http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

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DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Boosterby Corrugator Supercilii on January 2, 2007

Table of Contents

DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   Another example of a finished product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Another example of a finished product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

Intro:  DIY WIFI Antenna Reception BoosterInstruction for your very own WIFI antenna reception booster, the design is a parabolic trough antenna ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabolic_trough ).

Simply download the PDF and cut out the template, a bit of 'pre-school' level assembling, aluminium foil and cotton glue all you need.

Note: The PDF is in A4 format, if you're printing in Letter format, remember to keep to the same aspect ratio, ideally use the 'fit to page' feature available on mostprinters. With that in mind, you should be able to scale up to a much larger version, on a A3 printer.

The image below shows the finished product.

File Downloads

WIFI Antenna - v3.pdf (43 KB)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'WIFI Antenna - v3.pdf']

Step 1: Another example of a finished product.Here's one done by a plucky 5 year old (Essential tools include a pair of safety scissors)

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

Step 2: Another example of a finished product.This one is made from a skinny plastic folder, cut from the template of a printout

Related Instructables

Building a wifibooster DIYstyle byPhaZZed

MyWiFi SignalBooster WokAntenna w/DirectionalAntenna fromLinkSys(Photos) byliquidCo0L

Itouch wifirange booster(video) byjayandersons

UPDATED !!!!Cheap and easyWIFI antennasignal boosterthat is betterand quickerthan the paperones !!! byBadMonkey63

Repurpose AnOld DishAntenna toBoost CellPhone / WiFiSignals bybiochemtronics

Easy wardrivingwirelessantennabooster- wifi -wlan byfaustologa

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

Comments

46 comments Add Comment

 drbill says:  Sep 21, 2010. 12:40 AM  REPLYNot parabolic. Its an arc.

 Corrugator Supercilii says:  Sep 21, 2010. 1:56 AM  REPLYRubbish, it is both parabolic and an arc...

 drbill says:  Oct 19, 2010. 12:47 AM  REPLYIf you say so.............

 LiquidLightning says:  Feb 19, 2011. 1:22 AM  REPLYIt is definantly a parabola.

 Bayfielder says:  Dec 5, 2010. 10:19 PM  REPLYI recommend using a good quality Tin-foil for any WiFi boosters like this one, the windsurfer, or anything similar.

If the foil rips easy, it's no good. I know that the thickness of the foil shouldn't affect it's reflection of the signal, but I observed my first attempts at makingsuch boosters with the ones I used a heavy foil... too me it works better with a heavy foil. I think it's because cheap foil wrinkles up easy, and you need thefoil smooth. I use shiny side towards the target (shiny side glued to the paper for most projects).

My very first attempt with the windsurfer made the signal worse (I blame a combo of cheap dollar store foil, and not getting the cuts and bends right). I madeone with the foil on the inside and noticed you can tell if the arc is right if you shine a light on it and it all focuses evenly on the antenna. *You can print thedesign on bubble-jet/lazer transparency paper/plastic and it will turn out just as good (be it a nickel more in cost).

 Plinko1 says:  Jan 14, 2011. 6:23 PM  REPLYLike this?

 gordie87 says:  Feb 17, 2009. 9:52 PM  REPLYalso google wifi windsurfer. thats the one i went by... Ez-12

 JimKelleher says:  Oct 8, 2010. 6:11 AM  REPLYI made the windsurfer using cardboard from a cereal box and wrapped both sides in aluminum foil. I measured 11 dB forward gain using a BVSYellowjacket WLAN Analyzer.

 sway says:  Sep 23, 2010. 8:27 PM  REPLYHi All, I have looked through the comments on this "instructable" and many others like it. I actually tried to make a goofy little sattelite dish type addition formy laptop adapter. It didn't help at all. I was hoping other instructables members could help me out. I need to reach my nwtwork from about 150 feet awayfrom the router. The router is in a bldg with stone walls. I can't mess with the router because the boss will freak so I have to work from the reception point.I purchased an engenius adapter/antenna which helped very slightly but was unreliable.Someone else suggested I Get an "N" adapter. I purchased a Hawking HiGain wireless N usb adapter.I haven't tested it yet but I would still like to hear any suggestions you guys could offer to improve this signal.

