Engadget Chinese gets hands-on with La Fontenna

Although we certainly wish it was our hands wrapped around FON's La Fontenna, we've been admittedly busy handling other matters over the weekend, so we're glad to see that our Chinese brethren were able to do the honors. The directional antenna looks to be a rather simplistic and unvaried device, as it simply replaces the stubby antenna on your La Fonera and instantly boosts your range (and popularity amongst other now-nearby users, we presume). During rather unscientific testing, the crew was able to notice a halfway decent increase in signal strength in a number of (marginally) faraway locales, and while recorded increases weren't anything to write home about, more connectivity is never a bad thing to have. So go on, give the read link a visit, and check out a few more unboxing shots during your stay.

[AdvWar @ Jul 1st 2007 11:01AM]

OH NOES!!! What happened to the iPhone? Us mindless sheep will soon forget about it now.........

[booyaka @ Jul 1st 2007 11:17AM]

Is it compatible with the iPhone?

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 1st 2007 11:52AM]

A whole feel very Powerful!

Gotta love Google translator.

[Brian Fakier @ Jul 1st 2007 12:00PM]

Why are we even talking about this? It doesn't work with the iPhone and Jobs probably hasn't even SEEN this thing or given it his blessing. It might as well not exist.

[Vineet Dixit @ Jul 1st 2007 1:16PM]

Why not just use the salad strainer? I have personally tried this, and it works so well, I doubt that this new thing can beat it. Link below.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EQARE4I72GEPUCHTHU/?ALLSTEPS

[AustinTX @ Jul 1st 2007 1:19PM]

I also reviewed La Fontenna in English on my El Fon Blog. It sounds like we found similar results. La Fontenna was slightly better than the original antenna. However, I also compared with a home-made reflector which cost me nothing.Please visit http://elfonblog.fondoo.net Sorry about the shameless plug, but my blog is nonprofit.. :)

[Brian @ Jul 1st 2007 2:12PM]

Something out of China that isn't fake?

This is great news!

[Jeff Chan @ Jul 1st 2007 4:50PM]

I'm pretty sure the authors of the Engadget Traditional Chinese are from Taiwan or from Hong Kong, thus they're not all Chinese ;)

[g3n3tiX @ Jul 1st 2007 6:50PM]

I'd love it to have written "front towards enemy" on it, Claymore style !

[J. R. @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:48AM]

I've had my Fontenna for a few weeks now. AND I live in the states. Not sure why this is big news that some guy in China got one... Oh yeah, and I only paid $2 for mine.

[Marshall @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:28PM]

I took some unboxing shots of this a while back (http://www.byanyother.name/blog_marshall/articles/2007/06/16/fontenna-unboxing) but didn't really think it qualified as news.

The best part of their article, and the part that should get some focus, is that they got one of the rare hypercolor fontennas; it switches from sky blue to grey (like the weather when driving to the beach).