Hawking HWL2 USB Wireless Locator

As usual, the office emergency struck the day after I left the office on 12/20 for Christmas vacation in a suburban neighborhood in Maryland. I'd ordered high speed internet from the local cable company on December 5, but it wasn't turned on when I arrived and I was told it would take a week.

My laptop's internal Intel LAN 2100 mini PCI said there were several weak WiFi signals around, but couldn't hold one more than a minute or two before disconnecting. At the local Comp-USA's recommendation, I tried, in succession, a D-Link Super G, a Belkin N, and a LinkSys Wireless G (all pcmcia), all of which were less effective than the Intel built-in in holding signal.

The salesman dissed the Hawking, calling it slow and ineffective, but I was out of options and bought it anyway on my fourth visit. It works. The directional antenna stays locked on the signal (no drops, even though the software interface usually describes the signal as very weak or weak) and the speed is more than adequate for websurfing and office remote connections. I'm typing this review on it.

I understand from googling long range wireless network cards that there are probably even better options available online (maybe the EnGenius 200mw pcmcia with antenna jack?), but this was the best of the options from the extensive local brick and mortar options (CompUSA, BestBuy, Circuit City, Office Depot, Staples, calls to local PC shops).