to locate the best signal is a big plus when you are in some remote area. I am currently connected solidly to a site about 1/2 mile away across a Bay (I have a clear line of sight) with 2 of 5 signal strength bars illuminated.
We just repeated a download speed test and confirmed the wireless connection at 4861kbs down and about 420kbs up.
To be honest though, I'd say the HWU8DD appears only slightly more sensitive than my current pcmcia adapter, a Netgear Rangemax 240 (WPNT511). Again the advantage here is the ability to move the dish to the best reception spot rather than manipulate the computer itself.
Again, the short length of the USB cord (about 5') means in most cases you really need an extension, but with the 10' USB passive extension we also purchased from Amazon, I'm able to sit where I want to and let the antenna do its work. The bad news is I have a cord draped across the floor which may drive my wife a bit nuts at times.
We also discovered this is not compatible with my wife or daughter's Mac (also not compatible with Linux.) I just checked the Hawking website that tells me only Windows Vista 32, XP, 2000, Me, and 98Se are supported with drivers.
Finally, I also have to agree with those who note both size and fragility again. For traveling "road warriors", this is a relatively bulky, and somewhat cheaply made little plastic unit to be taking along on your flights or packed in a car somewhere unless you are desperate. I can see it being totally destroyed in my luggage at the airport, so we won't be taking it along flying to Chicago next week. (Isn't it possible to create a flatter, more compact and durable unit these days?)
Who is this perfect for?
I'd say the RV'er is going to love it. It's great even here at the beach house where we're not worrying about little people playing with or tripping over the cord. At home, I'd hate to be carrying this little thing everywhere my laptop goes, though with a stationary computer, it may be a good solution.
If you've tried everything else, I'd definitely give this a test-drive, but keep in mind the need for a good return policy if you don't like it or if it doesn't work for you.
I'm giving it 4 stars because it does work as promised.
---------------------
Sept 19, 2007 Update: STOPPED WORKING
As mentioned in my review, the dish is somewhat fragile. Yesterday we noticed it quit functioning. Perhaps the box was jostled a bit too much, or the dish popped off its stand once too often (the dish connector pops out of its base sometimes leaving the connecting wire exposed or potentially vulnerable to breaking its solders).
I looked on the Hawking website and am going to try to return it to the manufacturer if I can. I am past the 30 day Amazon return period.
No bitterness, but just a little bit of frustration. Drop my rating to 2 stars.

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The HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter is designed to connect desktop computer or laptop easily to any Wireless-B or Wireless-G network via a USB connection and Hi-Gain Antenna technology extends wireless connection distances by up to 300%. The HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter is equipped with a new 8 dBi Directional Dish antenna that provides more distance and better speeds than other wireless adapters on the market.

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Hawking Technology HAI6SIP/HAI6SIA Hi-Gain Omni-Directional Wireless Antenna (6 dBi) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is very easy to install. It boosts the signal up one more level only. I purchased this somewhere else free after rebate. No complaint.

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One of the major problems with many wireless networks is the poor coverage area of standard access points and routers. Hawking Technologies solves this problem with an antenna that attaches to the connector of your Wireless Access Point or network adapter. Hawking H-AI6SI Wireless Antenna boosts your wireless signal strength from 2dB (standard) to 6dB. By increasing the strength of your antenna, your Wireless Network distance, signal strength, and performance are significantly improved. Simply unscrew your current antenna and screw on the Hawking Hi-Gain Antenna and you're ready to go.H-AI6SI works with IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g 2.4Ghz standards.

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Hawking HWDN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Network USB Dish Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this last week and hooked it up last night. It worked perfectly for me. Installation was easy and I didn't have to make any adjustments to the settings. I am about 500 ft from the source and it is in a separate concrete building. While I am only able to get about 50% signal strength I think that this is great. I am going through multiple interior walls and two concrete block walls over a distance of 500 ft. With a normal wireless card it couldn't even find a network let alone one strong enough to get a good connection. I also have a friend that lives in a apartment that has WIFI at the clubhouse. She is two buildings away but has a window with a view of the building. She set the receiver in the window and was able to get around 40% signal. Considering that she got nothing before this is good. I would definitely recommend trying this dish.

