I know a guy who says he used a ham radio amplifier and TV antennae to amp up his wi-fi hotspot and take over his whole town. While that may be, it’s also a good way to get the FCC (or CRTC in Canada) to knock on your door, and you don’t want that. Here’s an easier way to amp up your 802.11 b g wi-fi connection.

Make a Statement About Your Character in dBi

Hawking's HWU8D USB Wireless - G Dish Adapter can sit on your desk and will crank your 802.11 g reception by up to 300% for your desktop or laptop PC. It looks like a satellite dish and works in much the same way, by improving wireless signal reception. The wi-fi adaptor uses an 8dBi antenna that is four times more powerful than the average desktop adaptor (which has only a 2dBi antenna). You can do even better if you're willing to go to this length, but Hawking makes it a lot easier.

Since it’s a dish, you must aim it in the direction of the Wireless G signal. A row of LEDs responds to the signal strength of your reception, helping you zero in on your access point. So, if you’re trying to snoop out a wi-fi hotspot in a questionable part of town, dissolve your worries with this overkill.

Designed by Hawking Technology, the dish uses trademarked Hi-Gain Wireless features that Hawking says will grant the user higher speeds from greater distances using the directional dish. I just think it’s cool to look at - I mean, imagine something like this sitting on your desk next to your notebook. Yes, I am incredibly superficial when it comes to technology. I wish I was deep instead of just macho / geek (kidding). But you know, you can really tell a lot about a man by the dBi of his wireless.