For the latest on long range USB antennas, check out the updated version of this article.
Enhancing the wireless range of your laptop using a long range antenna will let you search and find more (potentially open) wireless networks as you travel the world. The typical wireless card in a Macbook gives you about 100mW range. Forget about the technical details but consider that a long range wireless card gives you 3-5 times (300-500mW) the range. This lets you bum Wi-Fi signals from networks that might have been out of your range otherwise.
There are two good options for long range wireless antennas with some minor differences between the two. This isn’t a sponsored review, I just like and find these two antennas personally very useful.
Alfa AWUS036EH (300mW) about $40– About the size of a USB memory stick, this little antenna plugs into your USB drive and works with most Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. The Alfa AWUS036EH provides about 300mW of power (about 2.5 times that of most Intel Windows laptops).
- I never travel without my Alfa AWUS036EH. It doesn’t look fancy or expensive and probably won’t draw anyone’s attention.
- Alfa AWUS036 (500mW) about $60 – Aside from the extended range (almost 2 times) over the Alfa AWUS036EH, the Alfa 500mW doesn’t plug right into your USB drive (but an included cable). It’s a big bulkier and might be more interesting for a pickpocket in my opinion.
These cards aren’t the easiest to find, but I’ve purchased both from Rokland.com (here’s the link for the 300mW and the 500mW). You can also use the card for Wi-Fi hacking, but you don’t need any extra equipment to search for hidden wireless networks in airports or bus stations.
thanks for sharing all these tech stuff. You’ve been my go-to guy, not only for travel, but also these things that make travel + blogging + photography so enticing!
I’m so glad that you find these posts helpful, you’re blog, travels, and wonderful photography has inspired me tremendously! A long range antenna is very useful when traveling and they can be tweaked to get access to more difficult *cough, cough* airport *cough* wireless networks.
I am warning you in advance for probably asking a dumb question. Do these improve the speed of the internet connection you would already be on?
Not a dumb question at all 🙂 The maximum Internet connection is limited by one of two things. Either the output of the wireless router (let’s say 54mbps) and how much data the wireless receiver (i.e. the USB antenna) can handle. Both of these wireless cards (and most new ones) are 802.11g which means they can handle up to 54mbps.
Almost all wireless now is 54mbps (in theory, in practice always much slower). A new standard is being developed to allow for higher speed but if the wireless card you’re using can’t process it, you’d be stuck at 54mbps.
These long range wireless cards actually use much more electricity than a typical wireless card which is why their range is so much greater.
Hope that makes sense!
That helps a lot and I am about to purchase one now. Thanks!
Awesome to hear, I love my Alfa.
Just went online to buy the Alfa AWUS036EH (300mW) Long Range Antennae and the specs say it only works with Windows and Linux. I know your post says it works with MacBooks, but want to make sure before I buy it. Love your feedback Anil. Thanks.
Hi Barbara, are you running Leopard or Snow Leopard?
Snow Leopard
The drivers for Leopard are a bit wonky for Snow Leopard. It works on my system but was a bit of a pain to get running. It works fine but takes a bit more setup upfront. I’ve contacted the manufacturer to see if there is an updated driver or one they’re planning on releasing. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back.
Hi Barbara, guess I should have upgraded my drivers when I changed computers. The latest Leopard drivers work for the Alfa 300.
Thanks Anil! Big help – I’ll order one right now.
I went around shopping for this online and found the AWUS036EH here for only 20 USD, but is says only 200mW:
http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-160/Alfa-AWUS036EH-200mW-USB/Detail.bok
There’s also the 1000mW AWUS036NEH for the same price, but my technical knowledge is limited. From the specs listed, do you reckon it will be a good choice over the one above?
http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-61/alfa-500mW-USB-Wireless/Detail.bok
Cheers,
Jerome
Did the Rokland links above happen to work? That’s not the same 1000mW I’m familiar with from your link. The major difference is that it requires 2 USB ports for power and a more significant drain on battery (if you’re using on a laptop). I wouldn’t go below 300mW though in my opinion.
Rokland doesn’t seem to ship to Europe, so can’t use them unfortunately.
The 1000mW uses 2 USB ports? You found that in the specs? You’re right, it will be very draining on the battery and using both USB’s would be a bit annoying.
I want to use it on my MacBook with Kismac and while traveling, so I want it to be small. Leaves me with the AWUS036EH (although the one under my link is black, so might be an older one? Because it does say 200mW. Can’t find yours elsewhere) or this one
http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-232/alfa-USB-Wireless-WiFi/Detail.bok
but that doesn’t seem to support 802.11N, or is that not so important?
I’m not sure what the difference between them is. You have any expert advice?
I contacted Alfa and apparently the EH is an old version now and not sold anymore. Bummer. The two new options are the EW which uses the same chipset as the EH and the NEH (which also supports N), which uses a Ralink chipset instead and is 1000mW. Sounds like the EW is closest to the EH you’re using. What do you reckon?
Cheers.
Sorry for the delayed response –
I used to have the 500/1000 that used both ports; as for 802.11n, it’s a newer standard you probably won’t have to worry about for the next few years or so. I don’t think there will be a massive jump to it immediately.
I would go with the EW to preserve the same chipset; good balance of range vs. battery life.
Awesome. Thanks man. Following you on FB now.
Anytime, let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions.
Ha! This is great.
Definatley going to score one of these when I’m back in England.
Get so pissed off scraping by with shitty wi-fi in India at the moment. I met this guy in Cambodia who said he had a network card that allowed him to see users within a given wi-fi network. He could target specific i.p addresses on the web and limit the amount of data from those high bandwidth sites (youtube etc ) through the network.
Anyway – Probably illegal, and a little bit beyond my technical ability!
Pretty cool though 🙂
The antennas are great and getting stronger which is nice 🙂
If you get control of the router supplying you with wireless you can do all sorts of interesting things like throttling the bandwidth in your favor:
http://techguidefortravel.com/2010/07/13/how-to-reset-a-hostel-wireless-router/
and a bit more advanced method in case you really want to geek out:
http://techguidefortravel.com/2010/02/09/methods-to-access-hotel-wireless-without-paying-for-it/
Legality questionable at best though; these are just theoretical guides 😉
Hey Anil – I can’t seem to find the Alfa AWUS036EH anywhere, and all the available Alfa models out there don’t seem to support Mac OSX Lion (on a Macbook Air). I did find the following, but its twice as much as the Alfa models. Got any thoughts for Lion users? http://www.quickertek.com/products/Q4.php
Hi Tyler, have you checked Rokland?
http://store.rokland.com/
They’ve got the latest Alfa models there; and the software is Mac compatible.
Hey Anil – I had checked the site but not the store. Great, thanks for the link – I am going to give the n3 a try, because the Alfa AWUS051NH doesn’t list OSX Lion compatibility. Rock on!
You’re very welcome. And if you have any concerns about the software versions, feel free to email them. Rokland is very good and quick with support questions.