| Alfa 500mW AWUS036H USB Wireless Adapter 802.11 b/g Network Radio Card. Includes 2dBi Omni Antenna | 
| Brand: Wifi
Category: CE
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $29.95 (On sale from $34.95)
as of 9/7/2010 00:14 CDT details
You Save: $5.00 (14%)
New (7) Used (1) from $29.95
Seller: AWCellPhoneCases
Rating:  184 reviews
Color: Grey
Media: Misc.
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 12 x 2 x 6
MPN: AWUS036H
Model: AWUS036H
UPC: 989898266586
EAN: 4718050300143
ASIN: B000QYGNKQ
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 4" +2.5dBi Rubber Duck Antenna | | • | 802.11b/g, 500mW of power which is more powerful than any other WiFi adapter on the market | | • | Very Secure with 64/128/256bit WEP Encryption, TKIP, WPA,WPA2, 802.11i | | • | Drivers included on CD for Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, WinCE 5.0, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X 10.3/10.4 and GNU/Linux. Mac 10.5 Leopard use requires separate driver download (contact seller for link). | | • | Laptops with PC eXpress, Laptops with PC eXpress, Laptops with USB, Desktops with USB, Packet Injection in Linux |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Microcom Technologies AWUS036H USB Adapter provides users to launch IEEE 802.11g wireless network at 54 Mbps in the 2.4GHz frequency, which is also compatible with IEEE 802.11b wireless devices at 11Mbps. You can configure the Microcom Technologies AWUS036H USB Adapter with ad-hoc mode to connect to other 2.4GHz wireless computers or with Infrastructure mode to connect to a wireless AP or router for accessing to Internet. The Microcom Technologies AWUS036H USB Adapter includes a convenient Utility for scanning available networks and saving preferred networks that users usually connected with. Security encryption can also be configured by this utility.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 184
 I can't give 4.5 stars, so this gets 5 March 3, 2009
C. Mondo
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
This adapter really does improve signal strength. I had a D-link DWL-G550 PCI card, and the ALFA has considerably increased my connectivity. The power makes a difference.
The software utility is also very nice. You can set it to work as an AP or client, and it provides lots of info and good control over your wireless situation. There is a newer driver version on the Realtek website that you can download.
I did experience a problem with the driver + utility package though, because it seems the utility on their site is older than the one on my CD? (I didn't look into this too much because it works anyway, but when i uninstalled BOTH utilities - yes, they created seperate installs - then re-installed what i had from the CD it gave me the newer utility version, but after updating only the driver it then displayed the older utility version.. weird)
Also of interest: this adapter uses a RP-SMA antenna connector. The connector has threads on the outside and a prong sticking out in the middle. So if you're ordering a seperate antenna, make sure you get one that screws ONTO this; one with threads on the inside, and a hole in the inside. See [..]
Happy with this purchase July 13, 2009
John R. Barker (Sedona, AZ United States)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
Like many others I was skeptical, if for no other reason than the cheap looking graphic and the price drop from $220 to 38.99.
My situation -
I recently received a new Dell desktop and I've had problems with weak signal reception in my office. Previous to that I've worked on Dell laptops in my office with 4 bar access. The desktop was only receiving 1-2 bars with frequent losses of reception.
I was tempted to give this product fewer stars only because I had a difficult time configuring it - which is to say with a lack of clear instructions written in plain English and my own desire to make it harder that it really is, I spent almost 3 hours trying to get it to work.
Here's all you need to do -
1 Attach antennae to unit.
2 Plug in USB cable to unit and to computer
3 Windows Vista automatically downloaded the latest driver for me. (I didn't need to install the software that comes with it and the "old" wireless device still works.
4 "Connect or disconnect" to your network using the wireless network icon in the lower right corner of your screen (two monitors and a globe) - if you already have a wireless device installed you may need to scroll to see there's a new one. Disconnect your current connection with your old device by clicking on the correct icon, then connect to the network using "Wireless Connection 2".
I went from 1-2 bars to solid 5 bar connectivity. Everything's working great now - finally. It works well and I'm happy. I nearly spent $100 plus tax for a booster at Staples, so this is a great deal.
Best High Power Adaptor on the Market August 16, 2008
Uncle Don (Bergen County NJ)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
This adaptor solves the many problems inherent in wireless cards. Sure, they make high power wireless cards, but the strongest only go up to 300mw. The antenna connections are so weak on the wireless cards, they tend to break off and become useless in just a few days.
This adaptor is the strongest on the market: 500mw. It plugs into your USB port, enabling you to use high gain antennas connected directly to the sturdy adaptor.
The results: Amazing. You'll find active links you never knew existed in any geographic area previously searched.
The software is simple to install, and the functionality of the adaptor's program is fantastic.
I wish I had found about this when it was first released. I wasted much too much time with my other "high power" PC card adaptors.
Don't hesitate to buy this product!
