You can build your own wireless antenna for a few dollars using tin can and other stray parts, as long as you’re willing to do a little bit of soldering. Because they’re built out of tin cans, these homemade affairs are called Cantennas.
You often see cantennas built out of Pringle’s can, but you’ll get much better results with one of those giant 34.5 ounce coffee cans. (And a caffeine buzz is better for you than carb-heavy potato chips, anyway).
If you haven’t bought a WiFi card, look for a Proxim Orinoco card or similar product that accepts “pigtails.” These slim RF cables let you connect WiFi cards, routers, and other devices to external antennas, typically via an N-Male connector. (The connection on the card or router end can vary wildly. There are RPTNC, MC-Card, MMCX, and other connectors. Get the scoop on what connects to what at wirelessgardenstore.com ) You can even connect to a homemade antenna built out of copper wire and a tin can. A good place to get all the parts (minus the tin can, of course) is Hyperlink Technologies.
There are many sites where you can find directions for making cantennas. Here’s a brief preview of the steps involved:
1. Empty the can of coffee or chips, then give it a good washing.
2. Solder a short piece of thick copper wire to a small piece of hardware called an N connector. This wire is antenna.
3. Drill a hole in the can and insert the small antenna that you just Soldered.
4. Attach the antenna to the can by securing it with small screws and bolts.
5. Attach one end of the pigtail cable to your wireless card and the other end to the N connector.
Once you’re done, sit back and enjoy improved throughput. Make sure to experiment with the direction you point the cantenna; it can make a big difference in throughput.
Some PC pros don’t recommend the cantenna approach. A home-built cantenna is neither weatherproof nor stable, and using accessories that are not approved by your card as access point vendor could void your warranty.
You should never look into the open end of your cantenna when it is operating. Although the signal levels from antennas built into your wireless card are considered safe by FCC, your new antenna focuses the signal levels that could be harmful.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:49 am
Useful tool when building an antenna:
http://www.wavelengthcalculator.com/
June 10th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
i am using open wifi and my signal drops offden my next step is to dingle a wifi usb dangle out of window in the direction of the signal on a 5 metre usb cable ill see if that gives a better reception…..
after that i have a baked bean tin shielded with thick black insulation tape and a slot in the side to hold the usb dangle so the dangles signal wil be directed outwards from the baked bean tin in the direction of the open wifi….. iv placed a can around it wilst plugged into laptop oviously its in the way but wen i walk outside EVERY SINGLE SIGNAL IN MY AREA IS REACHED so if i put it kind of out side via my window i.e trap it between a open window and the frame pointing in the wifi rooters direction i should get a great wifi signal
even on low or very low signal im playing wii online via my pc dangle if i make a qicky cantenna ill get a full on conection