a review by Tom Piper
If you have a wireless connection to your Internet system, or use Wi-Fi to get your email when traveling, how often have you experienced the frustration of a weak or missing signal? Too often this has been a problem for me with my MacBook Pro 17”, but now I’ve found a neat solution that dramatically improved my availability and speed of connection.
The Wi-Fire is a compact, range-extending USB device that enables me to access a wireless Internet connection from up to 1,000 feet away; this is up to three times the range of my internal wireless adapter. It uses a powerful directional antenna, highly sensitive receiver and proprietary software to find and enhance normal WiFi signals.
The Wi-Fire draws very little power from my laptop battery. It came complete with everything I needed to connect wirelessly to the Internet. All I did was install the Wi-Fire Connection Manager, plug the Wi-Fire into an available USB port, and I was ready to start (well, almost, I had to add the Wi-Fire Mac address in my router for security verification). This 4” x 2.3” x 1” 2.8 ounce unit rests on any flat surface, laptop display, or flat screen monitor.
The Wi-Fire Connection Manager (installed software) reveals all available networks in the area — actually, more than I’d previously seen without the Wi-Fire. By rotating the Wi-Fire on its swivel base, I can maximize the signal strength for network I’ve selected, then click to connect. This was very easy and very convenient (although I do wish it came with a carrying case to transport the unit and its USB cable).
With this Wi-Fire device, I surf the web, tap remote applications, download large files, stream audio and video in locations that I could barely access before. I can even use my own network from across the street, or at the end of my backyard. Slow and spotty connections that drop at the most inopportune time have been greatly reduced, thus also reducing my frustration.
This is a nifty unit at a reasonable price. Because the company also believes in user groups, they have also offered 20% off the usual price (see below). I’ve interviewed the Co-Founder and CEO of hField Technologies, Inc. (creator of the Wi-Fire) for my Apple User Group Market Podcast, and the result is available at http://web.mac.com/ugab/Apple_User_Group_Advisory_Board_Site/AUG_Market/AUG_Market.html.
hField Wi-Fire Long Range Wi-Fi Adapter: 20% Discount
Wi-Fire is a range-extending USB device that enables you to connect to WiFi networks as far away as 1000 feet, three times the typical Wi-Fi distance. Wi-Fire’s new v2.0 Mac software provides the look and feel of Airport. Reviewers love it . . . MacObserver: “A must-have accessory.” Macenstein: “We were pretty much blown away by its performance.” Engadget: “Worth every penny!”
Retailing at $49.00 (USD), this special Apple user group member price is $39.20 (USD).
Get connected now:
http://www.hfield.com/buynow
This worldwide offer is valid through August 31, 2010.
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