Home > Consumer Reviews > 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g USB Wireless WiFi Adapter With Original Alfa Screw-On Swivel 9dBi Rubber Antenna *Strongest on the Market*

What I bought this for, was to catch a wi-fi signal from about 20 yards away.

Sometimes it works like a phenomenon. I just have to open my window and set it on the sill and I can catch signals from 2 football fields distance and sometimes even farther.

Other times, it doesn't work at all. I can turn the antennae in any direction, up down left right slowly adjusting to try and catch the signal, even trying both antennaes provided- but don't get anything. I see the networks when using the software, but can't connect strongly enough to get any internet, not even a slow crawl.

If anyone knows of a better solution, please let me know! I've heard about the Trendnet antennaes but i have no idea what I need to make them work, wondering if I can use this unit and just attach an SMA cable to a better antennae and stick it on my roof?

This is DEFINITELY NOT the 'Strongest On The Market' as the seller's ad claims. I had a wi-fi booster that I used on my last deployment to Iraq, and could catch signal from miles away... Too bad I forgot it!!!! This one works great one day out of the week and the rest of the week there's nothing i can do to make it work!

I will say this, whenever I am standing within 10 feet of a router, it boosts the signal significantly. Works great if you are at a library or somewhere with wi-fi and fighting for bandwidth.

Warning! Read bottom! As seems to be the case for this antenna, the small antenna is the best I've ever used, but the large antenna, well, there's something funky about it. The small antenna is able to detect medium strength networks in an area I didnt know there were any. Really great. The large antenna, at least for me, seems to only really stay strong to the network your connected to. There's about a signal bar's strengths difference between the two. But the large antenna seems to work. It detects medium-strength networks, and then I refresh the search, and theres nothing, except for the network I'm connected to. This is very consistent. But the seller, DBroth, is extremely excellent. They promptly sent me a new large antenna when I complained, and have maintained excllent, supurb, really, follow-through service. If anything, buy the poduct just for the joy of doing business with them. :) Happy Hunting. Also note- you can buy a different antenna and screw it onto the base thats included here. The connector seems to be a pretty common one.

Edit- Warning! The adapter lies! It rarely shows any network below half strength(and if it does it bumps it up to show 3 bars). These supposed 3-bar networks fade in and out like they dont exist! One minute you could ahve 3 of these "shadow" networks and then you refresh and theyre gone! Poof! And I'm sure its not a problem with mine, as Ive already gotten a replacement. Youve been warned!

What a waste of time!

Unfortunately, I believed the hype on this product. The 9Dbi antenna it came with was USELESS as the MUCH smaller and tinier antenna did BETTER than the large massive antenna!!!

Not only that, but even with the tiny antenna, I receive JUST ABOUT the same amount of wifi networks with my laptop wireless card installed!!! I think I received about "one more" network using this device more than my wireless card installed on my laptop!!

My purpose in purchasing this device was to increase the range so I could pick up more networks (for when I take my laptop to my Dad's apt) but what a waste of money!

If you ALREADY own a laptop with a wireless card and you're looking to boost your signal range, this product won't do it.

The search is on to find one that CAN REALLY give a long range. This product's claims are false!!! (Up to one mile blah, blah, blah)

Another example of "you get what you pay for." This thing is exactly what you'd expect from an affordable, high power wireless adapter; junk. The Intel 5100AGN card in my laptop easily out performs this adapter. My router reports a SNR of -71 with my laptops adapter, and -57 with this adapter, which is a great improvement, so that indicates the power output of this thing is functioning. the problem comes in when you are talking about sensitivity. This thing does an absolutely awful job of RECEIVING signal. Considering most traffic through your wireless is going to be you downloading, this will be a serious issue. My built in card can see 16 wireless networks. This thing can only see 4. If you currently get bad signal with your wireless, and think this will help, do yourself a favor and follow my advice: DON'T BUY THIS! Sensitivity is key, and this has none.

The Alfa adapter is great. Significantly pulled in more signals. The additional 9dBi antenna does not provide any improvement from the original 3" antenna. It is misleading that the vendor sells a companion produce that offers no improvement. The vendor has a very strict all sales are final policy, and requires customers to send email to a gmail account for support (even though DB Roth has live chat on their website). Recommend the product, but do not recommend the vendor.