Review: Hame Superstick

The Hame Superstick is a nifty little device that acts as a portable 3G router as well as an emergency charger.

It scored major points with me because it picked up 3G at my house, where my new BlackBerry 9360 and my boyfriend's iPhone 4S usually only manage Edge (Vodacom, I have no words).

The Superstick is a great device for mobile workers and students, who need their various devices powered up and connected at all times.

The Superstick has a simple but elegant design, with a smooth white and blue plastic cover. At 95x35mm, the Superstick can be carried comfortably in laptop bags and even pockets. It's also light, weighing a mere 124g.

Inputs and outputs are neatly positioned, flush with the surface. A USB and Ethernet port can be found on opposite ends of the device, with a mini-USM input on the adjacent side.

The Hame Superstick is a plug-and-play device, so there's no need to install drivers. Using the Superstick is fairly simple: just connect the device to the relevant input.

Those wanting to use WiFi can connect a broadband cable into the Ethernet port. This makes it a great addition to gadget-heavy households, allowing as many as 20 users to access the broadband connection via their laptops, smartphones and tablets.

Users can also insert a 3G dongle into the Superstick and connect to the Internet without having to install the usual drivers. According to Hame, the device is compatible with more than 400 3G modems. (It was tested on a Vodacom K3765 USB stick, and performed without any hitches).

The Superstick also acts as a power device, allowing users to charge devices via the USB input.

On a full charge, the Superstick lasts up to four hours. This allowed me to fully charge my BlackBerry from flat, provided I didn't make heavy use of the Superstick itself. The device also gives an indication of how much battery is left when users push the little button labeled “T”, located on the side of the device.

The Hame Superstick is a great device because it lets users share several devices on a single 3G Internet connection. Priced at R399, the device is affordable to most families. Households with multiple devices will be sure to snap this device up if they do not have a similar solution already.

It's also great for mobile workers and students who study in groups because of its WiFi capability. Of course, it also performs as a plug-and-play 3G dongle and a power bank that charges smartphones and tablets.