Thanks to the great people at Blogspot/Blogger/Google for hosting RokBlog, the company blog of Rokland LLC, for so many years. We are moving RokBlog “in-house” if you will, which means our blog will now be hosted directly on our Rokland.com web site.
We will not be integrating our current posts, so this particular site will remain online for sometime, as will all comments. Going forward, all of our new posts will be at the new location of our blog.
We are excited to announce that our new web site has launched at http://store.rokland.com
Now through Tuesday you can save 15% on any order (and get FREE SHIPPING too) with the coupon code “HAPPY4TH”. Save on long range Wi-Fi adapters like Alfa AWUS036H, AWUS036H, and AWUS051NH. Even save on cables and yagi antennas!
Just enter the coupon code on the payment page of checkout.
We hope you enjoy our new site and our new wider selection of Wi-Fi products and accessories! Don’t forget, every item now comes with free shipping!
Timed with the launch of our new web site, we have also jumped onto Facebook.
Don't worry, you won't have to endure constant status updates regarding what our staff members ate for lunch or where they are happen to be at any given moment.
Instead you can view our Facebook page to read about new product announcements, see Rokland videos, join a discussion board on a Wi-Fi related topic, or compare product experiences with other people. Studies show more than 1/8 of the time the average web user spends online is at Facebook. Ideally you'd have our blog open in one browser tab and our Facebook page open in another, but we'd settle for either one!
We are launching a completely redesigned Rokland.com on Saturday, July 2, 2011. In addition to an expanded selection of products, FREE SHIPPING on ALL items, and lower prices, we will also have a new coupon code system (meaning more discounts for you).
Right now you can get a coupon to use this Saturday and Sunday on our new site simply by following us on Twitter. What’s the worse that could happen? We tweet more discount codes to you in the future?? Maybe you can’t get something for nothing these days, but at least you can get something simply by following us on Twitter…note that we will be sending out coupon codes to all of our followers on Saturday, so you will not get one right away after following us. This is to avoid confusion with people attempting to use the coupon codes on our existing site right now.
If you need a long range Wi-Fi solution for Chrome OS, checkout the AWUS036H from Alfa Network. This has long been a popular long range wireless networking choice for Windows and Backtrack users, and now we have confirmed it is compatible with SUSE 11.4 (Celadon) running Kernel 2.6.37.6-0.5-default. Here is a list of all of the steps we had to go through to get it working:
1. Connect Alfa adapter to computer
A short list, eh? That’s right, it was plug and play on our test machine, with no driver installation needed. We ran the latest live CD available here (download completed Friday June 17th, 2011). It appeared to operate at or near full power, detecting a number of Wi-Fi networks and we were able to connect to our signal and go online. Here are some screenshots- we apologize for the poor quality, Chrome has no screenshot program so we took actual pictures using the dated camera on an iPhone 3GS.
Does this mean it will work on Google’s new Chromebooks? We don’t know, but it is doubtful because early reports are that Chromebooks are shipping with virtually no drivers preinstalled, and the live CD version of Chrome OS obviously has the driver for this product built-in. We may look into that further, but for now, those of you running SUSE Linux release 11.4 (Chrome OS) from a live CD should be able to use the Alfa AWUS036H for Wi-Fi connectivity. Our test machine was a Toshiba Satellite A-105. Please feel free to post your experiences with Chrome OS and Chromebooks here in our comments section to help other users searching for a solution.
This past week Realtek announced driver support for the Realtek RTL8187L chipset has been discontinued, meaning that devices which are based on this chipset may no longer be compatible with future Windows or Mac operating system releases or updates. It also means that there will be no further bug fixes released.
This affects the Alfa AWUS036H, Alfa UBDo-gt8, RokAir, and any other Wi-Fi adapter that uses this chipset. Windows users most likely won’t be affected until the next major release of Windows. Mac users running 10.6 may be affected now. Earlier this month we posted about Mac OS compatibility of this chipset, explaining it worked with Snow Leopard 10.6 Macs booting a 32-bit kernel but not those booting a 64-bit kernel. It appears because of this EOL announcement that Realtek RTL8187L-based devices will not be supported on 64-bit kernel Macs going forward unless a 3rd-party workaround is developed (the latter is not unheard of, but it can take some time).
Snow Leopard users booting a 64-bit kernel should consider the Alfa AWUS036NH or the Rokland n3. Note that currently the AWUS036NH model is not compatible with 64-bit kernel Macs out of the box and drivers will need to be downloaded. The Rokland n3 is compatible with 64-bit kernel Macs right out of the box.
Last week we highlighted some changes the US Postal Service (our primary shipping carrier) has made to reduce their environmental impact. We also offer UPS shipping options, including UPS Ground, UPS 3 Day Select, UPS 2 Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air.