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The Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless-300N USB Dish Adapter extends your wireless network 6 times and boosts your data throughput 12 times! It is capable of transfering data at up to 300Mbps. The Wireless-300N USB Dish Adapter is designed with advanced Directional Dish Technology for excellent range and performance. A built-in dual antenna concentrates wireless signals for extended wireless range of up to 600%*, compared to a standard network adapter. It is the most powerful 802.11n Wireless Networking Adapter on the market. Furthermore, it is backward compatible with Wireless 802.11b and 802.11g and will operate on the highest throughput that your network allows. Installation of the HWDN1 Wireless-300N Dish Adapter is simple and straight forward - run the setup CD and connect the Dish Adapter to your notebook or desktop through an available USB port. To achieve the maximum wireless range and performance, direct the HWDN1 towards a wireless source and you are ready to connect! The Hi-Gain Wireless-300N USB Dish Adapter will extend network coverage 6x using MIMO & Hi-Gain Dish Technology and boosts data throughput 12x. Excellent Solution for Media-Intensive Activities with up to 300Mbps data transfer rate and supports WEP, WPA (PSK, TKIP), and WPA2 (AES) Security Encryption for the highest level of security.

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Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A Review

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(More customer reviews)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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Wireless G USB Network Adapter w/ external SMA jack Apple Compatible

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Hawking HWUN3 Hi-Gain USB Wireless-N Adapter with Upgradeable Antennas for Mac & PC (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have my desktop close to my router but there is a wall in the way that would give me a very poor wi fi signal, I would only achieve two or maximum three bars in the internet access icon on my pc. I bought a linksys usb and it improved a little but not good enough to take advantage of my high speed internet access. After I moved up to windows seven, it was even worse. I decided to solve the problem once and for all and started searching on tne web for forums related to my problem. In the windows seven compatibility list I found out Hawkings was the best choice and then googled it to read excellente reviews. I purchased this Hawking product and installed it very easily. Since then i have the best signal at home, 5 bars on my internet icon. The only thing I recommend is that it if you are using two pcs connected to the same router via wifi, the pc that doesnt have the hawking antennae will have a bad connection, since the hawking is so good that it takes most of the router's signal. I highly recommend this product i was seriously thinking of relocating my pc in another place or even relocating my router to be next to my pc but then i found this wonderful antennae. Just great.

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The Hawking HWUN3 Hi-Gain Wireless-N Network USB Adapter Extends Your Wireless Network 4 times and boosts your data throughput 12 times! It is capable of transfering data at up to 150Mbps. The adapter is engineered with high grade material ensuring maximum quality and performance. Furthermore, it is backward compatible with Wireless 802.11b and 802.11 and will operate on the highest throughput that your network allows. Installation of the Wireless-N Adapter is simple and straight forward - run the setup CD and connect the Wireless-N Network USB Adapter to your notebook or desktop through an available USB port. The Adapter is designed with an easily removable antenna, enabling quick and easy upgrade to a Hi-Gain Indoor/Outdoor Antenna to achieve Greater Wireless Range and Performance. The Hi-Gain Wireless-N Network Adapter works great with other brands of Wireless-N networking equipment. Package Contents: One Wireless-N USB Adapter, One Removable 3dBi Dipole Antenna, Quick Installation Guide, One CD (Includes Software and Manual). System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, One Available USB Port, Wireless 802.11 b/g/n Network (i.e. Access Point or Wireless Device).

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Hawking Technology HAI6SDP/HAI6SDA Indoor Hi-Gain Directional Antenna (6dBi) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a Motorola Wireless Network Bridge communicating with Motorola wireless router. The RCV signal strength of the Bridge was too low for consistent connection. When it would connect, signal speed was very slow due to low S/N ratio. The Bridge was operating fine; XMIT/RCV signal simply too weak.
When I installed Hawking HAI6SDP High Gain antenna, the problem was immediately resolved. Signal strength increased from 4-17% using stock antenna to 28-35%. All problems resolved; speed is as good as having the wireless bridge with HAI6SDP in same room as wireless router.
HAI6SDP is a directional antenna; hence, you must keep it pointed at the access point (in my case, the wireless router). Follow Mfgr instructions to resolve special interference cases.
Even when the antenna is not perfectly pointed at my Access Point, I still get a better signal (although significant degredation does occur when not kept in proper orientation).
The unit is small, light-weight, and works as advertised. Includes simple mounting bracket, low loss cable, connection adapter.
One minor complaint: the unit is so light and connecting cable so stiff the unit will not stay put on a free-standing desktop application. I wish it had a weighted base. So, for free-standing desktop application you'll need to either put double-sided tape on unit base or place some kind of weight on the base (e.g. a shape-conformable weight such as a map weight), or choose fixed-mounting method using supplied mounting bracket.
Two thumbs up.

