SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Boost your wi-fi with just an aluminum can

Posted: Aug 08 2011 07:16 pm

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Wi-Fi-Booster-Using-Only-a-Beer-Can

It's step by step, but here's the end result you're going for:

Posted: Aug 08 2011 09:43 pm

Interesting Theory. Just pointing out a Comment left:

Quote:

From an Antenna Design Engineer,

I would say that this article is not just inaccurate, but misleading and would most likely result in a worse signal reception. The simple touch, tempering, bending, length, material, concavity, and size of the cut beer-can will have a different effect on signal reception, and there is no way you can get a better signal from your method, only worse.

Provided antennas with the routers are already 50ohm matched for best (near perfect) optimization for that device. Surrounding the antenna with a metal ground plane only makes it less optimal (50ohm - mismatch). Yes, it will also be directional, but with less reception. Come to think about it, you were probably having interference problems from another device which was resolved by blocking that direction with this method, but that does not apply to everyone else.

Basically, whip antennas or helical antennas, as the one originally shipped with routers are adversely affected by metallic planes surrounding them, which is what you are providing, especially if it is connected to the ground plane below it.

Proper (and working methods) to increase antenna reception are the following:

1) Buy a longer 50ohm antenna. Yes, longer whip/helical antennas have better directional gain than shorter ones. 2) Do NOT surround your antenna with any metal objects. 3) Buy a proper WiFi signal booster. It is an active device (needs power). Basically, it is a bidirectional signal amplifier which increases receiver sensitivity and output power transmission.

Good luck ..and please don't spread misinformation!

Ed

Couldn't hurt to try and see though. It would be IMO highly directional, and you would have to make sure your directing your "radar dish" to your computer.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

They have had things like this for a long time. The most famous:
http://www.netscum.com/~clapp/wireless.html

Here is the thing though, back when these devices were first being released, amplification helped, especially if it was done correctly. Now, modern routers such as the Linksys E4200 or Netgear WNDR3700 have multiple internal antenna and they use new technologies such as MIMO. Years of research have gone into making new routers significantly faster than older ones and offer further signal. If you put things in their way, it only serves to mess them up.