- IEEE 802.11b/g/n
- Up to 300 Mbps Data Rates
- 64 / 128-bit WEP, WPA / WPA2
- USB cradle for flexible placement
- High gain external antenna for greater coverage
This is the bomb
07/31/2010
This review is from: Rosewill RNX-N180UBEv3 - Wireless High Gain N300 Wi-Fi Adapter - IEEE 802.11b/g/n, (2T2R), Up to 300 Mbps Data Rates, USB 2.0 Cradle, 5 dBi High Power Antenna
Pros:
The 64-bit drivers for Win7 download and install as soon as you plug it in, though you will need a network connection to get them. They are the latest drivers too (1086.27), dated 7/8/2010. I recommend that you use these drivers with Windows Zero Configuration, and not bother with the drivers on the disc. Even the most recent drivers on the Realtek site for the RTL8192SU chip are older.
This gives better signal strength than even a three-antenna 802.11n card in the same PC, since the antenna can be set up higher and clear the PC case, which often blocks the signals. Apparently some people don't know that these days, since they have never had to learn about TV rabbit ears.
Cons:
Though not a con, since it is not advertised as such, I wish they would come out with an 802.11a (5 GHz) version, which needs a good antenna even more than the 802.11g/n equipment on the 2.4 GHz band.
Overall Review:
They engineered this right, with the antenna plugging directly into the base which includes the RF circuitry and demodulator. So the only thing you are connecting to your PC is a USB cable which carries only DC power and digital signals. All the RF cable losses are eliminated, and you can add a longer USB cable without impairing performance. This is much better than the antennas with short coaxial cables that people are always complaining about. But they don't realize that if you make the RF cable longer, you will just increase the signal loss and defeat the purpose of an external antenna.
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- Michael F.
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Verified Owner
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Owned For:
less than 1 day
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