Hawking HWL2 WiFi Locator & Antenna
Pros:
Detects WiFi availability and signal characteristics. Works as a directional antenna. Standard USB connector cable.
Cons:
Signal report does not remain on, making pinpoint location impossible. Marginal instruction book.
The Bottom Line:
Buy it if you need it. I didn't see any other detector/antenna combinations on the market. It works for me, I just with the signal stayed on longer.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
This machine does what I ask it to do but I don't care for it. That's a personal problem, not a failing of the WiFi locator. This machine is about the size of a deck of playing cards. It has a plastic case that's coated to look like fake chrome. In my opinion, the case looks tacky. It combines a WiFi locator with a directional antenna. You can use it to determine WiFi availability without having to fire up your computer. You can also connect it to the computer with a standard USB cable and Hawking supplies one. Hawking is to be complimented on using a standard connector and not a proprietary one. The machine has its own internal rechargeable batteries and recharges when plugged into a USB port. This happens even if your using the computer's battery power. When the portable turns off, the WiFi locator turns off.
I've found that many motels and hotels with "high speed wireless" don't really have sufficient coverage. The signal is either weak or nonexistent in some rooms. I initially wanted a directional antenna to hook to my computer to pull in marginal signals. When I found the Hawking directional antenna that doubled as I WiFi antenna I bought it.
What I do not like about the machine is the length of the WiFi availability report. There's a set of LED's that indicate signal strength and individual lights that indicate whether the WiFi site is open or locked, and the availability of B and/or G signals. When you press the find it button the results are displayed for only about 3 seconds. This is enough but I'd prefer the status report to remain until I dismissed it. With this disappearing status report you can't swing the detector through an arc to pinpoint the location. This is, in my opinion, a major shortcoming.
Another thing I don't like about this machine is that I expected it to act as an antenna for the WiFi chip in my computer. That's not the way it works. The Hawking software completely ignores the computer's WiFi capabilities. It's simpler if you don't turn on the computer's WiFi receiver. On the other hand, I presume that this would work for a computer that didn't even have built-in WiFi capability.
The instruction book is, in my opinion, marginal and there's no larger instruction book on the CD. On the other hand, they do provide an instruction book.
I had to return the first machine I got. I don't hold that against the company. They willingly and promptly took it back and exchanged it. Phone hold time is very reasonable. Their web site is not at all good for informing you of the status of your exchange or repair. When you ship it to the company, be sure you get a means to find out when the company receives the package. On the other hand, a human readily and willingly answer my occasional status inquiry.
The machine is a bit pricey but it does detect WiFi and it does give an improved signal. In many instance this machine has enable me to use the Internet when the computers WiFi capabilities say that we're connected but there's no signal.
Drivers are available for only Windows SE2 and versions of Windows newer than SE2, including Windows 2000. Mac owners or Linux users need not apply.
HINT: When I stay at the same location for a period of time my HWL2 sometimes has trouble reacquiring a signal when I start my computer. Simply unplugging the USB connector and replugging it cures this and the signal is almost immediately acquired. This also works when the HWL2 loses a weak signal.
