What is Digg?125 Comments
- slapded, on 11/04/2007, -1/+123I always use magic markers to give my things a professional look.
- inactive, on 11/01/2007, -3/+80The "standard" cheapie antenna used on wireless cards and routers is a simple 1/4 wavelength vertical. This is used primarily because of the wider radiation pattern, but at the cost of gain and distance. The Extender Antenna I took apart utilized a full wavelenth, which maximizes power, but has a VERY NARROW radiation pattern, which is why they added the coil. The coil makes the antenna more omnidirectional (which is why cellphones use a full wavelength coil or "rubber ducky"). This allows for higher antenna gain while broadening the radiation pattern, which results in a stronger signal and higher throughput in WIFI systems. If you have an old 802.11b card, modify the antenna on that and try this out on your g network (they use the same frequency and the antennas on both cards are identical).
- bossm4n, on 11/04/2007, -4/+70Very nice tip. Now I can take that ridiculous pie pan off my router.
- inactive, on 11/02/2007, -2/+45I've got the cell phone with Cat5 cable wrapped around it. Simply amazing!
- griz, on 11/02/2007, -3/+39Or if you are Verizon. $5.00
- jpvideo, on 11/02/2007, -3/+37$.05
- FranTaylor, on 11/01/2007, -0/+32There are places, netgate.com comes to mind, where you can buy much better antennas, for not a lot of money. Homebrewing is fun, but antenna design is complex, and some people just want a better antenna without the science project.
- inactive, on 11/02/2007, -2/+30i think its some kind of metal
- iziizi, on 11/02/2007, -4/+30yes!
- zoomie, on 11/02/2007, -3/+29My bars go to 11 :p
- DewKnight, on 11/01/2007, -0/+24lead free solder is for sissies
- livingwater, on 11/02/2007, -2/+22wtf is google?
- nnagflar, on 11/01/2007, -0/+19I nickel is approximately equivalent to a mule, three hens, and a third-born daughter, just depending on the economy.
- cphelps, on 11/01/2007, -2/+21That guys voice reminds me of the guy from "How It's Made".
Good mod as well! - PRlME, on 11/01/2007, -0/+18@blabbin5
Digg likes people like you - jpvideo, on 11/01/2007, -2/+16But the pie pan is a classic man!!
- scribby, on 11/01/2007, -1/+15Who doesn't already have a solder station with temperature control, a grounded tip for ESD protection, and some lead-free solder?!
- jpvideo, on 10/31/2007, -1/+14So what your saying is, that the larger ones sold in the store for $30 are illegal?
- inactive, on 11/01/2007, -1/+14It was 4 bars, but the throughput went from 28 to 50 and the bars maxed out =)
- inactive, on 11/01/2007, -1/+14Longer wire does NOT equal better antenna. That's a common misconception. Do a search for Antenna Calculators and they'll show the ideal length. It is a science. Long antennas DO work great for recepetion on shortwave, etc., however...
- CrocHunter, on 11/01/2007, -1/+13Interrobang‽
- Zippo, on 11/01/2007, -1/+13Minus the terrible puns they always make on that show.
- maybeinoregon, on 11/01/2007, -1/+12very cool indeed - a plastic straw that has been colored using a magic marker? - a little ghetto...
- inactive, on 11/01/2007, -3/+14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_%28United_Stat ...
- davmacbea, on 11/02/2007, -1/+12Why assume it wasn't a genuine inquiry? I'm from the UK and I knew a nickel is a US coin, but I wasn't sure how much it was worth.
- inactive, on 11/02/2007, -12/+23Sorry but wtf is "a nickel"?
- moocow1452, on 11/01/2007, -2/+12Over 9000?
- shorvath, on 11/01/2007, -2/+12In the video he shows the final signal... but what was it to begin with? 1, 2 or 3 bars?
- Woecip, on 11/01/2007, -1/+11"How stupid can you be? Do this and you are VERY likly to have your door busted down by men with guns. "
Hahahahhahaha Thats comical!! I work with the FCC all the time in the RF industry. They don't even do their own testing any more
and its easy to skirt past the "strict testing" becuase of the lack of controls and caring about thier subcontracted testing houses. Do you really beleive that they will bust down your door? Ha. You apparently dont work in the industry. - PRlME, on 11/01/2007, -1/+11Ya know what sucks about canada...they have coins for dollars. Its hard to stick looneys in a strippers g-string.
- dr4kkar, on 11/01/2007, -4/+14a straw?!
- cyberoidx, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9Comment Hijack, but WTF
Long list of various cheap methods to increase the wifi range (upto 2 miles) been discussed on Rev3 forums too.
http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=wifi+range&lim ... - inactive, on 11/02/2007, -2/+11Notice the word "sarcasm" at the end of his post.
- SteelFrog, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9Me. =(
- SteelFrog, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9You do realize that you need a smaller antenna to start with, right?
- Gunsotsu, on 11/01/2007, -4/+13Don't you just love how everyone with a camera is trying to be the next Kipkay?
- marktastic, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9You can get a soldering iron for like $5
- proghead, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9an archaic monetary unit valued somewhere between nothing and a dollar.
- inactive, on 11/01/2007, -4/+13He had enough wire to build a giant dipole antenna in is backyard. Why did he only replicate the tiny range extender from the retail store?
/sarcasm? - TheCount, on 11/01/2007, -7/+15Does this really need an exclamation point?
- depro9, on 11/01/2007, -1/+9I love D.I.Y information, thanks!
- griz, on 11/01/2007, -2/+103 Letters....WPA...(And no I don't mean a 3 letter password either)
- waluum, on 11/01/2007, -1/+9Straws are NOT cat proof!
- SteelFrog, on 11/01/2007, -0/+8I guess it's better than red and white stripes.
- shadowspawn, on 11/01/2007, -0/+7This works, and if you use an old colander you find at a yard sale (or wok, or anything parabolic) you can do a nasty point-to-point bridge. I set one up for my fiance's place; her main house is about 1/4 mile from the cabin where the cable comes in (rural areas where you have to run your own poles) and DSL was sub-par at her house, and she didn't want to run a new cable as she had satellite.Got the cable internet to test at the cabin, made a nice bridge for under 100 bucks (two routers off of craigslist) and a gain antennae like this one and stuff I found at yard sales. Grounded it all, and poof.... was *way friggin cheaper* than running a coax from the road to the main house.
This does work, so don't bitch about how to get the tools. You either have them or you don't, or you can borrow them. If you are a tweaker then this stuff is how it all starts: figure out how to make a small dish and stick it in your backpack and you can get wifi just about anywhere with a modified cheap usb adapter and extension if you wish; if you are the type that needs to be online no matter where you are... you can make the antennae on a adapter and just wardrive with netstumbler or airsnort. - inactive, on 11/01/2007, -0/+7Exactly. There are regulations that limit the signal out put strength, although they enerally don't enforce those aginst individuals, just companies that violate regulations.
- JoshDaFink, on 11/02/2007, -0/+7How to Increase Your Wi-Fi Signal
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LY8Wi7XRXCA - NeonElixir, on 11/01/2007, -0/+7Written instructions would be helpful paired with the video. I happen to learn a lot better from seeing something than reading instructions alone.
- mozealou, on 11/01/2007, -8/+15Sweet instead of paying $30 for a range extender I am going to have to go buy a soldering iron, some solder, and some copper wire. That shouldn't cost more than $45!
- Daiken, on 11/01/2007, -1/+8As great and simple this is, I'm guessing the manufacturers were probably limiting the gain due to various regulations that are in place.
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