 Corrugator Supercilii says:  Sep 24, 2010. 1:13 AM  REPLYOnly if the router in your building does 802.11 N, would it help for you get any benefit out of your purchase. using 'N' definitely improve things.

If you want distance, first thing to try is to get line of sight to the router, maybe move the router to a windows bay.

Next, get yourself a directional antenna, this ought to improve reception. Option a) spend some money on company's account. Option b) Cantanna

http://www.southafrica.info/about/science/cantenna2107.htm

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

 sway says:  Sep 25, 2010. 1:18 AM  REPLYI appreciate your help but touching the router even to raise it a few inches will get me in trouble. (if anyone notices or I forget to put it back exactly asit was)

I'll see if the cantenna helps.

Thanks

 k6sti says:  Sep 10, 2010. 3:23 PM  REPLYSimple Wi-Fi Yagi: http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/wifiyagi.htm

 mbalun says:  Jun 10, 2010. 9:35 AM  REPLYthis is soo NOT parabolic, its a part of a circle....

 flame boyyyy says:  Apr 11, 2010. 12:06 PM  REPLYso if i am in a room far away from my router and i have the booster right by my dsi to connect to internet it would give me a great signal? would it give megreat signal if im outside 300 ft from my router?

 c24don says:  Dec 20, 2009. 12:44 PM  REPLYMy laptop already has a built in wireless adapter.  If I use a home made antenna using a usb wireless adapter is there any problem having the (2) wirelessadapters plugged in at the same time??  Are they both working at once?  Is there any chance of hardware conflict or damage to the computer?  Thanks inadvance for your advice/assistance!!

 hock3ydud3 says:  Oct 17, 2009. 4:08 PM  REPLYhow would i connect this to my wireless pci antenna? it's attached directly to the wireless card without any extension cord

 tausuitee says:  Jul 1, 2009. 7:21 PM  REPLYIt is wonderful to find this sort of information on the web. I am a ham operator but I have been out of the loop for about 10 years. I am anxious to build mysignal booster. There is a tower near my house but to pay for service would cost 60 bucks a month and since I get service upstairs for free I thought thatthere must be a way to get it down stairs. I'll try this and let you all know how it goes. Thanks for the info

 hms1018 says:  Mar 30, 2009. 8:12 PM  REPLYsorry go on

 hms1018 says:  Mar 30, 2009. 8:11 PM  REPLYI'm wit ninjapants where does my wifi goon here 2 boost it???????????

 gordie87 says:  Feb 17, 2009. 9:50 PM  REPLYThis dose work, you wouldnt think so. but it is verry hard to direct it. once you get the right angle its great. just dont move it from there :P. Im using one on myrouter, and it has to go through 4 walls and a fridge. It increased my signal by 50% great stuff for cardboard and tin foil!! also try using a right angled one. Ifound that works well also.

 Fredrick Hagemeister says:  Jan 14, 2009. 1:33 AM  REPLYThe shape is obviously a circle rather than a parabola, and even though the focus on the PDF is errantly located relative to the pictures, they are veryroughly that for the most approximated parabola. However, I would guess that there would be very little increased range or sensitivity with this attempteddesign.

 Corrugator Supercilii says:  Jan 14, 2009. 2:10 AM  REPLYThe PDF (v3) has been revised to correctly locate the focus, ignore the photos.

 henyobarker says:  Dec 27, 2008. 9:42 PM  REPLYHi How could i do this on my ds (for use with picnochat)? thanks email me at: henryandtom@gmail.com

 claunek616 says:  Nov 18, 2008. 7:53 AM  REPLY-- I only says thank, other design don´t fit the part together.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

 Cracknel says:  Aug 14, 2008. 5:28 AM  REPLYI've bought the Edimax EW-7128g PCI wireless card that came with this great antenna. I think it's the perfect thing to stick in your booster :P

 Body4Change.com says:  Mar 19, 2008. 6:33 PM  REPLYI've been reading a LOT of this WiFi stuff here on our extraordinary Instructables.com and was wondering if anyone has tested the strainer method againstthe coffee can or pringles method and also against using an old directv satellite and such. Which one would give me the best reception? I'm guessing thesatellite dish but I am new to this. TIA!