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Hawking Technology's H-AI6SD, 2.4Ghz Hi-Gain Wireless Directional Antenna, boosts your wireless signal strength from 2dB (standard) to 6dB! A large problem with many wireless networks is the poor coverage area of standard Wireless networks. Hawking solves this problem with a Hi-Gain antenna that attaches directly to the external antenna connector of your Wireless Access Point or Wireless Network Adapter. By increasing the strength of your external wireless antenna, your Wireless Network distance, signal strength and performance is significantly improved. Simply point your Wireless Directional Antenna in the direction of your Access Point or Network Adapter and easily extend your signal range and quality.The H-AI6SD works with IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g 2.4Ghz standards.

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Hawking Technology Hi-Gain 6db Wireless-G Laptop Card (HWC54D) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like another reviewer below, I got it because it claimed it would increase the range over the not-particularly-directional antenna inside my laptop (Vaio PCG-V505EXP, running the latest service pack of XP Pro). But I found LOTS of problems:
1. It did no better at picking up signals than my laptop's built-in, and if the antenna wasn't aimed optimally it did worse.
2. When the antenna was aimed optimally, it saw signals I can normally connect to, but this card had problems connecting to them consistently ("limited connectivity") whereas my laptop's built-in WiFi has that "limited connecivity" problem only occasionally and briefly (at the same locations, with the same signals).
3. If I tried to do a Repair (from the Wireless Connection icon right-click menu), it would hang on the "disabling the wireless adapter" step.
4. The Utility that came with this installed itself in the tray. But trying to use that utility from the tray would cause it to crash every time (volunteering to "Send Report").
5. When I tried the Safely Remove icon from the tray, then tried to Stop the card so I could remove it, that process hung forever, and I had to force a shutdown (the ugly way) to get it out of that.
6. Btw, even if it would work in SOME situations (tho what situations those might be I'm not sure!), it's no good in situations where you are moving the laptop around even when close to the signal. So for those you would want to move back to the built-in WiFi. But while I have a switch on my laptop to disable that (when I want to use another connection method instead), there is no switch (in hardware or software) that I could find to disable this card temporarily. Thus no easy way to switch back and forth between directional (using this card) and non-directional (using the built-in WiFi).
Btw, after I uninstalled all the software that came with it, my built-in WiFi still didn't work (it said other software had taken it over!). I had to do a System Restore (to right before I installed this card) to get my built-in WiFi back to working normally. So if you do get this card, make sure that you try it out quickly after installing it, before you install anything else (unrelated), so that you'll have a good System Restore point if you want to Undo everything that resulted from trying out this card.

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MODEL- H-WC54DVENDOR- HAWKING TECHNOLOGIES FEATURES- Hi-Speed Wireless-G Laptop Card Hawking Technologies' HWC54D Wireless-G Cardbus PC Card Adapter features the latest in wireless technology. Standard wireless cardbus cards use low power antennas that deliver a circular signal pattern. This type of pattern recieves interference from the metal components within the laptop resulting in a drop in wireless performance and distance. The HWC54D solves this problem with its advanced directional 6 dBi Hi-Gain Antenna that delivers a strong concentrated signal in the direction of the wireless access point to establish a strong wireless link resulting in a significant increase in operating distance (Up to 200%). The Hi-Gain antenna position swivels and folds to make finding an optimal signal easy and simple. When you are not using the card simply fold the antenna down for compact safe easy transport.The Wireless-G Cardbus Card is packed with features including support for true plug and play (hot swappable) high level security (WPA and WEP Encryption) and low power consumption to preserve your laptops battery life. The HWC54D uses the latest wireless standard for the fastest connection speeds (Up to 54Mbps - 802.11g). It is also backwards compatible with legacy wireless 802.11b products. Transferring data audio and even video files wirelessly will be easy and fast. Configuration and installation is simplified to get your wireless network up and running in a matter of minutes! Includes Hi-Gain Wireless-G Laptop card CD with drivers softwareutility and manual Easy to follow quick installation guide.-- SPECIFICATIONs --------------------------------STANDARDs - IEEE 802.11b 802.11gINTERFACE/BUS - 32-bit PC CardBus 2.2WIRELESS SPEED- 54/48/36/24/12

