George Hardesty, Author at Data Alliance Customer Service

… according to one of our customers

…as managed Router/Firewall platform

Email from customer, June 2011:

I have done much testing of different configurations between the new part you just sent and the older part that failed to work. First of all, the new cable extender system works with every usb device I plugged into it with a 100′ cat 6 cable. It even works with a 1.5 gig removable usb-sata drive (with the power adapter plugged in.) That is all good news – it works amazingly well with anything I plug into it, except the AWUS036H, which is a touchy situation.

I live on an island – I use a 19dbi panel antenna to shoot 3 miles across the sound to hook up to some nice person who has a 20 meg broadband pipe. I have other choices, but this one is really fast. This is all done with the little AWUS036H on the other end of that antenna. All this person has is just a regular SMC wireless router provided by the cable company. Nothing fancy – and I’m sure he has only the stock little rabbit ears on it.

My main computer will maintain a solid connection with the AWUS036H even if I use all 3 of my usb extension cables. Now you can see why I was interested in this ethernet-cable-to-usb rig that I found on your website. It would allow me to get rid of those clunky usb extension cables that aren’t weatherproof.

Thanks for sending me that new set of cable extenders – you have my allegiance to your Alliance!!!!!

Troy Wilson

AWUS036NHA is most closely related to AWUS036NH because it is an 802.11N device like AWUS036NH.

AWUS036NHA has an Atheros chipset and so it works better with Linux than AWUS036NH, which has a Ralink chipset.

AWUS036NHA does not support Linux driver “directly”. If AWUS036NHA user wants to use it with Linux, they need to use open source: Link of discussion of Linux open source driver to use on the AWUS036NHA.

Below are test results froma very technically-savvy customer: He is testing comparing against the AWUS036H, which is a 802.11G device – and so this is not really conclusive with regard to how the AWUS036NHA performs in 802.11n mode – but it is interesting regarding the performance of the AWUS036NH in 802.11G mode:

CUSTOMER’S COMMENTS (all below):

The signal strengths I see with the HA are typically not as strong as what I see with the H. However, this can be misleading since the driver that the manufacturer writes controls this value, and from working on the 8187l driver, I know that it tends to be a bit optimistic. So this in itself is not really too important. They both saw about the same networks. There was some variation at times, with the H tending to see a few more. Again, this fact alone is not that important however, but consumers tend to like devices that show lots of networks, even if they can’t connect to them J.

I connected both the H and the HA to an Engenius AP so I could monitor the signal level of both devices. This AP is about ¾ mile from me, and I am using just the standard 5db rubber antenna’s that ship with each unit.

The HA was typically giving a signal strength, on the Engenius AP, of around -78 to -82. As low as -90db.
The H was typically giving a signal strength, on the Engenius AP, of around -73 to -80. As low as -88db.

So, the H seemed to have a bit higher output, in this particular test. But not substantially.

They were both able to connect to the same set of networks where I am currently located, however I need to test this in more locations which will happen as we start to move the boat in 2 weeks. My current location is pretty limited so I don’t think there is anything conclusive from this yet.

Driver Installation
If your Operating System is compatible you will successfully install the LAN utility, if not it will let you know that it is incompatible.

On this page: http://www.alfa.com.tw/in/front/bin/ptdetail.phtml?Part=AWUS036H&Category=0
enter into search box model number AWUS036H
click on the image of the USB adapter – the silver one –
once you’re on the product page scroll down past specifications – there you will find downloadable drivers
choose your operating system – select the “normal” version, then a new window will open
click download blue colored tab (you do not have to sign up or sign in, if it asks you to it is not the right tab)
Windows will ask you to save or run. Save unto desktop. (if windows does not open the window automatically after the 35 second countdown click the “download now” link – the window will open, click save)
Search through files for “setup.exe” – click on the icon and let it run.

Graphical Instructions: “How To”

See: AWUS036H Driver Installation Guide steps #1 to #6

One of our customers connected 15 IP cameras to one Ubiquiti PowerBridge M5 and the speed on the link from the PowerBridge is a minimum of 150Mbps.

High power requirements of Realtek RTL8187L chipset, found in the ALFA AWUS036H USB wireless adapter, can cause “on and off cycling” and/or dropping of connections and performance issues (see details below). We have two solutions:

1. POWERED 4-port USB 2.0 hub with an AC adapter

2. USB cable with two A-male connectors: This resolves some power issues for Alfa AWUS036H

3. USB Cable Extender over CAT5/6 cable (up to 60-meters) with power supply (sold separately)

DETAIL: The Realtek RTL8187L chipset, found in the ALFA AWUS036H USB wireless adapter, is quite power hungry. That is, it draws much more than 500ma when operating. USB controllers are rated for 500ma per port and most will shut down the port when the load exceeds ~550ma. This causes a constant “on and off” cycling of the device in some cases. The fix is simple… Purchase a POWERED 4-port USB 2.0 hub… one with an AC adapter to provide external power. The AC adapter is rated to provide 2000ma of power to drive 4 ports @ 500ma each, but will supply a single port with up to 2000ma…. more than enough power to satisfy the Realtek chipset. This has resolved the problems of performance and signal dropping for our customers.

Customer sent us these observations:

Having purchased and used the Realtek 8187B, 8187L, and now the new high-power (1000 milliwatt) 8187L wifi adapters from you I offer some comments from my experience.

1. On the same signal and under the same circumstances, the 8187B might offer 3-bars, the 8187L might offer 4-bars, and the new high-power 8187L might offer 5-bars on the received signal. But that is misleading. I do not have a lab full of equipment, but after playing around with a dozen or so of these the past two years it appears Realtek is jacking up the bars without jacking up the performance.

2. The 8187B might show 1-bar on a signal but that signal is usable. The new high-power 8187L adapters I have are useless on anything under 3-bars.

Download the latest firmware here:
(R36 User Manual can be downloaded from same page)

Follow these step to upgrade firmware:
1. NB/PC connects to R36’s LAN port by RJ45 / network cable
2. After Firmware upgraded, please go Administrator/Configuration page, click “Load default” button.