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Hawking HiGain Signal Booster version 2 - HSB2 | 
| Brand: Hawking Technology
Category: CE
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $59.99
You Save: $40.00 (40%)
New (25) Used (1) from $48.97
Rating:  50 reviews
Sales Rank: 705
Format: Cd
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 10 x 6 x 3.1
Legal Disclaimer: We do not in any way represent that any part we sell is legal to possess in your jurisdiction. Check with you local authorities to ensure it is legal for you to possess before buying!
MPN: HSB2
Model: HSB2
UPC: 603992505944
EAN: 0603992505944
ASIN: B0009MYSHU
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Easy Plug and Play intallation; No software necessary | | • | Works with wireless 802.11b and 802.11g Standards | | • | Increase both transmitting and receiving power | | • | Instantly extend the range of your Wireless b/g Network | | • | Adjustable power settings for specific applications and range perimeters |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The WiFi Signal Booster HSB2 is a simple solution for extending wireless network distance up to 6 times! It is compatible with both 802.11b and 802.11g. Adjust your wireless level from 100mW to 500mW (2 to 6 times) depending on your application.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Works well - sends signal to coffee shop accross the street March 8, 2010
JDogg (Minneapolis, MN)
I highly recommend this product! Several years ago I bought one because I work from home. The coffee shop across the street didn't have WIFI yet, and they weren't sure they were going to get it. I bought this signal booster with the Hawking HAI15SC antenna. Setup is really straight forward. Connect one end to your wireless router, and the other to the external antenna. Plug in the power adapter to a surge protector. Boddabing you're up and running simple as that. The box does have a recessed switch on the side which has three settings that allows you to set the amplification strength. I have also used the above setup for friends who have large houses, or live in brownstones and want to share the signal with their neighbors.
Yes this box makes a high pitched noise as noted in other reviews. If you're within five feet of it or so it's noticeable. Otherwise, I highly doubt that you'll hear it. Set the signal strength to the lowest setting needed since you're sending microwaves through your house, and your wireless router may interfere with your cordless phone.
As noted in another review...messing with your wireless signal is not for the faint of heart. You may have to tweak the signal a bit. I've noticed that logging into the wireless router and turning down the signal actually helps the amplifier be more affective. Definitely MAKE SURE YOUR ROUTER IS LOCKED DOWN BEFORE HOOKING THIS UP!
 No difference in my situation March 7, 2010
appyface
I just bought a Hawking HSB2 to boost a Linksys WRT54GLv1.1 signal. The HSB2 has not changed the signal strength anywhere in the building, and the range coverage is the same as with the Linksys stock antennas. In fact, the signal is less stable at the edges of the range when using the HSB2 instead of the stock antennas.
For this specific building, I'm stuck with the WRT54GLv1.1 located in an extreme rear corner. It runs current DD-WRT standard build firmware, uses WPA2-AES encryption, set to G-Wireless only, and operates very stable at 84mW transmit power. The signal strength and quality is excellent across the entire rear 1/3 to 1/2 of the building when using only the stock antennas on the router.
We need to get the signal up to the front of the building, especially in the extreme front diagonal corner to the router. The noise is still very low there (-97 is worst case) but the signal strength is very weak. A connection is still possible but is barely sustainable (5.5Mpbs average).
At present there is no possibility of providing cable or power anywhere else in the building, so the router cannot be relocated and a wired expander or repeater cannot be employed. A wireless repeater, which would cut the signal in half, might still be a useful option were it not for limitations in what could be a portable power source.
We've tried parabolic reflectors on the stock Linksys antennas (didn't help), and the Hawking HSB2 at 500mW (with and without a parabolic reflector). We've also tried a couple of different directional antennas. While the dirctionals did boost the signal a bit, the difference was not material.
It should be mentioned there are no other devices operating at 2.4GHz in the building (except the microwave, which is not operational much of the time). The cordless phone system operates at 5.8GHz. No bluetooth. The router is on channel 11 and the nearest detectable wifi networks are on channels 3 and 6 only, there is no detectable network operating on channel 11. The DD-WRT firmware allows turning off one of the two antennas so the HSB2 handles the entire signal. This has not made any difference over leaving one of the stock antennas on along with the HSB2 as the other.
I have in use at several locations, the same WRT54GLv1.1 setup -- G-only, same DD-WRT build, WPA2-AES encryption, and 84mW power. They work very reliably with different brands of repeaters and range expanders in those locations.
In a few years there will be an opportunity to finally run cable and power throughout this building. But until then we're still looking for reasonably-priced solutions to get the signal to front diagonal corner of the building if at all possible.