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Hawking HiGain Directional Corner Antenna, indoor, 15dBi - HAI15SC Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a "deconstructive" review of Hawking's corner reflector. Basically I took it apart so you don't have to! BTW - I am an RF engineer, so I apologize if it gets too technical.
First let me provide a explanation of what a "corner reflector antenna" is. A corner reflector antenna is a very simple, but high gain type of antenna. It consists of a dipole antenna (a dipole is just a straight piece of wire cut in a precise way) and behind the dipole is an angled metal screen or plate which is called the reflector. The angle of the reflector is typically 90 degrees, which forms a corner and thus the name. The reflector focuses the signal so it is more concentrated, which results in higher gain versus a simple dipole.
Taking apart the corner reflector is straightforward, but it does take some time and muscle. I carefully but forcefully pulled on the gray plastic end caps. After some time, the end caps finally came off. This revealed an unlabeled, rather ordinary black "stick" antenna inside the white plastic pipe. It's probably a 5dBi collinear dipole. The antenna is connected to the coax cable via a panel mount SMA connector. I was able to remove this antenna, but it does take some torque because Hawking applied thread locking glue.
Based on it's construction, I have no reason to doubt the 15dbi gain claim. However, I seriously doubt the 90 degree vertical and horizontal beamwidths that the manual seems to claim. I guesstimate that 3dB beamwidths are in the order of 40 degrees horizontal and 30 degrees vertical, based on my experience with similar corner reflectors. This makes orientation MUCH more critical. If you are 15-20 degrees off, you could be losing half (3dB) of your signal! On the other hand, such a narrow beamwidth is a good thing if other people's AP's/client's are interfering. Any other transmitters outside of the main beam will be weakened, reducing your noise and improving signal quality.
Now to analyze the coax cable. The outer jacket is unlabeled white plastic, so you can't tell who made it or what type of cable it is. It's thin, about 1/8" thick . I cut off one end to see what's inside. The shielding is quite good. It's a dual shield, foil plus braid. The foil provides complete coverage. The braid is tin plated copper and has excellent coverage, probably 95%. The center conductor looks and cuts like pure solid copper, not copper clad steel. The center insulator (the dielectric) is a clear translucent, solid (not foam) plastic. When I soldered on an SMA pin, the dielectric easily melted! It's probably NOT teflon, but cheaper, higher loss polyethylene. Based on this, it's probably a RG-174 type cable, not the lower loss RG-316. Cables of this type generally have a loss of 0.6dB per foot at 2.4Ghz. The cable is 6 feet long , so you lose more than half (3.6dB) of your signal in the coax! Making a shorter cable and/or using better cable would help.
Considering how it's made, a lot of the negative reviews make sense. It's a 15dBi antenna, but you lose 3.6dBi in the cable so effectively it's only 11.4dBi. Plus if you don't point it within 15 to 20 degrees of your target (both horizontally AND vertically), you will lose even more signal. Used indoors, there is so much RF scatter that the actual direction of maximum signal can very often NOT be in the direction of the target due to signals being bounced around. You'll have to rotate the antenna in different directions vertically and horizontally to find the maximum signal. Used outdoors or in unobstructed area, just point it at the target and you're done. However, keep in mind that this IS NOT a weatherproof antenna, so don't leave out outside where the rain and sun will beat down on it.
Used properly, this antenna really shines. It provides a tremendous value for under $50. Antennas with similar gain will cost MUCH more.

