This article was taken from the December 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Your home Wi-Fi network is subject to constant interference -- which can weaken the signal and hamper your browsing experience.
Constructing a small "cantenna" from household objects and easily sourced components will extend the range of your wi-fi and even allow you to borrow a signal from a friend. Here's how it's done.
The checklist You need an N-Female chassis mount connector, four small nuts and bolts (6 x 0.64cm), a drill, a 6.4cm piece of copper wire, a baked-beans can, RP-SMA Pig Tail, a Wi-Fi dongle, a Wi-Fi USB adaptor with removable antenna, and a soldering iron. The connector, USB and Pig Tail will be on eBay.
Calculate frequency Create holes in the tin to mount the connector. "The place- ment of the hole and connect is very important," says Gregory Rehm, author of an online guide to making Wi-Fi antennas, hosted at turnpoint.net. In this case, put the con- necting hole 6.4cm from the bottom of the baked-bean tin.
Assemble
Thread the wire through the mount connector and solder it. Attach the connector with the nuts and bolts - keep the bolt heads on the outside to prevent interference. Remove the antenna from the Wi-Fi USB adaptor and connect the Pig Tail to the dongle and the other part to your cantenna.
Connect
Connect the cantenna to your computer. Aim the tin can roughly in the direction of your router - the can will help direct signal to your wireless dongle. "This antenna has linear polarisation. That means that how you rotate the antenna will affect the strength of your signal," says Rehm.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
