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DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster

by Corrugator Supercilii on January 2, 2007 Table of Contents DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Another example of a finished product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Another example of a finished product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 2 3 3 4

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

Intro: DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster

Instruction 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 most printers. 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 wifi booster DIY style by PhaZZed

My WiFi Signal Booster Wok Antenna w/ Directional Antenna from LinkSys (Photos) by liquidCo0L

Itouch wifi range booster (video) by jayandersons

UPDATED !!!! Cheap and easy WIFI antenna signal booster that is better and quicker than the paper ones !!! by BadMonkey63

Repurpose An Old Dish Antenna to Boost Cell Phone / WiFi Signals by biochemtronics

Easy wardriving wireless antenna booster- wifi wlan by faustologa

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

Comments
46 comments Add Comment

drbill says:
Not parabolic. Its an arc.

Sep 21, 2010. 12:40 AM REPLY

Corrugator Supercilii says:

Rubbish, it is both parabolic and an arc...

Sep 21, 2010. 1:56 AM REPLY

drbill says:
If you say so.............

Oct 19, 2010. 12:47 AM REPLY

LiquidLightning says:
It is definantly a parabola.

Feb 19, 2011. 1:22 AM REPLY

Bayfielder says:
I recommend using a good quality Tin-foil for any WiFi boosters like this one, the windsurfer, or anything similar.

Dec 5, 2010. 10:19 PM REPLY

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 making such 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 the foil 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 made one 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 the design on bubble-jet/lazer transparency paper/plastic and it will turn out just as good (be it a nickel more in cost).

Plinko1 says:
Like this?

Jan 14, 2011. 6:23 PM REPLY

gordie87 says:
also google wifi windsurfer. thats the one i went by... Ez-12

Feb 17, 2009. 9:52 PM REPLY

JimKelleher says:

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

sway says:

Sep 23, 2010. 8:27 PM REPLY Hi 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 for my 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 away from 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 REPLY Only 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 REPLY I 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 as it was) I'll see if the cantenna helps. Thanks

k6sti says:
Simple Wi-Fi Yagi: http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/wifiyagi.htm

Sep 10, 2010. 3:23 PM REPLY

mbalun says:
this is soo NOT parabolic, its a part of a circle....

Jun 10, 2010. 9:35 AM REPLY

flame boyyyy says:

Apr 11, 2010. 12:06 PM REPLY so 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 me great signal if im outside 300 ft from my router? Dec 20, 2009. 12:44 PM REPLY My 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) wireless adapters 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 in advance for your advice/assistance!!

c24don says:

hock3ydud3 says:
how would i connect this to my wireless pci antenna? it's attached directly to the wireless card without any extension cord

Oct 17, 2009. 4:08 PM REPLY

tausuitee says:

Jul 1, 2009. 7:21 PM REPLY It 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 my signal 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 that there 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:
sorry go on

Mar 30, 2009. 8:12 PM REPLY

hms1018 says:
I'm wit ninjapants where does my wifi goon here 2 boost it???????????

Mar 30, 2009. 8:11 PM REPLY

gordie87 says:

Feb 17, 2009. 9:50 PM REPLY This 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 my router, 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. I found that works well also. Jan 14, 2009. 1:33 AM REPLY The 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 very roughly that for the most approximated parabola. However, I would guess that there would be very little increased range or sensitivity with this attempted design.

Fredrick Hagemeister says:

Corrugator Supercilii says:

The PDF (v3) has been revised to correctly locate the focus, ignore the photos.

Jan 14, 2009. 2:10 AM REPLY

henyobarker says:
Hi How could i do this on my ds (for use with picnochat)? thanks email me at: henryandtom@gmail.com

Dec 27, 2008. 9:42 PM REPLY

claunek616 says:
-- I only says thank, other design dont fit the part together.

Nov 18, 2008. 7:53 AM REPLY

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

Cracknel says:

Aug 14, 2008. 5:28 AM REPLY I'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 REPLY I'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 against the 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 the satellite dish but I am new to this. TIA!

LasVegas says:
This is hardly an Instructable. More like a "Look what I did!"

Jan 2, 2007. 10:26 AM REPLY

zachninme says:

Jan 2, 2007. 1:54 PM REPLY Agreed. 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 be able 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 wire and wrap it around my antenna, and hang the spool up somewhere high.

charley217 says:
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/24ghz_amplifiers.php http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/re14p.php

Jan 22, 2008. 12:35 PM REPLY

VE6WTF says:

Jan 16, 2007. 1:35 PM REPLY I 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:
You 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/

Jan 22, 2008. 12:29 PM REPLY

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 gain of 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 measurement was 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 is fairly 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 reliable connections than without the reflector. And um, how many folks just happen to have SWR meters, field strength meters or other devices to measure at 2.4 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 REPLY If 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 focal distance (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 not know since he did not try, his making has not holes for antenna cut through.

Corrugator Supercilii says:

Jan 26, 2007. 4:11 AM REPLY I 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 the best reception, it is not a cast-iron design, afterall it is a piece of paper, cheers!

xtonda says:

Jan 26, 2007. 5:06 PM REPLY I 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 I have 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 to reflect radio waves in one direction as is expected irrespective of antenna positioning. So again, idea of redirecting wifi waves by reflector made from paper and aluminium foil can work, but it must be precisely shaped and positioned. And this particular template has not the proper shape. I am quite curious 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 REPLY Well, to satisfy your curiosity, the templates were made to fit the maximun size of a common piece of A4, with the backplane and the supporting structure to provide rigidity to the frame, with the intuition of the same functionality as a solar collection, in the form of a parabolic trough. No calculation 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? I certainly wouldn't mind if you manage to prove the design flawed beyond rectification (which I have doubt), and I never meant to be insensitive to anyone's opinion. As with the mention of the statement you find contentious, I simply state the design of antenna, its shape and form, define a region of -3db drop in its transmission and reception, and a characteristic of reciprocity, is often the measure of merit and of interest, whether it could 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 REPLY I 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 it tends 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 REPLY being 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 cardobard wrapped 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 but who gives)

MortifiedPenguin says:
how in the heck do you favorite things arrrgh

Jan 14, 2007. 12:26 AM REPLY

okto says:
One word: cantenna . Also instructables for parabolic antennae here (vegetable steamer) and here (strainer).

Jan 5, 2007. 2:41 PM REPLY

sumguysr says:

Jan 3, 2007. 12:22 AM REPLY with 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 REPLY Would-be antenna boosters should note that this sort of device increases the sensitivity of an antenna IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION, at the expense of all the other directions. It's not applicable to increasing range "in general." More complete instructions, theory, and discussion are here: Free Antennas Antennas 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 up front...

zachninme says:

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

zachninme says:

Jan 2, 2007. 3:05 PM REPLY This 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 whole process of taking pictures for y'all, all for nothing :-(

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

crapflinger says:
without INSTRUCTIONS...it's a picture...not an instructable

Jan 2, 2007. 2:39 PM REPLY

ninjapants says:

Jan 2, 2007. 12:36 PM REPLY I 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 the intermediate steps to clarify?

admanrocks says:
agreed

Jan 2, 2007. 1:29 PM REPLY

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