This year UPS launched their Carbon Neutral program, designed to help balance emissions produced by the 
transportation of UPS shipments. This is an opt-in program that UPS shippers can join, where we pay a per-package fee to UPS, which they use to invest in emission-offsetting projects that include “reforestation, landfill gas destruction, wastewater treatment, and methane destruction.”
Our involvement comes at no cost to our customers- we have not increased our UPS shipping fees or product prices in any way to cover the cost of our involvement in this program, and we will not be doing so in the future. Instead, our participation comes as a direct investment we are making in the future of our planet. To see other environmental initiatives by Rokland, please continue to read our blog.
Neckties, golf balls, a mediocre steak-dinner at a packed restaurant? If these are the images that come to mind when you try and think of what to get Dad this Father’s Day, consider a long range Wi-Fi adapter from Alfa Networks instead.
Whether your Dad is tech-savvy or afraid to touch any button on the keyboard other than actual letters, a long range Wi-Fi adapter could be the best product out there he does not even know he needs.
If your Dad is an RV’er or a boater, Alfa’s AWUS036H 1000mW long range USB adapter could be the difference between him getting Internet access or seeing no Wi-Fi signals at all.
If he prefers to use computers only at the home, having a product like the Alfa will likely mean he is no longer calling you to complain about how slow and spotty the Internet is.
We are now offering Alfa’s AWUS036H 1000mW long range USB adapter with a free mount set which includes holster, clip, and suction cup. This allows the Alfa to be clipped to the back of a laptop LCD, or fastened to a window for optimal range.
Last year we wrote about some changes we made here at Rokland to help reduce our impact on the environment. From time to time we like to talk about this- not as an advertorial, but instead in hopes of influencing other retailers, or having other retailers publish what they do so we can learn from them.
Today we are highlighting some green initiatives taken by the US Postal Service, our main shipping carrier. We offer US Postal options across the board because they are generally the cheapest and most reliable for light-weight packages.
The US Postal Service recently published steps they have taken to go green. We do not wish to take credit for things they have done, but as they are our primary shipping carrier, we do want to take a moment to share this information with our readers. This information comes from US Postal Service pamphlet GG11-CCZ-TO-405. This data is the copyright of the US Postal Service, but has been shortened for this post.
Eco-friendly packaging: The US Postal Service is the first carrier to receive “Cradle to Cradle” certification for their packaging containers. This certification looks at “ingredient safety” and “reutilization potential” among other things.
Climate change: The US Postal Service is “the first federal agency to publicly report greenhouse gas emissions and get third-party verification.”
Reducing carbon footprint: “The US Postal Service has reduced its facility energy intensity by more than 28% since 2003.”
Visit http://www.usps.com/green/ for more information and some tips about what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment.
The Alfa AWUS036H long range 1000mW wireless USB adapter is compatible with Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6. However it does not work with Macs running Snow Leopard that boot a 64-bit kernel.
The good news is almost all Mac models sold prior to February 2011 that run Snow Leopard boot a 32-bit kernel and all Macs (that we are aware of) sold after February 2011 can be set to boot to a 32-bit kernel.
We have created this support PDF file that details how to find out what kernel your Mac boots, how to set your Mac to boot a 32-bit kernel if it is currently booting a 64-bit kernel, and exactly what this means and how it does/does not affect your Mac’s performance.
We have updated the driver section of our web site to help buyers easily locate the necessary installation software for their product when they need it. You can access our driver download page by going to http://www.rokland.com and clicking on the “Drivers” link on the left, or simply by clicking here.
Most all of our products already ship with the needed drivers and installation software, but the page above contains the latest drivers for many of the products we sell (including Alfa Networks products), and may come in handy if you are attempting to install a past purchase on another computer and you no longer have the original CD, or if you want to make sure you have the most updated driver files available.
If you are in the market for a 200mbps powerline Ethernet bridge, you may be scouring the net for the best deal on Netgear XAV101. Or perhaps you are trying to find a bargain on TRENDnet TPL-304E.
We’ve got some good news for you. You can now get 200mbps powerline Ethernet bridges made by Alfa Networks- a trusted name in networking technology. Just as fast as their Netgear and TRENDnet counterparts (and backed by a 1 year warranty), Alfa’s AHPE303 powerline Ethernet bridges come in at a lower price than the competition.
This is especially great news for those of you looking for multiple bridges so you can connect several devices. Click to check our prices for 1-pack and 2-pack AHPE303. Also, see this related post about how one of our employees solved their DVR connection problems using 200mbps powerline bridges.
At the request of Alfa Networks, we are posting an important message about the casing of genuine Alfa products. Recently Alfa Networks became aware of a counterfeit version of their product that looks like this, with a “10G” logo on it. This is not a genuine Alfa product.