This is the first time I've tried a high-gain antenna with a WRT54GLv1.1. I can't rate the HSB2's performance as I don't know where the fault really lies. The HSB2's signal and range did not increase in any direction beyond the stock antennas. But my unit also emits the high-pitched whine that has been mentioned by others, and that alone has earned it the 1-star rating from me. Even if it worked, the sound is intolerable. It's going back.
wish I had found the HSB2 sooner! February 14, 2010
Biederstadt Household
This little device has solved a problem I have been dealing with for years. Getting a decent wifi signal in a high interference outdoor environment. My system consists of a desktop with a PCI 80211B/G card (sabrent brand, very inexpensive) and an outdoor 15db grid antenna.(looks like old NASA equipment) My access point/internet provider is about 1/3 of a mile away,across a freeway, with a busy truck stop and a row of trees in between us. Between the CB radios, other wifi networks and a never ending stream of traffic getting a usable signal was tricky. I felt like a mad scientist trying to aim the grid antenna just right to connect. I have probably spent hours adjusting it. Prior to installing the HSB2 I would connect at 1.0 or 5.5mbps and internet pages loaded slowly, if at all. Sometimes internet worked great, but others not at all.
This Hawking booster connected effortlessly between my PCI wifi card and my antenna's pigtail. The included cable is long enough so that you can place the booster on top of a mid sized ATX PC. That is where mine wound up. I would have liked that included cable to be thicker and may replace it with better stuff, but it does not seem to be an issue. Audible whine? Yes. I am 30 and I can hear it a few feet away. This is a non issue for me since the PC it is connected to is a server for my other computers and is in a little used bedroom.
It works, and works well though. It is a very nice quality device, it weighs more than most routers nowadays. Another reviewer mentioned it getting too hot- the metal casing is designed to pull heat from the electronics, the booster is "self cooling". Make sure you don't cover it up or keep it right under a shelf or something. Let it breathe and it will be fine.
I have had mine set on the 200mw setting since installation, and have a constant full bars signal now. It might dip to 4 bars for a second but I can happily live with that. The internet now feels almost as fast as broadband, and a few before and after speed tests and usage confirm this. The booster really helped my outgoing signal, my upload speed increased dramatically. In speed tests before the booster my down speed was usually 4-5 times higher than my up speed. Now they are much closer, which has really improved my overall internet experience. I can now watch youtube without the video pausing to buffer- that alone is pure joy. Emails send on the first try instead of losing my message in cyberspace.
The big picture for me though was that this little booster saved me from having cable internet installed. It's already paid for itself for me, because I can ALWAYS connect to my ISP now. I am getting subscription wifi for 20 per month, with no contracts, no BS. I use a router and ICS to share it with my laptop on a secured network. The other cable internet option is over 3 times that cost monthly and has a hardware rental on top of that. While I would love to have the speed I really can't afford another big bill every month. 20-30 bucks for internet is a fair and honest price to me.
Big props to Hawking on this product! It was hard to decide on it based on the amazon reviews, and I was tempted to buy a 1 watt job for much more. Glad I went with this instead. I feel that some of the reviews here were written by folks who never really bought this item, or did not research to find out if they need an adapter or something. I also checked tiger direct for reviews and the product seemed more well liked there. Of course, Amazon had the best deal on it so I got mine here.
Excellent! December 18, 2009
Stephen J. Krebs (Malvern, PA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This works great! I bought it to extend our wifi range to everywhere in the house. We have Verizon Fios and their tech support was useless when I called and asked them for advice on strengthening the signal. I tried to use a 2nd wireless router- impossible to configure and get working!
Now we have 5 bars everywhere in the house. Note: It didn't come with directions on how to use it as a booster at your wireless router. Rather- the directions show how to boost the incoming signal at your remote PC.
To boost your wireless "broadcast" signal-just plug this in and install in place of your router's antenna. Your signal stays encrypted-it just boosts what you already have. Simple and effective.
 Pretty Okay December 14, 2009
S. Brizzolara (Dallas, TX United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really wouldn't recommend this product. First, it's expensive for what it is. It has helped my signal some, but I think there are probably better methods of achieving it. I really wanted it to be super, but it wasn't.
Second, that high pitched noise is no joke. Those who dismiss it are probably older in years and can't hear high pitched noises (your ability to hear high pitched noises diminishes as you age). If you're under 30, beware. Anyway, the high pitched noise is noticeable and grating. It doesn't go away on the lower settings.
That said, my signal has improved, so it does at least work. I just haven't noticed the type of improvement mentioned by the Microsoft certified guy. I certainly don't get signal across the street.
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