Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fix Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain USB Wireless 300N Range Extender

Apprently through searching the internets there is a huge problem with the HWREN1 Wireless Repeater. The problem is that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Pretty broad.

I've searched about and the problem lies that the repeater does not auto-scan channels to connect to your main wireless router. In the intital setup, the HWREN1 scans for your router and sets the wireless channel accordingly. Here the problem lies that the HWREN1 assumes that the wireless channel will NEVER change. WRONG! 101% of wireless routers have auto-scanning features to scan for the most optimal channel, thus creating a constantly changing channel.

So...how do we fix the HWREN1?

1. Turn off auto-scanning on your router.
2. Pick a wireless channel on your router. I have read that 5 is a bad idea and many people chose 11. So I chose 11.
3. Log into your HWREN1 and change it's wireless channel to what your router's channel is. I changed my HWREN1 to 11...just like my router.
4. VIOLA! Problem solved.

Now, you should not have any problems with your HWREN1 losing connection or not getting an internet connection.