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Increase Your Wireless Network Strength, Works with 2.4GHz 802.11b /g Wireless Standards, Extend your Network Range, Great for Large Conference Rooms or Open Spaces, East Installation (No Software Required).Main FeaturesManufacturer: Hawking Technologies, IncManufacturer Part Number: HAI15SCManufacturer Website Address: www.hawkingtech Product Type: High-Gain AntennaFrequency: 2.4 GHzGain: 15 dBiImpedance: 50 ohm NominalConnectors: 1 x Reverse SMAStandard Warranty: 1 Year(s)

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Hawking HWDN2 Hi-Gain Wireless-150N USB Network Dish Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)Just put together a Windows 7 Media PC that's located in a cabinet a few rooms, a couple of walls (including a bathroom), and fifty feet away from the wireless access point. It's sitting next to a lot of A/V equipment -- in a place where my Nintendo WII has trouble getting access to the wireless connection. It has a great signal and I can stream movies off the Internet no problem. I would have given it a 5 star review because it performs exactly how I needed it to, but setup was actually a bit of a pain. The box says "Works with Windows 7" but when I went to install the drivers from the CD it said "Operating System not Supported." It was a bit annoying, but not a huge hurdle. After I hooked in a direct network cable, Windows 7 automatically downloaded the right drivers and everything started working.

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The Hawking HWDN2 Hi-Gain Wireless-150N USB Dish Adapter extends your wireless network 5 times and boosts your data throughput 6 times! It is capable of transfering data at up to 150Mbps. The Wireless-300N USB Dish Adapter is designed with advanced Directional Dish Technology for excellent range and performance. A built-in dual antenna concentrates wirelesssignals for extended wireless range of up to 500%*, compared to a standard network adapter. It is the most powerful 802.11n Wireless Networking Adapter on the market. Furthermore, it is backwards compatible with Wireless 802.11b and 802.11g networks and will operate at the highest throughput that your network allows. Installation of the HWDN2 Wireless-150N Dish Adapter is simple and straight forward - run the setup CD and connect the Dish Adapter to your notebook or desktop through an available USB port. To achieve the maximum wireless range and performance, direct the HWDN2 towards a wireless source and you are ready to connect!

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Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this router after I bought the Hawking 300N Range extender. (I was so pleased with the range extender that I thought I would give the router a try.) Overall, this router is a very good ,easy to set up device. It has functioned well for me with no major issues. Keep in mind that this is a basic wireless N router with no frills. If you want something with a USB storage option,dual band capabilities,or fancy tracking software then this router is not for you. I will say that this router is a solid performer handling music and video downloads much smoother and faster than my previous Linksys WRT 610N (even with the dual band function offered by Linksys!!!) Range is about the same as with the 610N. For the money, I feel that this router gives you the best bang for your buck.

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The Hawking HWRN2 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Router is the best solution for sharing a single broadband Internet connection between the computers in your home or office. Using state-of-the-art wireless-300N technology, Hawking delivers the fastest and furthest possible wireless networking experience. At a high speed of 300Mbps, transferring data files, audio and even video has never been more enjoyable. In large homes and offices, wireless dead-spots are easily eliminated with the Wi-Fi range extending capabilities of the HWRN2 (Up to 5 times the distance of the AirPort Extreme Base Station).* Along with wireless connectivity, the HWRN2 has 4 wired 100Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting your computers that do not have wireless access.

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Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless-N Dual Radio Smart Repeater Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchase the Hawking HW2R1 repeater in an attempt to extend wi-fi coverage to areas in my home that my Netgear WNDR3700 could not reach. Setup was easy with the Hawking CD and I initially placed the repeater between my computer and router. The computer at that point was close enough to the router that internet speed was 25mb/s from the router wi-fi but dropped to 3mb/s when connected to the repeater. Hawking tech support suggested resetting the router and repeater to channels 1, 6, 9, or 11 to see if the internet speed would improve. None of these channels improved the speed. Tech Support suggested waiting a couple of weeks to see if it improves. I did not think that would work so I looked for a better solution. It appeared that the repeater could not pick up the routers wi-fi signal as well as my laptop so I decided to hardwire the repeater to the router. This worked good. When hardwired to the router the repeaters wi-fi signal would provide internet speeds of about 20mb/s. The speed at the connection going into the repeater averaged 23mb/s so I am happy with this setup. The repeater and router are now located at opposite ends of the house and each provide adequate wi-fi for half of the house. I am disappointed that I had to hardwire the repeater to get it to pick up an adequate signal. I think Hawking should provide a better antenna without having to purchase an upgrade but am happy overall with the solution to my problem. Hawking tech support also could have been more knowledgeable.
Update: Another problem that I didn't notice when I first wrote the review is that computers in my house will not connect to the internet after reboot until I unplug and restart the repeater each time. The computers will connect to the repeater but not the internet. If I disconnect the repeater then the same computers will work fine when accessing the internet directly through the Netgear router so I know the problem is in the Hawking repeater. I have tried to resolve the problem for a couple of weeks and am having a very difficult time contacting the second level of tech support at Hawking. When transferred to 2nd level support I end up being left on hold for 15 minutes and then being forced to leave a message for a return call. I have not been able to get them to call me back so I am looking for another access point to replace the Hawking HW2R1.

