hField Technologies of Pennsylvania, has just received FCC approval for their new, more powerful WiFi antenna, the Wi-Fire. It is a USB antenna that boosts reception of WiFi signals, thus extending the range of existing networks up to 1,000 feet. This measurement is probably outside in an open field, but still, that is a pretty decent upgrade from the 250 feet that many current routers currently seem to have as their maximum.
The product was originally developed for a student entrepeneurial challenge at Lehigh University, where hField’s founders recently graduated from. The product won first prize, which included a cash prize of $2,500 USD to get them started. Earlier this summer they received $25,000 USD from a state-funded development organization.
Wi-Fire is now on sale through hField directly for $150. Currently though, Mac users are going to have to wait, as there is no driver support yet. I almost want to buy one to test it, as the booster antenna is attached to the computer, and not the router, which could make for some nice away from home wireless web browsing.
I can’t imagine I want that brick on my laptop, like she has in the picture. It’s like the ridiculous wireless mouse that requires the huge transmitter hanging out of your laptop – only bigger.
ah, but you could probably use your neighbour’s bandwidth for free :)