 LasVegas says:  Jan 2, 2007. 10:26 AM  REPLYThis is hardly an Instructable. More like a "Look what I did!"

 zachninme says:  Jan 2, 2007. 1:54 PM  REPLYAgreed. However, even though my plain antenna is working great (I can access neighbors' WiFi from 5 houses down... in the suburbs) I would like to beable to get our network working at 54MBSP with super high strength... How do you use it? I've made some where I just take some enamel-coted wireand wrap it around my antenna, and hang the spool up somewhere high.

 charley217 says:  Jan 22, 2008. 12:35 PM  REPLYhttp://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/24ghz_amplifiers.php

http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/re14p.php

 VE6WTF says:  Jan 16, 2007. 1:35 PM  REPLYI bet you anything that the SWR is unbelieveable! And when you are working with 2.4ghz, it can be very lossy, Leave it to the proffesionals <-- In any case.The gain you would get from this would be horrible. Its a good idea, Its just not practicle

 charley217 says:  Jan 22, 2008. 12:29 PM  REPLYYou are a ham and you know what a SWR is. Good for you.

I can't vouch for THIS design, but others that are similar in nature work quite well.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

I've used the following design at home, on both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz wifi access points with great success. Informal measurements showed a forward gainof between 5 to 10 db over the AP's antenna alone. My manufacturing method involved styrofoam, card stock, spray adhesive and aluminum foil.Measurements and cuts were made very carefully. I created my design so I could adjust the focus for the best forward gain possible. My measurementwas simply Netstumbler running on a laptop 10 meters from the antenna. Rejection from the rear was in excess of 15 db for me. The pattern in front isfairly wide, so accurate aiming is not required as long as you are within a reasonable 20 or 30 degrees from your target.

Positioning was much more critical at 5GHz, naturally.

I used this design with the stock, as well as the 7 db replacement antenna - whose design I do not know.

My real life measurements were made with signal strength reported by my wifi nic to netstumbler. I also see more access points and have more reliableconnections than without the reflector. And um, how many folks just happen to have SWR meters, field strength meters or other devices to measure at2.4 and 5 GHz?

I can tell you in all cases the forward gain and rear rejection were impressive. and FREE. remember the word - FREE.

I was a ham once too.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

 xtonda says:  Jan 25, 2007. 4:37 PM  REPLYIf this is meant seriously, I have to say the template is completely wrong. Since it seemed strange to me, I calculated and drawn parabola with the same focaldistance (distance of antenna hole from reflector) and it has completely different shape, it is much wider. So the thing on the template is not a parabola at all,or it has severely misplaced focal point (it must be much closer to the reflector with shape similar as on the template). Or (although I consider it very unlikely)it is designed for different kind of whip antenna.

here http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/index.html is correct (or at least seams really calculated) template for dipole antenna and template for

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

other antenna type (5/8 lambda) which has different proportions as well.

So idea of adding reflector to stick antennas used on many wireless devices is not bad, just this template is wrong. And author of this instructable does notknow since he did not try, his making has not holes for antenna cut through.

 Corrugator Supercilii says:  Jan 26, 2007. 4:11 AM  REPLYI suppose it depends how wide and directional a 3dB beamwidth should be? Be flexible, give it a go, adjust your focal point to where you would get thebest reception, it is not a cast-iron design, afterall it is a piece of paper, cheers!

 xtonda says:  Jan 26, 2007. 5:06 PM  REPLYI do not understand what is meant by "how wide and directional a 3dB beamwidth should be", maybe because English is not my mother tongue. But Ihave made one more calculation and plot and definitely the shape on the template is not a parabola at all, so it has no focal point and no ability toreflect radio waves in one direction as is expected irrespective of antenna positioning. So again, idea of redirecting wifi waves by reflector made frompaper and aluminium foil can work, but it must be precisely shaped and positioned. And this particular template has not the proper shape. I am quitecurious how this particular shape was designed and calculated. And I can post how did I found it is not waht it should be.

