Customer Reviews

Hawking Technology Hi-Gain 6dB Omni-Directional Wireless Antenna (HAI6SIP)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Hooked the H-A16SIP to my Linksys WRT54GC. The antenna connections are compatible. No extra part needed. Defintely helped with my two major issues. I now have connectivity in former dead zones and those annoying Windows system tray connect/disconnect messages have stopped. I tried three routers (Linksys, SMC, Apple), none improved the connectivity as much as adding on a H-A16SIP.

While this device helped me, it clearly doesn't help everyone. Only buy from a place that will accept a return.

I bought this antenna because I had read about some of the possible benefits of a high-gain antenna - I wasn't expecting miracles, but in my situation this antenna is quite impressive. I have a D-Link DI-624 router, and a two-story house - the router is in the dining room downstairs, and most often I use my laptop in my room upstairs, which is more or less directly above the room where the AP is. My signal strength wasn't really a problem with my original antenna - but my signal quality (noise) was, I can take a reading on that separately with my card and it was horrible. As far as performance, I had a lot of "stammering" or hangs in transmission - this was especially noticeable with streaming media like Net radio, where I'd end up getting buffer underruns all the time because packets with errors needed to be retried. As far as signal strength, it was anywhere between good and excellent - but it dipped into the Good range quite often.

Anyways, after getting this antenna, my signal strength has been solid excellent - my client utility has four notches for signal strength in the system tray, and they're always all green. Also, if I pop open my utility and take a noise reading, I get anywhere between 88% and 100% - most often 100% (meaning absolutely a minimum of noise in the signal). This is compared with 55% and lower sometimes with the old antenna - also, I can see the real-time transmission rates with the utility - and very often with the old antenna it would dip down to 24Mbps or even 12Mbps - with the new one, it's usually 48 or the full 54 - once in a blue moon it'll dip to 36, but very rarely. (The DI-624 has a 108Mbps enhanced mode, but I have it turned off due to stability issues - this is due to the router, not the antenna).

Bottom line - if you've got a decent sized two-story house and you need to penetrate a ceiling - this antenna will do that job well.

I purchased this because of the big "2X" sticker which claimed to double my signal strength. Instead I got 1/2X and am putting my original antenna back on the access point. When I wrote their support group I got a poorly written explanation that made no sense: they claimed that you had to pair this antenna with another to get the results. There is no mentione of this in the directions or on the packaging. After this experience I searched the web and discovered lots of "home brew" antenna designs. Since they often publish their performance (for braggind rights) I think I'll have a better chance improving signal using one of these designs.

Bought it because after rebate it ended up $10. Expectations were not high, but on the far corner of my house I was getting a very low signal... Hooked this up to my D-Link DI-524. Fit perfectly. Now instead of 11Mbps, Windows reads 33Mbps. Your results may vary, but I am pleased. I'll send in the rebate now :).

This antenna worked well for me in a large family home. It was hooked up to a Wireless (G) Linksys router. My router is located on the lower level of the house, and I could not establish a stable connection throughout the house. I definately recommend this product to extend the range of the signal. However, you should be aware that network adaptors play a role in this situation. I first had a Linksys USB Wireless adaptor, and it could not pick up the weak signal. I switched to the Netgear WG121 and that established a signal everytime (once I got it finally setup properly).

Finally, this product will not work with every wireless router. Make sure to check you router to ensure it has the right type of connector (I don't think this fits most NetGear routers).

...increased my signal strength, but only a little. I finally went out and bought a new Linksys wireless router with SRX200 and - guess what - it increased my signal strength as well - but only a little. In sum, I believe this antenna works as advertised. But I've learned a lesson: next time I'll simply purchase a repeater (but, too late now!)

Wanted to extend the range of my wireless network. This product did work, but if you need a major boost, you might want to look at a repeater. Overall this is a good product, especially cost wise.

I bought this antenna to add to a Linksys 802.11B router that has an extremely limited range in my house. I like to sit with my laptop in the living room about 30 feet away (3 walls between router and computer) and the signal is so low that the connection keeps getting broken and data transfer is slow when the connection is able to keep active. This antenna increased my signal strength from approximately 0-10 percent to about a 30-40 percent level. This is strong enough to never drop the connection and to maintain the full 11 Mbps data transfer rate. Oh yeah, as another reviewer already stated, the picture is wrong. This is an antenna, not a bundle of cable.

I easily attached this to my desktop to increase my reception, and it did just that. I would like it to have a longer cord so I can mount it somewhere other than on the desk but I'll just pick up an extension at the store. Otherwise it does what it's supposed to.

I would have to agree with the majority of assessment of this product on Amazon: this product fails on every count.
1. Most significantly, product does not perform as described. Signal strength not "significantly improved." In fact, no change in reception at all. I have used this in my one-story home and in a café I work at with no effect whatsoever.
2. When there is a rebate, it is more trouble than it is work. [...]