2020. 2. 7. 19:47ㆍ카테고리 없음
It's difficult to compare the signal strength with my internal wireless card (Airport/MacBook) but when I use Wi-Fire, even though the signal strength is often quite low, I have not yet been kicked off the system. With my internal card, I am kicked off quite often.
Jan 20, 2010 Among other things, version 2.0 now finally includes an icon that sits in the menu bar for easy access, and fully revamped connection manager that. Wi-Fire Long-range WiFi Adapter hField Technologies www.hfield.com MSRP $79. Do you sometimes have connectivity issues using Wi-Fi hotspots in campgrounds? WiFi is low-power, two-way radio. Just as with any other radio, a better antenna will give you a better connection. Wi-Fi technology was designed for small offices, home offices and coffee shops.
Still, the signal changes frequently so there is no way for me to compare both at the same time. I tried ApGrapher and it's not much help because the way they graph is so different from the wi-fire. This is for use in a small business park where the dish is about 150 feet away and not in my line of sight. The best signal I get is when I point the Wi-Fire away from the dish/antenna.
I've experimented with music and video streaming and it has worked well. I don't like the design since it doesn't stand easily on a flat surface (the cable keeps tilting the unit) and I don't want to attach it to my screen. It took a while to figure out how the funny little thing unfolds. I wrote to the company a couple of times and while it took some time for the last response, they did at least respond with info and suggestions about operation and connectivity. The connection manager shows some unprotected sites that I was unable to enter, even though the signal strength should have allowed me to get on, and I certainly don't see my own personal account on a different server that is only 650 feet away, but I can at least use the available service for which I have a password. I don't know how this will operate while traveling, but the bottom line is that if this keeps me from getting kicked off at the office, and my surfing speed is adequate, I'm satisfied with the product, if not ecstatic. UPDATE: December 2012: Changed rating from 5 stars to 1 star.
Developer has not updated the firmware or software so what was a fantastic device no longer works with my newer and current Mac OS: 10.8.2. They do not respond to any contact attempts; too bad because this WAS an OUTSTANDING product.
Connected the Wi-Fire to my MacBook Pro after downloading the latest drivers; found an amazing THIRTEEN networks where I normally see only two or three at my home. They were all locked, but clearly visible with readings of connection strength shown in the Wi-Fire Connection Manager. This lightweight device works as advertised and is a great value for the price. The stats it provides are nice information to have; you can locate and use the strongest open location.
At the local library where our user group, Annapolis Apple Slice, meets, the connections have often been a problem over the past couple of years; I connected the Wi-Fire and my Mac showed a full signal. Even found a nearby locked network which hadn't been visible in the past.
Figuring out the 'wings' and how to use them caused a little bit of mystery at the outset. I am yet to venture down the highway to see if I can locate open networks in my neighborhood. Last time I tried that was several years ago when my internet was down for several days. Have more experimentation to do. It's difficult to compare the signal strength with my internal wireless card (Airport/MacBook) but when I use Wi-Fire, even though the signal strength is often quite low, I have not yet been kicked off the system. With my internal card, I am kicked off quite often. Still, the signal changes frequently so there is no way for me to compare both at the same time.
I tried ApGrapher and it's not much help because the way they graph is so different from the wi-fire. This is for use in a small business park where the dish is about 150 feet away and not in my line of sight. The best signal I get is when I point the Wi-Fire away from the dish/antenna.
I've experimented with music and video streaming and it has worked well. I don't like the design since it doesn't stand easily on a flat surface (the cable keeps tilting the unit) and I don't want to attach it to my screen. It took a while to figure out how the funny little thing unfolds. I wrote to the company a couple of times and while it took some time for the last response, they did at least respond with info and suggestions about operation and connectivity.
The connection manager shows some unprotected sites that I was unable to enter, even though the signal strength should have allowed me to get on, and I certainly don't see my own personal account on a different server that is only 650 feet away, but I can at least use the available service for which I have a password. I don't know how this will operate while traveling, but the bottom line is that if this keeps me from getting kicked off at the office, and my surfing speed is adequate, I'm satisfied with the product, if not ecstatic.
Over all this is a very good product. I don't want to nock it to much but I feel like the n3 (made by Rokland) might be better (if your not getting the range you want the n3 is another cheap buy) I'm not 100% sure on this but I think the n3 can get signal from a further range.just not as strong maybe? I like the software this product comes with better though because I don't have to start it every time I use it. I don't know much about how wireless stuff works but my n3 could pick up both my wireless connections. I have one + an A.P. This thing gets 5% less signal strength on my A.P.