 Corrugator Supercilii says:  Jan 29, 2007. 3:51 AM  REPLYWell, to satisfy your curiosity, the templates were made to fit the maximun size of a common piece of A4, with the backplane and the supportingstructure to provide rigidity to the frame, with the intuition of the same functionality as a solar collection, in the form of a parabolic trough. Nocalculation is done, simply applied intuition with an element of fun and a degree of experimentation in mind, how hard can it be to try this out? Icertainly wouldn't mind if you manage to prove the design flawed beyond rectification (which I have doubt), and I never meant to be insensitive toanyone's opinion. As with the mention of the statement you find contentious, I simply state the design of antenna, its shape and form, define aregion of -3db drop in its transmission and reception, and a characteristic of reciprocity, is often the measure of merit and of interest, whether itcould be a plain omni-directional dipole or a directional dish antenna with a reflector. Nothing to cause offence.

 VE6WTF says:  Jan 16, 2007. 1:40 PM  REPLYI will bet you anything if you hooked an antenna analizer to this the SWR would be horrible. And the gain is probly non existant? When you work with SHF ittends to be really lossy So just hooking it up would lose half your signal. other than that.. Two simpathy stars. VE6WTF

 binnie says:  Jan 24, 2007. 8:30 AM  REPLYbeing a regular silicon chip reader, looking at some of their 'wifi antennas' for the zig bee is basically this a peice of plastic to hold some cardobardwrapped in alfoil. the dimentions of an antenna do matter down to the mm (um 16ths of inches for you americans i think i think 1/16 is accually 2 mm butwho gives)

 MortifiedPenguin says:  Jan 14, 2007. 12:26 AM  REPLYhow in the heck do you favorite things arrrgh

 okto says:  Jan 5, 2007. 2:41 PM  REPLYOne word: cantenna .Also instructables for parabolic antennae here (vegetable steamer) and here (strainer).

 sumguysr says:  Jan 3, 2007. 12:22 AM  REPLYwith rf devices(including reflectors) the dimensions realy do matter alot, it is probably unwise to use a paper size that the design wasn't meant for.

 westfw says:  Jan 2, 2007. 4:24 PM  REPLYWould-be antenna boosters should note that this sort of device increases the sensitivity of an antenna IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION, at the expense of allthe other directions. It's not applicable to increasing range "in general."

More complete instructions, theory, and discussion are here:

Free AntennasAntennas from cooking gear

The PDFs are apparenrtly authored by "Teng-Hee Lee"; it would be nice if Instructables that are derivations of other peoples' work would at least say so upfront...

 zachninme says:  Jan 2, 2007. 7:18 PM  REPLYYeah, but at least unidirectional antennas boost connection. This one doesn't... The best uni-directional one, that I use, is some wire wrapped around theantenna, and the rest of the spool placed somewhere else.

 zachninme says:  Jan 2, 2007. 3:05 PM  REPLYThis actually makes your internet connection WORSE. I went from 36-54 mbps (@ 3-4 bars/5) to 5-24 mbps (@2-3 bars/5) And I went through the wholeprocess of taking pictures for y'all, all for nothing :-(

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/

 crapflinger says:  Jan 2, 2007. 2:39 PM  REPLYwithout INSTRUCTIONS...it's a picture...not an instructable

 ninjapants says:  Jan 2, 2007. 12:36 PM  REPLYI agree - I don't really get it from the file and short description. This looks easy, cheap and quick, so why don't you make another and take pictures of theintermediate steps to clarify?

 admanrocks says:  Jan 2, 2007. 1:29 PM  REPLYagreed