Ah, the allure of free Internet.   Let’s face it.  Sometimes you’re just out of reach of that free WiFi hotspot.  Sure, you could be social and join the net-surfing crowd in that coffee shop.  But why do that when you can sit alone in the parking lot out back?   And as if the stigma of stealing using someone else’s WiFi Internet connection wasn’t bad enough, slapping a homemade cantenna to the roof of your car as you sit alone with your laptop might get you shot.   Fortunately, there’s another solution – the Mvix Solido Wireless-N USB Adapter w/ 5dbi gain.

Mvix Solido Packaged

Technical Specifications

The Mvix Solido is directly based upon the Realtek RTL8191SU Wireless LAN 802.11n USB 2.0 Network Adapter.

Testing Method

Our (barely scientific) tests of the Solido USB adapter focused on signal strength and data throughput in various conditions.  Using an HP DV4t laptop and its integrated Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN miniPCI Express internal wireless network adapter as a baseline, we compared the signal strength levels of several wireless networks within our geographical area across multiple broadcast channels.  The signal strength data was recorded using MetaGeek’s free inSSIDer WiFi scanning software.

Throughput tests were conducted by connecting both the Mvix Solido Wireless and Intel WiFi Link adapters to our 802.11n network and comparing how quickly each adapter transferred data to a server on the network.  Our network is managed by a Belkin N+ wireless router and the client/server software used to transfer data and measure throughput was a compilation of Iperf for Windows.

Mvix Solido Wireless-N USB Adapter

Installation

As noted above, the Mvix Solido Wireless Network Adapter is compatible with Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems.  While the device comes with an installation CD, it was automatically detected and operational by my Windows machine before I could put the CD in the drive.  Should one choose to install the included software, it’s nothing more than a superfluous network management tool.

Although we didn’t test the Solido on a Mac, we did attempt to install the device on a Linux machine, which was pretty much a disaster.   The Linux drivers are included on the installation CD and can be easily downloaded via the Mvix website, but require manual compiling and integration into the Linux environment.  It took us several hours to work through the sparse documentation and even get the Solido detected by our Linux PC (contact us for our procedure if you’re having trouble).  And even after achieving installation, performance was flaky and unstable, resulting in frequent network disconnects.  We didn’t have enough time to thoroughly troubleshoot this, so we’re not ready to recommend using the Mvix Solido on Linux computers.

Performance Tests

It’s important to note that due to the density of wireless networks in our geographical area, actual performance results for other users of the Mvix Solido may vary.  And whereas the Intel WiFi Link adapter detected 23 wireless networks, the Mvix Solido detected 30, thus demonstrating its increased sensitivity.

Mvix Signal Strength Data

The chart above (click to zoom) offers a side by side comparison of the signal strengths of four relatively robust wireless networks, each broadcasting on a different channel.  While this is only an instantaneous snapshot of each network’s signal strength, which generally varied by +/-  5-10 dBm, it does represent our consistent finding that the signal strength of already strong networks wasn’t really improved by the Mvix Solido.  As previously stated, the device was able to boost its reception of low powered networks enough to detect several more of them than its Intel counterpart.

Throughput Tests

Intel 5100AGN Throughput Test Results

Mvix Solido Throughput Test Results

These charts (click to zoom) represent continuous bandwidth measurements over a 60 second period at maximum throughput.  As steady-state was achieved, it is apparent that both wireless network adapters perform similarly, with no clear advantage to either device.

Conclusion

Somewhat disappointingly, the Mvix Solido Wireless-N USB Adapter w/ 5dbi gain didn’t really provide much improvement in wireless network performance.  While it did detect more wireless networks than its miniPCI integrated counterpart, it didn’t noticeably improve the overall wireless networking experience in environments in which strong usable networks already exist.  It can help boost the signal strength of outlying networks, but not so much that a once unusable network would “magically” perform acceptably.  Fortunately, the $35 Mvix Solido doesn’t require significant investment for those who’d like to try it out in other applications.

This review provides an independent and objective opinion of its subject.  The authors did not receive compensation in the form of monies or free products from any party seeking to influence the outcome of the review.  If demo units were furnished by the manufacturer, they were promptly returned after the author’s evaluation period.