Genuine Alfa products have a different shape casing, and also have a “1” logo on the top. But even the original Alfa cases can be counterfeited, so here are some other ways to ensure you are getting a genuine Alfa Networks product:
1. Look for the anti-counterfeit hologram detailed in this video here:
2. Purchase your Alfa Networks products from an authorized Alfa Networks retailer such as Rokland.com. Our authorized reseller status can be confirmed by contacting Alfa Networks directly. You can also contact Alfa Networks directly to confirm the authenticity of any other vendor.
Have you ever heard about a best-selling author who writes book after book on marriage advice, and then ends up getting a divorce? I have worked in wireless networking for the last decade, and I have to confess, my TiVo made me feel like that guy. How could I work with wireless products every day and yet sit there and watch my TiVo stream movies using a Netgear USB stick (one of few with which it was compatible) at a 22% signal? The speed was so slow, I probably could have driven across town and rented the movie before enough data downloaded for me to be able to watch without pauses.
Like many in my position though, I became complacent. The Netgear stick was 54 mbps, and at the time, TiVo had no compatible 802.11n products. There was no way for me to add any type of an external antenna to the Netgear stick. Sure, I could have bought a repeater, but that’s another box that would have had to sit somewhere in between, taking up space and appearing out of place- and I have also read about others in similar situations who had tried repeaters with out much signal boost. Finally one day I upgraded my TiVo, and upon finding out the Tivo Series 3 HD box I bought was not compatible with my Netgear stick, I was forced into action. Out of my comfort zone, I went to the store and bought a new-to-market TiVo Wireless-N adapter. Pricey at $89.99, but it was 802.11n, and promised faster connection speeds. It did improve my connection some, but because my living room was so far from where my wireless router was, and I have a lot of interference where I lived, my speeds were still slow. And like the Netgear stick, I could not attach an external antenna to the Tivo-N adapter.
I had read about powerline Ethernet bridges a few years back, so I picked up two Linksys models from eBay and gave them a spin. They worked, but the max transfer speed was 14 mbps, just a hair above the old 802.11b Wi-Fi standard. Back into complacency I fell. The Linksys bridges were better than the old Netgear stick which was not compatible with my new TiVo box anyway, and they had cost a lot less than the TiVo-N adapter. Youtube speeds were acceptable, I would just live with what I had.
Then Alfa Networks introduced AHPE303 powerline Ethernet bridges capable of 200 mbps max transfer speeds. I didn’t even know 200 mbps powerline bridges existed, so I looked up the prices online and found the big box brand names were very expensive, like always. I got my sample set of AHPE303 from Alfa, hooked them up in my home, and was finally able to do exactly what I wanted with my Tivo. I could download movies from Amazon, and download them fast. I could stream Youtube videos- one after the other- without buffering pauses and networks lags. It is times like these that make me glad I work for a company that is an authorized distributor for Alfa Networks. I also like the fact that these Alfa bridges cost less new than their competitor’s refurbished ones!
If you have Ethernet-enabled devices in your home like a TiVo, Blu-Ray player, or even an Ethernet-enabled TV, Alfa’s 200 mbps will most likely be the fastest and easiest way for you to get them hooked up to your home network. The devices are truly plug and play and will work with any device that has an Ethernet port- even gaming consoles!
The bridges work with more than just DVRs and game consoles though, they work with computers as well. And because you don’t have to worry about interference and obstacles like you do with Wi-Fi, you can get fast speeds on all of your Mac and PC computers with zero driver installation!
New this January are red and blue neoprene carry cases from Alfa Networks. Measuring 6.5 inches by 4.5 inches, the case is just big enough to hold your Alfa AWUS036H, AWUS036NH, or AWUS051NH wireless long range USB adapter, a long with the factory 5 dBi antenna and USB cable those devices come with.
There is enough room to keep your mini-driver CD or other computing devices such as a USB flash drive or cell phone charger. The neoprene material is soft yet protective, and water resistant as well. It is the perfect size- big enough to hold what you need, while small enough to fit into your laptop carry case.
You can buy the red or blue case at our web site now, and very soon this will become part of our mega-kit over at eBay.
The AWUS036EW is a new low-lost long range high-powered Wi-Fi USB adapter from Alfa. It features the same Realtek RTL8187L chipset as the popular AWUS036H 1000mW model.
AWUS036EW is a great option for those in need of a long range high-powered Wi-Fi adapter who are also on a budget. It is also a great option for travel, as it is a smaller form factor vs. the AWUS036H. Both models are great, so choose which one is best for you. AWUS036EW can work with any laptop or desktop that has an available USB port and Windows 2000 or later (it is Windows 7 compatible).
It includes a 5 dBi gain antenna and comes new in retail box. It has a one year factory warranty.
