Product ReviewsNetworks/Servers
This wifi network adaptor from Hawking is shaped like a satellite dish and aimed at anyone who doesn't have a wireless adaptor. It's also for those who struggle to maintain a decent connection with the built-in AirPort card on their Mac. Hawking claims that the dish antenna improves signal strength by 300%. While we were unable to verify that in our tests, it was certainly an improvement on the 802.11g AirPort card in our test PowerBook G4. Setting the dish antenna up is straightforward. You simply install the software on the included CD, plug the USB cable into a spare port, point the dish in the general direction of the base station, and follow the step-by-step instructions in the supplied manual. It's worth noting that the device shows up as an Ethernet adaptor
It is configured in Hawking's own software application - and it was here that the first evidence of the improved signal strength was visible. The number of available base stations identified by the Hawking software was more than double those offered by AirPort. If we'd had a user name and password, we could have happily connected to a base station at the other end of the street. Talking of passwords, the Hawking has support for 64- and 128-bit Wep, WPA and WPA2, as well as AES and TKIP. In many cases the Hawking Dish Adapter won't offer any real benefit over your existing wifi adapter. In our tests carried out in a standard semi-detached house, the signal strength and quality indicated by the Hawking's software and LED status lights were little better than the AirPort card's. It has to be said too that there's not much advantage in being able to 'see' your neighbour's base station. However, if you do struggle to maintain a decent connection - perhaps because you live in a house with thick walls or work in the garage at the end of the garden - it could be exactly what you need. By Kenny Hemphill |
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