Price : Too low to display
Wireless G USB Network Adapter w/ external SMA jack Apple Compatible
This review is from : Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A
Finally a removable antenna . 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.
Finally a removable antenna . 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.
Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A Reviews
Driver recognition... . This adapter comes with the standard Ralink (the chipset which is used) wireless utility rebranded as Hawking. There is a problem however, some Mac owners find that after a restart the device is no longer recognized by the utility (the utility will read "No Device!!"), and you need to remove the USB device and plug it in again. A work-around for this can be downloaded here:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/thomsmac/RT2500Replug.html
From the page:
"A solution would be a dummy driver, which occupies the stick at start-up. After a certain time the dumy driver would release the stick and simulate un- and replugging. So the original driver gets a second chance to be found. This is exactly what this driver does."
Also, there is a package of the utility/driver that has the replug integrated, which can be found here:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/lofiversion/index.php/t33896-0.html
(I previously was using a Linksys stick, and this utility works with the Hawking as well.)
As for the HWUG1A, its reception is just as strong as my previous adapter. The signal is slightly boosted if you use it in conjunction with the Hawking Hi-Gain 2.4 GHz Directional 7dBi Compact Antenna in problem spots, but you may not see much of an increase where there is not much interference between your router and device.
I'm not sure if there is a real difference between the HWUG1A and the HWUG1, which can be found on Amazon for a lower price. Perhaps it's that this packaging reads "Mac compatible," and includes a disk with the Ralink Mac utility, which can be downloaded from the Ralink site.
Driver recognition... . This adapter comes with the standard Ralink (the chipset which is used) wireless utility rebranded as Hawking. There is a problem however, some Mac owners find that after a restart the device is no longer recognized by the utility (the utility will read "No Device!!"), and you need to remove the USB device and plug it in again. A work-around for this can be downloaded here:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/thomsmac/RT2500Replug.html
From the page:
"A solution would be a dummy driver, which occupies the stick at start-up. After a certain time the dumy driver would release the stick and simulate un- and replugging. So the original driver gets a second chance to be found. This is exactly what this driver does."
Also, there is a package of the utility/driver that has the replug integrated, which can be found here:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/lofiversion/index.php/t33896-0.html
(I previously was using a Linksys stick, and this utility works with the Hawking as well.)
As for the HWUG1A, its reception is just as strong as my previous adapter. The signal is slightly boosted if you use it in conjunction with the Hawking Hi-Gain 2.4 GHz Directional 7dBi Compact Antenna in problem spots, but you may not see much of an increase where there is not much interference between your router and device.
I'm not sure if there is a real difference between the HWUG1A and the HWUG1, which can be found on Amazon for a lower price. Perhaps it's that this packaging reads "Mac compatible," and includes a disk with the Ralink Mac utility, which can be downloaded from the Ralink site.
Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A Opinions
Works Great . The Hawking Wireless G adapter worked great on my wife's white iBook, her new MacBook Pro unibody, and my older MacBook Pro C2Duo all running Leopard.
She is now able to get WiFi all throughout the house - even where the built in iBook Airport would not stay connected. And you can get an optional higher powered antenna, screw it on, and the range is increased.
Make sure you order the "A" version HWUG1A - it's the Mac product.
Don't use the CD to install - download the newest driver from here:
http://www.hawkingtech.com/support/details.php?CatID=35&FamID=111&ProdID=362#Drivers
Once the software is loaded just remember to turn off your internal Airport, plug the Hawking into your USB, and launch the Hawking software if you want to see what is going on (and enter and/or save WEP passwords). If you save your WEP password it all happens in the background automagically!
[...]
Dean
Works Great . The Hawking Wireless G adapter worked great on my wife's white iBook, her new MacBook Pro unibody, and my older MacBook Pro C2Duo all running Leopard.
She is now able to get WiFi all throughout the house - even where the built in iBook Airport would not stay connected. And you can get an optional higher powered antenna, screw it on, and the range is increased.
