Ever been frustrated that your WiFi signal is spotty in your home? Does it take a minute or more to load a page? Ever been in a municipal WiFi zone but been unable to connect? Ever been traveling and needed to connect but couldn't find a WiFi hotspot?
The founders of Bethlehem-based uField Technologies know how you feel; they felt the same way, which is why they invented the Wi-Fire.
Essentially, the Wi-Fire Connection Manager is a high-powered antenna that connects to your computer with a USB cable and finds and enhances normal WiFi signals. Using a directional antenna powered by proprietary technology, the Wi-Fire can access wireless networks up to 1,000 feet away--three times the range of a standard, internal wireless adapter.
Founded by Curtis MacDonald and Blake Kleintop while they were students at Lehigh University, MacDonald was inspired to make the first crude version of what would become the Wi-Fire when he moved to an off-campus apartment that was out of range of the school's WiFi signal.
Since then, the company has enjoyed steady growth. In July, uField launched the third generation of its compact, long-range USB WiFi Adapter. The new Wi-FireTM is smaller and lighter than the company's previous versions of the device, yet it's the most powerful adapter currently on the market.