Works as advertised! June 16, 2009
A reviewer
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I was skeptical of this item because of the inflated claims ("strongest on the market") but I was pleasantly surprised when I hooked it up and saw significant signal increases on every wireless network in the vicinity. I had previously tried a Hawking HWUN1 and Hawking is supposed to have an excellent reputation, but this vastly outperformed it! It's very simple to install too, just follow the enclosed instructions. Also, you can easily add a more powerful external antenna if you need even more range (I use Hawking's HA12W). One thing to be aware of, this unit has the wireless adapter built-in so you should disable your computer's internal wireless adapter if it has one before hooking this up.
WiFi Connection at Amazing Distances January 28, 2010
J. Wolfe (London)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This gadget is a truly amazing device for picking up WiFi signals from a lot further away than is normally possible. WiFi is a wireless internet connection technology which normally works over a maximum distance of 100 - 200 metres (300 - 600ft). Due to the fact that this device features a much more sensitive aerial receiver, as well as a much stronger transmitter, it greatly extends the distance you can connect to a WiFi hotspot. Most laptops have a built in 50mW WiFi transmitter, so at 500mW this one is 10 times as powerful. With the Alfa, you *might* expect to still be able to connect to WiFi hotspots 2 - 3 km (1 - 2 miles) away, sometimes further. For the process of 'wardriving' (connecting to free WiFi hotspots on your travels), this device would seem ideal.
It connects to your computer using a standard USB cable, which means you can keep your laptop in a convenient location, while clipping the adaptor somewhere where the reception is better - such as next to your window. Assuming that you already have an internet connection, it will automatically find and download it's own drivers (It identifies itself to the computer as a Realtek RTL8187 Wireless Network Adaptor). There are specialist drivers for many different operating systems (Eg. Mac / Linux) available from the Alfa website at [...], and you should definitely consider using one of these drivers if it fails to automatically install.
I work on a cruise ship where the only standard connection is via a satellite, and the internet is correspondingly very expensive. I bought this WiFi extender to see if I could connect to free WiFi hotspots in our ports of call - without leaving the ship!! I've previously tried to connect to WiFi hotspots using my laptop's built in WiFi, but the distances are usually too great and connection is usually very slow (or drops out completely after a few seconds of use). I've only been using the Alfa for a couple of weeks, but it has completely revolutionized my browsing habits. My cruise ship goes to 8 different ports of call in 2 weeks, and I am now able to find free WiFi hotspots in 7 out of 8 ports. Often I am able to connect whilst still inside my cabin, by placing the adaptor next to the cabin porthole. If that is not possible, I go to the front of the ship and sit on the deck-chairs.
Browsing performance is usually fast and responsive, more so if there is a single obvious hotspot to connect to. If you are in the centre of town where there are many different hotspots available, you will need a good strong one which stands out from the crowd. A clear line of sight to the WiFi hotspot is also useful, as buildings and/or mountains will usually degrade the signal significantly. My cabin on the ship is 20 metres (60ft) above the sea, so I usually get a good line of sight. At this slightly raised elevation, the performance of the device is usually good, and sometimes exceptional. I have easily connected to WiFi hotspots 2 - 3km (1 - 2 miles) away, and browsed with broadband speeds. At its most breathtaking, the ship was cruising up the east coast of Mexico, and I was able to connect and (slowly) browse some of the free beach resort WiFi's in Cancun - and that was at least 12km (8 miles) away.
I did mention that you needed a good strong WiFi signal which stands out from the crowd. Not all hotspots transmit with the same power - some are weak and some are strong. Grand Cayman is a good example of why you can still have difficulty finding a WiFi hotspot when there are still loads of them around. Cayman is well developed and there is a WiFi hotspot on every corner and hotel. Using a WiFi sniffing program (InSSIDer) and the Alfa, I was able to count more than 200 WiFi signals probably covering the entire west of the island. Normally, with the WiFi signal degrading beyond 100 - 200 metres, the different hotspots don't interfere with each other. With the Alfa able to find literally hundreds of hotspots, and with those hotspots using the same channels and frequencies, I think there is a lot of interference with each other and this slows the internet connection and makes it difficult to connect. In Grand Cayman, 500 metres away from about 20 - 30 relatively weak hotspots, I had difficulty connecting to any one of them. So, rather counter-intuitively, in a built up area with multiple weak hotspots, you might be better off walking closer to a hotspot you know, unplugging your Alfa, and using your laptop's weaker built-in WiFi.
Hints & Tips... With the WiFi signal travelling over such long distances, and with the greater possibility of signal interference or dropout, there is likely to be more variability in your browsing experience. Sometimes you will be able to connect; Sometimes not. Sometimes you will be browsing at broadband speeds; sometimes at telephone dial-up speeds. The message to take away is to keep persevering. Sometimes a hotspot will appear to reject your connection, but try a few more times and eventually it may connect. Sometimes waiting an hour will make all the difference.
Are there any disadvantages? It's difficult to think of any, but at 500mW, you have to presume that it eats up your laptop battery much faster than the built in WiFi adaptor. Another thing: Just because you can connect to a WiFi hotspot, doesn't mean that it will be free !!!
Anyway, I believe I can wholeheartedly recommend this device, especially if you are trying to connect to a WiFi signal which would otherwise be too far away.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 184
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