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The Hi-Gain Wireless-N Dual Radio Smart Repeater is an advanced Wi-Fi connectivity solution that receives the signal of any 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi network and rebroadcasts it locally within your home or office. The HW2R1 is the flagship product for Hawking's award-winning line of Hi-Gain Wi-Fi Range Extending products. Using two isolated Wi-Fi radios, the HW2R1 connects to your desired wireless Internet connection, such as a local Wi-Fi hot spot, neighborhood wireless network or office network and repeats the signal via a dedicated 300Mbps 802.11n Wi-Fi radio locally. With 3 upgradable Hi-Gain 3dbi omni-directional antennas (1 dedicated for receiving wireless signals and 2 dedicated for rebroadcasting wireless signals within your home or office) the HW2R1 can be outfitted with Hawking Hi-Gain antennas to boost the connection range with outside wireless networks as well as locally within your home or office. The HW2R1 is ideal for Wi-Fi connections to marine docks, RV parks, adjacent offices and homes with Wi-Fi networks or any other source for wireless internet connection. In addition, the HW2R1 provides security and functionality via a full featured firewall and router. The versatility of the Hi-Gain Smart Repeater makes it the perfect solution for any wireless application.

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Hawking HiGain Directional 12dBi Window Antenna - HA12W Review

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(More customer reviews)Granted I didn't use the flimsy suction cups but drilled and attached this directly to a fence post. This, as well as a low-loss cable I had to buy from another site (note to all, Amazon does NOT sell a wire that will go from the back of a standard WiFi router, aka LinkSys, Netgear, et. al.), got the WiFi signal out of the house to a fencepost where I now am shooting 90% signal strength well over 100 yards where before I had 0%. In fact it's shooting that signal through a giant old house between my house and the structure I'm sending the signal to. It's fairly incredible for such a simple set up. The signal even is stronger in the house in general as an added bonus. If you're looking to shoot your WiFi signal over 100 yards to another building with this, and a third-party male to female low-loss wire, you'll be all set and in business.

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The Hawking Hi-Gain 12 dBi Wi-Fi Directional Window Antenna offers a convenient solution for strengthening and directing WiFi connection signals. The power rating of WiFi antennas is measured in terms of decibels (dBi).The HA12W Window Antenna boosts the antenna power of standard antennas from a minimal 2dBi to a more potent 12dBi. It is an easy to install solution that plugs directly into an antenna port of your wireless device (router or adapter).* The HA12W is built with high grade material ensuring maximum quality and performance.This high performance engineering results in extended wireless distances of up to 2 miles.* An innovative swiveling window mount allows you to aim your antenna directly towards areas lacking WiFi signal coverage. Whether extending the wireless network from one corporate building to another, or simply from the front house to the back house, the Directional Window Antenna provides wireless users with a high powered solution to extend their wireless network. Installation of the HA12W is simple and straight forward. It is compatible with most wireless devices (Access Points, Routers, Bridges and Network Adapters) on the market with removable external antennas. The Hawking Antenna comes equipped with N-Type, RP-SMA, RP-TNC connectors to support a wide range of wireless devices, including those from different brands. For those devices that use adapters not included in the packaging, please visit the Hawking Technologies website for a selection of specific connectors for your device.