And can't even see my main roughter (not all the time anyway and when it does it gets about 6% rather then 30%) bare in mind my main roughter is about 100- 150 feet away, also keep in mind that the signal is going threw 8 walls and some brick to get to it.so that might have something to do with it) I haven't tryed connecting to it when I have 5-7% of it's signal, I'm wondering if I would have faster wireless connection from it then my n3 did, as when I connected to it at 38% with my n3 I could barely even load a web page. This leads me to feel like I might be connected at a higher mbps compared to my n3 - 54 Vs 48 with my A.P.- so although I'm not getting a range I would like to have I feel like my internet is running faster. Bare this in mind if you don't like the% of signal you are getting, run some test and see if you internet works at a fare speed. I feel like when a company makes a wireless adapter they can make their software say you have a higher connection then you do so maybe the n3 is a shame but I would still recommend it. This review is, by fare, not meant to lead you away from this product, it's very cheap and gets the job done. I would however like to recommend the Rokland n3 to people who might want something more.
And if that doesn't work out, well I think you just used the two best adapters on the market, time to look for a high powered antina for your n3, which is a nice plus to having it because you can change out the antina for a better one and get a better signal. Don't feel bad about buying this product.
UPDATE: December 2012: Changed rating from 5 stars to 1 star. Developer has not updated the firmware or software so what was a fantastic device no longer works with my newer and current Mac OS: 10.8.2.
They do not respond to any contact attempts; too bad because this WAS an OUTSTANDING product. Connected the Wi-Fire to my MacBook Pro after downloading the latest drivers; found an amazing THIRTEEN networks where I normally see only two or three at my home. They were all locked, but clearly visible with readings of connection strength shown in the Wi-Fire Connection Manager. This lightweight device works as advertised and is a great value for the price. The stats it provides are nice information to have; you can locate and use the strongest open location.
At the local library where our user group, Annapolis Apple Slice, meets, the connections have often been a problem over the past couple of years; I connected the Wi-Fire and my Mac showed a full signal. Even found a nearby locked network which hadn't been visible in the past. Figuring out the 'wings' and how to use them caused a little bit of mystery at the outset. I am yet to venture down the highway to see if I can locate open networks in my neighborhood. Last time I tried that was several years ago when my internet was down for several days.
Have more experimentation to do. I read good review after good review on this product. I purchased the WiFire for use with my MAC and have been extremely disappointed with its performance. I tried it on my Win XP partition and it won't work at all. I've followed all troubleshooting tips and uninstalled and then reinstalled and verified that everything was correct. Still nothing but problems, worse connectivity, actually.
I have also tried to install and use it with a Win 7 machine with disastrous results (blue screen of death, booting to safe mode, etc) there is no update for the drivers or anything and trying to reach a tech support guru at Wifire is futile. Simply attempting to peruse their troubleshooting website alone was an effort in futility. I DO NOT recommend this product. I tried this on a lark. I did not expect much. However, it does work a bit.
I connect to a free Wi-Fi hotspot from an apartment. Without this device, it can be hard to connect and stay connected. I do have an easier time getting connected now and I stay connected longer. By no means am I implying that I have blazingly quick speeds now.
My performance went from horrible to bad. Overall, it helps a tad. It makes just enough difference that I decided to keep it. I have a feeling that this device would make a good connection better. The antenna get great reception from my room, despite all the walls and other obstructions.
We also have a lot of devices and computers trying to access the WiFi, and I have a good connection despite all the other traffic. The one negative thing is that sometimes after bringing the computer out of stand-by, the Wi-Fire won't be detected. I have to pull the plug out and plug it back in. I bet there is a fix and I haven't found it yet.
Overall a good purchase and leagues better than any other USB WiFi adapter I have used. My wireless antenna on my G5 broke during moving. Being 4 years old, it was 'obsolete' and I couldn't just order one from Apple.
I got this antenna instead and I am very pleased with it's performance. So much so, I bought a 2nd one for the Apple my kids use for homework. I recommend hooking it up to the Tripp Lite active extension cable and get it as high in the room as you can.
Hfield Releases Wi-fire Connection Manager 2.0 For Mac
Don't bother putting it on the computer screen like the photo shows. The active extension cable doubled my reception signal.