Buffalo's USB WiFi adapter boosts range 210%

If your built-in WiFi antenna is less than phenomenal, or you're just looking to jack some WiFi from another country to avoid severe punishment, Buffalo's AirStation WLI-U2-SG54HP might be the answer. This USB 2.0 stick adapter operates like any vanilla 802.11b/g wireless LAN adornment, but ups the ante by suctioning to the rear of your display and reportedly boosting your reception capability by 210-percent. Granted, we're not sure where the firm is deriving this lofty figure, but it's probably safe to assume that strapping a relatively large antenna on the back of your lappie will persuade a few more far away signals to come your way than your factory-installed alternative. So if you're looking for a way to extend that range (legally), or just enjoy having a tethered weapon at your disposal at all times, Buffalo's WLI-U2-SG54HP can be snapped up next month for ¥3,700 ($31)

[Via OhGizmo]

[Shadyman @ Jan 24th 2007 1:52AM]

Hmm... Suction cups for lappy or... car window?

[dean @ Jun 4th 2007 5:06PM]

I've been using the Wi-Fire that I bought from www.hfield.com. It extends range up to 1000 ft and strengthens my signal where my internal wifi card was unreliable. It is also a USB wireless adapter with a directional antenna.

[pixelbender @ Jan 24th 2007 2:51AM]

$30 so I can finally download MAFIAA material from my neighbor's wifi, WHERE IS THE PREORDER!!!!?

[Truegod @ Jan 24th 2007 2:04AM]

Awesome, and for $31. I just hope there will be some Mac drivers, because this might be really handy.

[Charles @ Jan 24th 2007 2:22AM]

not too bad, i mean with the suction cups i can stick on my butt and walk around and pretend the my laptop is just super enhanced by WiFi, or that my but can release signals if they see the wire:P

[Ricardo @ Jan 24th 2007 12:57PM]

OMG i want one!

[Wacky @ Jan 24th 2007 8:31AM]

Hmm 210% improvement... sounds like a 6dBi antenna to me.

[dimenxian @ Jan 24th 2007 8:30AM]

"...jack some WiFi from another country to avoid severe punishment..."

Ho ho! Watch out, Malaysians!

[Chocolate Starfish @ Jan 24th 2007 8:57AM]

Stick this in the middle of one of those collapsable vegetable steamers everyone's passing off as a receiver dish and you've got some real power!

[hesh @ Jan 24th 2007 12:25PM]

This is NICE. I'll definitely have to pick one up to keep at my parents' house, where the router is upstairs (don't ask) and reception drops quite a bit going downstairs.

[tom_squick @ Feb 12th 2007 11:43AM]

Got to get me one.

[John Doe @ Jan 24th 2007 10:59AM]

what about engadget's own satellite dish biquad antenna?

[Bogey @ Jan 24th 2007 12:59PM]

Ya know what... this looks an awful lot like this one: http://www.ccrane.com/antennas/wifi-antennas/super-usb-wifi-antenna.aspx

[zcorpio @ Jan 25th 2007 4:46AM]

And that one comes with MAC-drivers too. Pity the one in the article doesn't. $119.95 vs $31 is a slight difference...

[Bogey @ Jan 25th 2007 12:37PM]

But, the link I provided, has links to download all the drivers on the page... do you see where I'm going here? ;-)

[BdgBill @ Jan 25th 2007 9:01AM]

Finally!

I sleep in about 200 hotel rooms a year. Many hotels that advertise "wireless internet access" actually mean "one access point at the end of each quarter mile long hallway".

Ever since I had my first Wifi enabled laptop I have wondered why every laptop is not equipped with an external antenna jack.

[Hi Interet1 @ Feb 8th 2007 5:36AM]

Has anyone found the web page to order one of these yet, or did I just some how over look it some where ?

[mundy @ Mar 4th 2007 8:13PM]

emailed buffalo and they told me only japan market.. any-1 find any english speaking site to buy one?

wifi is wifi right? usa or jp? same signal ectect???