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Hawking HSB2 HiGain Signal Booster Review

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(More customer reviews)I want to start by qualifying my comments - I'm a 16-year IT professional. I'm an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certified from Windows NT 3.51 up to present (Windows 2003). I am also an MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) had have taught Microsoft technologies for over 12 years.
The first thing to understand about the product line from Hawking Technologies is this: these are not Fischer Price toys. When you get into the arena of boosting signals of your wifi network...or extending...or repeating the wireless signals of your wifi network....you are dealing with intermediate to advanced technology implementation.
I am reading through the reviews on this product and there seems to be this recurring "expectation" by various people....that they are buying a fool-proof product that will install itself. Well.....that's not the case and these people bring on their own frustrations.
Hawking Technologies offers this signal booster product so that you can add it to your existing WIFI router. As such there is ALWAYS a chance of compatibility issues. There is no "magic way" to make a third-party product compatible with every vendor's router. That's just not realistic.
Still, I have recommended and installed this particular booster product for at least three dozen SMB clients (small-to-medium-sized businesses) throughout NJ and NY. I have had fantastic results with each application and have not seen a SINGLE INSTANCE where the product failed after a short time period (something I've read from some reviewers).
I have been recommending, installing and supporting this product for approximately four years now (beginning with the company's first version and now their revised implementation; which is almost identical).
Furthermore, my experience with Hawking technical support has been very good; compared to that of much larger companies (such as Dell....whom I believe have the worst technical support of any large technology vendor).
Perhaps Hawking has "outsourced" their customer service to a third-world sweat shop in India just as every other medium or large IT vendor has in the US. Don't get mad at the vendor for that, people.....get mad at your politicians and our country's legislation; which makes it profitable and financially practical for this scenario. Yes, I absolutely HATE IT when I have to deal with broken-English, non-professional and disgracefully underqualified customer support people in sweat shops. These people are earning ten cents an hour with no bathroom breaks....so what can we expect?
And with regard to the inaccurate owner's manual....well.....that is valid but NOT MAJOR!! Yes, Hawking needs to revise their installation manuals such that they are accurate and easily digestible. It's silly that they haven't remediated that problem yet; considering that the paperwork is for a best-of-class product. Still......this is ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY and people can't rely on a manual in order to make this product work for them. You may need an SMA to TNC adapter; depending on your application. Any local Radio Shack should have in stock what is needed to make it plug in. I suggest packing up both the router and the booster and bring it right to your nearest Radio Shack. Have the counter guys and gals gather up for you the couplings and cables that you need for connectivity.
What matters most of all is that this product is the best booster available for the price range and for the class of application (home usage). I have installed MANY of these into mission-critical business environments and have enjoyed outstanding results EVERY TIME.....WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
Additionally....someone mentioned a health risk associated with using this product at the maximum setting. RUBBISH!!! IN A PIG'S EYE!!! People really make me laugh. As one of my mentors once said....."The Internet is a cesspool of misinformation so beware". True indeed!
I have installed industrial, omnidirectional WIFI towers that emit a hundred thousand times the radiation as this product. These towers are only dangerous when a human stands right in front of them. From five feet away....there is no health risk. Thus, the notion that this small device is a health risk is complete made-up nonsense. Go ahead and put the device in the cage with your gerbil and it will live a long, healthy life.
Lastly....the noise that this device creates is so insignifigant....I can't believe how many people are complaining about it. You can only hear it when you're right on top of the unit so it will only be an issue if you intend on strapping the booster to the side of your head. If not (hopefully NOT!!!) there is no concerns about the noise. Put it in the corner next to your WIFI router and it won't bother anyone...I PROMISE!!
I do not give up five-star recommendations easily but Hawking Technologies is one of those companies that excels infinitely at their specialized market nitche. This signal booster is the "only show in town" and I whole-heartedly recommend it above all others. When you receive it and open the box, you will be immediately impressed by the obvious workmanship and engineering that went into it.
Not only will it improve signal strength throughout your home or office but it will improve your wifi throughput SUBSTANTIALLY in every way.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you use a signal booster, you increase your SECURITY RISK enormously. Your neighbors may pick up on your boosted signal even stronger than their own indoor wifi router signal. You will have effectively offered your WIFI network to an extended and unwelcomed audience. Accordingly.....be SURE to revamp your wifi router's security. Use WPA instead of WEP if all your machines are compatible (WEP is, for all intents and purposes....fairly hackable). Use STRONG passwords for wifi access to your network. Be sure that your firewall is properly setup. Exercise as much security as is possible without compromising your network's functionality.
And stop thinking about it and buy this product. You'll be GLAD that you did (believe it).
PS: This is a purely objective review of Hawking Technologies' signal booster product. I'm not affiliated with the company. I simply call 'em as I see 'em.

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Hawking HSB2 802.11g HiGain Signal Booster, v.2

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