Alfa Network AWUS036H V5 + u-mount-cs –, Long Distance, WiFi USB Adapter with 5 dBi Antenna

This is the third one of these I've tried, over three years, and finally it works with W7/64!Having had two before that failed to do anything, I was reluctant to try another one, but the blurb now says "now works with Windows 7!", so I thought I'd give it one more go. I was expecting the usual results, so I was very pleased indeed to discover that not only does it now work with W7, but it's also very easy to set up (just follow the instructions an it's up and running in 5 minutes).And it works exactly as claimed - bringing in two or three times the number of Wi-Fi transmitters and boosting the signal of the ones we could already receive. At home in England, this means we can now get a signal good enough for Facebook and Skype halfway down our very long Victorian garden. And in Hungary, where we spend our summers, and piggy-back on open wi-fis, we can now see three open transmitters where before there was only one (and we can pick up the signal all over the flat, not just in the kitchen!).An excellent, and really useful, product - now they've finally caught up with the times!

My experience with this product is satisfying. I needed something to boost reception because it's been on the low side. I'd get reception about 40% of the time and good reception about 20% of the time. Now I get reception about 95% of the time, the quality varies. The thing that annoys me the most is that the software shuts itself when I put the computer on standby and doesn't restart. I have to restart it myself (quit the application that is still running and start it again), and every time set the Tx power from 60% to 100%. Why would anyone want anything less than 100% is beyond me, not to mention it being the returning default option. Also the GUI is not the greatest I've seen and could be more intuitive. The hardware itself works well and that's the important thing, thus 4 stars.

I've been using this kit for over two years now and I can thoroughly recommend it. It's a MUST HAVE for seasoned travellers not wanting to get ripped off with high broadband charges.I first saw it being used by a German yachtsman in Mahon Harbour (Menorca). He said that he could pick up the free WIFI signals of harbour-side restaurants from his boat moored 1 mile away across the other side of the harbour. Considering its bargain price against the very high tariffs of all those other WIFI suppliers I thought it worth a try.And it works!For example, I spent a weekend at the Malvern Hotel last year where broadband was available free via WIFI in the reception area downstairs but chargeable in the rooms (via a plug-in cable). I tried my Toshiba NB250 Netbook (great little tool because I really need a hardware keyboard) in my room. No joy. I plugged in the Alfa kit and it immediately picked up the free WIFI service from way downstairs. Great.I've also used it on a cruise ship where I could pick up the free land-based Wifi services as we entered harbour.Today I'm in the Algarve using the same little netbook to write this review. I also have with me a Macbook Pro, an iPad and a Samsung Mega smartphone (OK. I'm a writer). I am staying in a sprawling development of single storey apartments and the free WIFI service is based around the manager's office some 100 yards away (and behind another building). None of my equipment can access this free Wifi service further away than about 10 metres so I started off by checking my emails on my phone as I walked past the office after parking my car.But I am writing and sending this review sitting inside my apartment (with its steel patio doors open) and my Alfa kit is providing me with a very strong free Wifi service from the same office.That's why it's great.The software's easy to use too. It scans for signals, tells you their strength and security system and you click the one you want and off it goes. It remembers the details of your previously accessed services too.And the kit includes a host of aerial mounts too. The basic one is the box with the aerial. This can be stood on a desk. The aerial has a universal joint at the bottom so it can be swung in any direction. I have always found vertical to be the best direction. Then there's a cradle to hold the box that holds the aerial. This has a strong bull-dog type clip at the rear. This is what I use with my laptops. I clip the holder onto the top of the screen with the holder behind it. Then I adjust the aerial to Vertical. The connecting cable is nice and short too though easily long enough to plug into one of the USB sockets. Finally there's a sucker which also attaches to the cradle. This allows the aerial to be mounted on a window (such as a car window). There is no situation I've found where I couldn't use one of these options to mount the aerial.Buying this signal booster is a no-brainer - especially if you're fed up with high broadband or Wifi charges. It will pay for itself in the space of 2-3 hours.

Before I say anything negative I want to point out that it works fine.It feels cheap, it is clearly cheaply made, however as a piece of tech it works great. I used to get 2 bars (whatever that actually means) and now I get 5 most of the time. I plugged it in and it worked straight away. It did seem to die for an hour or so inexplicably however that seemed to be a one off. I have had this for quite a few weeks now and have not encountered any other problems. 3 stars because it works but it's a ugly and feels cheap. (I'm a designer who needs fast internet access and this does the job).It was a good price at the time of purchase, it arrived quickly and work well. Overall it's worth buying if you need better signal "capture".

I'm not a big fan of wireless. In fact, if I can avoid it, I'll generally trail wires about the place in order to keep the cable firmly in my PC. This has now become impractical where I live, sadly, and I have to say that until this point my experiences of wifi have ranged from "bad" to "atrocious".This product is different though - it took all of 10 mins to set up (google the latest drivers rather than bothering with the cd - requires a reboot) and worked perfectly thereafter. The signal strength is fantastic and the only issue I have is that I get a bit of packet drop - but that's not down to this device.So it may look crappy and plasticy, but underneath that lies an extremely solid product. The wire is gone, but I'm still connected - can't ask for much more than that with wifi. Oh and in case you're wondering what the difference between this one and the slightly more expensive one is, this one does not come with the extremely huge ariel. Not that most would need that anyway...