Make sure you order the "A" version HWUG1A - it's the Mac product.
Don't use the CD to install - download the newest driver from here:
http://www.hawkingtech.com/support/details.php?CatID=35&FamID=111&ProdID=362#Drivers
Once the software is loaded just remember to turn off your internal Airport, plug the Hawking into your USB, and launch the Hawking software if you want to see what is going on (and enter and/or save WEP passwords). If you save your WEP password it all happens in the background automagically!
[...]
Dean
Great for traveling oversea. Used it along with the Hawking High Gain Directional Antenna. . I got this along with a Hawking mini antenna (Hawking HiGain Directional Antenna, mini indoor, 7dBi - HAI7MD). The pair is perfect for traveling oversea. While in Europe, I was able to pull in weak signals from free WiFi hotspot, and avoid expensive roaming charges.
The directional aspect of the antenna works great. You can actually see the signal strength changes when you turn the antenna around in 360 degree, until you get a good signal. In many cases, I was able to get 1-2 bar increases in signal.
The directional aspect of the antenna works great. You can actually see the signal strength changes when you turn the antenna around in 360 degree, until you get a good signal. In many cases, I was able to get 1-2 bar increases in signal.
faster . I bought this item because I got internet from my neighbor and the conection was slow .It works pretty good.
Good device working as expected . I got it working as i expected. Easy to install. No reason to buy the MAC version which is more
expensive since it is the same as the PC version and you can get the drivers on line.
The only reason I bought the MAC one is because I could not have any PC ones delivered internationally.
expensive since it is the same as the PC version and you can get the drivers on line.
The only reason I bought the MAC one is because I could not have any PC ones delivered internationally.
marysu . The product worked good for about 8 months, then it just stopped working i had to buy another one :(
Cons Review
Like the Beverly Hillbillies rickety ride out west so does this adaptor barely hold together . 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.
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.
why this review is so short . it just took me over one hour to get on line. i got this in the mail 8 days ago and it is broken already. the software that comes with it keeps saying there is no device plugged in. but there is . it simply will not work.
also the range is VERY short, i am just 5 feet from the router and it says 40% signal. when i go the next room it gets no signal at all.
i am sorry the review is so short, if you have questions ask in comments and hopefully i will get a better source of internet access.
also the range is VERY short, i am just 5 feet from the router and it says 40% signal. when i go the next room it gets no signal at all.
i am sorry the review is so short, if you have questions ask in comments and hopefully i will get a better source of internet access.
Mac mini mismatch . The experience began poorly with an installation CD that was unreadable and went down hill from there.
I bought the product to use with my mac mini, but the usb plug was backwards, so the antenna could be used only if the computer hung over the edge of the desk. Tech support was often incomprehensible and consistently useless as they read unrelated questions off of their screen. e.g. "What operating system are you using?" Well, even I know enough to know that my usb ports don't switch themselves around when I upgrade my OS!
Their solution was to have me send it back and get another one. Can't see how that's going to fix the problem. I won't deal with this company again.
I bought the product to use with my mac mini, but the usb plug was backwards, so the antenna could be used only if the computer hung over the edge of the desk. Tech support was often incomprehensible and consistently useless as they read unrelated questions off of their screen. e.g. "What operating system are you using?" Well, even I know enough to know that my usb ports don't switch themselves around when I upgrade my OS!
Their solution was to have me send it back and get another one. Can't see how that's going to fix the problem. I won't deal with this company again.
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(Factory Refurbished)
Product Details
EAN : 0603992406562UPC : 603992406562
MPN : HWUG1A
Brand : Hawking Technology
Weight : 1 pounds
Height : 2 inches
Length : 10 inches
Width : 6 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Manufacturer : Hawking Technology
Model : HWUG1A
Publisher : Hawking Technology
SKU : DHHWUG1A
Studio : Hawking Technology
Where To Buy
You can buy Hawking Wireless G USB Network Adapter with external SMA jack, Apple Compatible - HWUG1A on Amazon . Click here to Read More
