Hawking HWU8DDA HiGain Wireless G Directional Dish USB NIC Antenna

Amazon Customer Reviews

(5 out of 5)

It really works!

This thing is great, it pulls in everything within at least a quarter mile. Many times stronger than the antenna in my Macbook Pro. It comes with good documentation and a CD with excellent software that shows real time signal strength and link quality. It comes in a well padded box 8" x 6" x 5" that you could pack in your suitcase. Compatible with OS 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 Exceeded my expectations.

(5 out of 5)

Great solution for travel and no wi-fi coverage

Recently I was travelling around seven states in the US. As you will understand that when your on holidays it is hard to stay connected to your emails, and alternatives like my iPhone would cost too much to use outside the UK. I knew this Hawkings Antenna device was available for PC's but I could not purchase a MAC version anywhere in the UK. So I thought I would take a chance on this product and purchase it while travelling.

Taking a chance really paid off. Not only did it boost the signal at my sisters house in Chicago, but while travelling I was able to access free internet connections from other Hotels across the street from where I was staying. On occasion you get a free network provided in your motel/hotel deal, but sometimes not! This product solves the problem. You simply point it in the direction of the signal and connection is very easily boosted. As most motel/hotels are clustered together finding a signal is never a problem, and since these motel/hotels are offering a free connection your not upsetting anyone.

Since coming home I am able to sit at the bottom of my garden and draw a very strong signal from my Time Capsule in a upstairs front bedroom. Very handy for extending your home or office network. I really can't say a bad thing about this product. However the inital instructions was a little confusing, but if you do experience any problems setting it up, the support via email is very quick and helpful.

If your thinking about purchasing this product I would encourage you to go ahead! You'll never regret it! Best money i have spent in a long time.

(1 out of 5)

Nice potential but software not ready for Leopard

I think that the previous users were probably not using this product with Leopard. The installer lets you choose between 10.3 (Panther?) and 10.4 (Tiger), but there is no driver for Leopard. I tried the 10.4 driver, but it really doesn't work. Hawking Technology acknowledges that the driver locks up your Mac when you reboot or when the computer goes to sleep. There is a 3rd insidious way that the driver locks up the computer that I don't recall right now. Once the computer is locked up it is difficult to uninstall the software so you can start over. I spent many hours reading forums trying to figure out how to uninstall the software (the supplied uninstaller doesn't work). I also searched for a better driver to no avail. I thought I'd found a hack that would fix the problem, but I was stymied because I always got a message that said "a newer version is already installed," despite having run the uninstaller, repairing permissions, etc. I think Amazon or Hawking should pay me for the time I've spent researching fixes. Don't buy this product if you are using Leopard! There is a more expensive dish adapter from Hawking I'd like to try if Amazon refunds my money. If the adapter worked as billed, it would be great.

(5 out of 5)

Jinky

This one is use for MAC, but it is work fine on windows if you know how to download the driver. All good...