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Hawking HWC54D adapter
Reviewed by
Brian Nadel
on 04/28/2005
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front side back

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$43.93 - $56.00

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  • Quick specs
  • Data transfer rate: 54 Mbps
  • Bandwidth: 2.4 GHz
  • Connectivity technology: Wireless
  • See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

The good: High-gain antenna that swivels; excellent interface; good throughput and range; inexpensive.

The bad: Flimsy construction; card juts out of notebook; high battery drain; Windows only.

The bottom line: Hawking's HWC54D grabs onto a weak network signal and squeezes as much data out of it as possible.

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CNET editors' review

  • CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
    Detailed editors' rating
      Setup and ease of use : 7.0
      Features and security : 7.0
      Performance : 7.0
      Service and support : 6.0
      Overall score: 6.9 (3.0 stars)
  • Reviewed by:
    Brian Nadel
  • Edited by:
    Felisa Yang
  • Reviewed on: 04/28/2005
  • Released on: 01/01/2005
By combining an adjustable high-gain antenna design with a standard Wi-Fi adapter, Hawking Technology's HWC54D network adapter latches onto a weak Wi-Fi signal to boost throughput and extend range. The adapter is easy to install. Just unfold the card's unique adjustable antenna and aim it directly at the access point for the best signal strength. If only its power management and ruggedness matched its antenna, this card would be a winner.

Hawking's HWC54D is the first 802.11g PC Card adapter to incorporate a 6dBi antenna, which offers about twice the sensitivity of the antennas in most wireless notebook adapters and can be pointed at the wireless router or access point to make the most of a weak signal. The self-contained unit is more convenient to travel with and use than Compex's iWavePort WL54G PC Card and external antenna, but the HWC54D is heavier than other Wi-Fi cards and extends out of the side of the notebook a lengthy 1.6 inches, making it far more susceptible to breakage than standard PC Card adapters.

Hawking's HWC54D PC Card adapter comes with a basic printed installation booklet and a CD that contains setup software and a detailed 25-page user manual. The card works with every Windows release since Windows 98 SE and installs in a matter of minutes, but there are no Macintosh or Linux drivers; Hawking says it will have a Mac version by the fall.

The card's interface is one of the best in the business, with a great general summary screen that shows available networks, a Statistics page for a real-time accounting of successful and failed packets, and a button that lets you quickly turn the adapter on and off. In addition to offering both 802.11g/b and 802.11b-only modes, the software displays the current connection as well as signal strength, link quality, and noise level.

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