The Hawking parabolic WiFi dish is a fancy version of our home-brew version to boost your wireless signal.  The one thing Hawking has which you will never achieve, this the cool dish look.  The Hi-Gain Wireless 300N is a dish adapter to your WiFi network which connects via USB and could boost your signal as much as 600%.

The 300N supports b, g and n networks so regardless of your setup, you can put the Wireless-300N to use.  As with any wireless solution security is a big concern and the Hawking unit supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 enccryption - so again, whever your setup the 300N will work.

“Since the dual-antenna is highly directional, they’re also trying to sell it on the idea that you can avoid signal interference by pointing it away from other electronics.  I’m not sure that’s something I’ve ever experienced using WiFi, but I could imagine it might be useful to specifically target a base station in an area with lots of wireless congestion.   – SlashGear“

The Hawking Wireless is on sale for $99. (more…)

Getting odd results off your Wi-Fi network?  Maybe getting no results at all?  The boss is pissed, co-workers can’t work, what do you do?
Get the Wi-Spy spectrum analyzer, that’s what you do.  The Wi-Spy is the world’s smallest 2.4GHz spectrum analyzer and is specifically designed for troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks.  The Wi-Spy records data traces over the wireless network and also plays them back for analysis.

This isn’t the first version of the Wi-Spy, BUT the hardware has been redesigned to increase the frequency and amplitude resolution with an added reverse-polarity SMA adapter. Wi-Spy 2.4x is packaged with a powerful little antenna, so it’s good from the start but it’s also (more…)

The world is quickly moving to a wireless environment. Earlier in the year I talked about how to boost your Wifi signal, and today we talk about making your own, portable, personal Wifi for wherever you go. Granted this isn’t a hack or tutorial, but with the use of the PHS300 Personal Hotspot, creating an island of connectivity has never been easier.

CradlePoint manufactures the PHS300 and with their technology and any broadband-enabled mobile phone or modem, simply plug in the phone or USB modem to the CradlePoint router then connect your computer, get access and share. I guess you could add in a few extra steps if WEP/WPA security options are required.

“The personal hotspot includes a built-in lithium-ion battery that will keep it running for several hours and can be recharged via USB when connected to your computer. It can even be used to recharge a phone that’s connected to the USB port, though that will no doubt reduce its own battery life.”

So lets take a look at some applications the CradlePoint PHS300 would be valuable for: (more…)

It’s a well known fact if you belly-up to a Starbucks or any other major coffee chain you’ll have wi-fi access.  However, many other hot spots are available which you just don’t know about.  This is where a wi-fi detector comes in handy.

I know a wi-fi detector would have been handy during the hField wi-fi extender review.  As I was driving through my business complex looking for signal, I found it oddly ridiculous to have my laptop booted up on the front seat of my car.

The USB Fever wi-fi detector is a simple, cheep gadget where a click of a button can detect wireless hot spots.  With 4 LED lights to communicate signal strength, you can spot the best signal (more…)

Silex Technology rolled out their isochronous data transfer support for the SX-2000WG+ product today, making it possible to steam any type of data (or video and audio) from a USB device over a wireless network.  Here is a nice diagram to help get the point across.

This might be the perfect tool for any parent to monitor their kids webcam activity as the SX-2000WG+ can stream audio and video from any USB webcam over a standard 802.11b/g network.

What Silex has been able to do with the wireless USB server is breakdown the barrier of accessing USB devices from remote computers.

“With the addition of isochronous support, users can now share virtually any kind of USB device over a wireless or wired network. No other company can match our capabilities and compatibility in this market.” says Keith Sugarwara, GM.

The wireless USB server will be available for $150.  Mac and PC compatible.  Turning your USB gadgets into groupies couldn’t be easier.

CES 2008 is a couple weeks old and after poring over the gadget blogs, press releases and manufacturer websites it’s clear Wireless USB or WUSB will be hot in 2008.  For that reason, I thought it would be the right time to revisit:  What is Wireless USB?

WUSB is a high-bandwidth wireless extension for short range communication between computers, devices and gadgets.  The WUSB specification claims a transfer speed equal to USB 2.0 of 480Mbit per second.  Although that has yet to be seen (even with USB 2.0 wired products).

The USB Implementors Forum based this wireless technology off the WiMedia Alliance’s Ultra-Wideband or UWB platform.  WUSB will work up to 9 feet away and then slow down to 110Mbit/s with a max range of 30 feet. WUSB works on the 3.1 to 10.6 GHz frequency range and spreads communication over an ultra-wideband of frequencies.  For this reason you will not see wireless interference between WUSB and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless networks.

If I have peaked your interest for Wireless USB, check out some other WUSB articles.

On the heels of USB missile launcher with webcam we have the Wireless USB Missile Launcher from Dream Cheeky.

I’m not sure how much value the wireless missile launcher brings to the table, other than distancing yourself another 15 feet from the firing source, the webcam version with MSN software controls seems a little better.

None-the-less, if your boss doesn’t allow Instant Message software on your PC then roll in the Wireless USB Missile Launcher. At 15 feet distance, it would be easy enough to hide it behind a plant and fire “at will” from an office down the hall.

Albeit a direct hit on the forehead of your boss would be funny enough, I don’t think (more…)