Directional WiFi

If it's "across the street" why do you need anything? I just set up my wireless network for the upcoming annual visit of one of the granddaughters. I'm seeing networks nearly a mile away with decent signal strength. ...Jim Thompson

I can see it on the networks list, but it is too weak to use. Disconnects frequently. Across the street is ~100 feet so I think I need a directional antenna.

Probably the building has metal mesh in the walls. ...Jim Thompson

The wireless connection between my shop and my house needs a directional antenna to work right.

It has to "see" through a cement wall, which I think is part of the problem.

Find a scrap wifi router (I see them quite frequently in the garbage, and certainly cheap at garage sales), download new firmware (assuming it is a compliant model), and then use it as a wifi adapter. That way you place the router in the window, where the signal will be stronger, and run ethernet cable to your computer.

I'm thinking of doing that, but for other reasons. I don't want to run an ethernet cable to my blu-ray player, but it seems the player only wants a specific brand (and expensive) usb wifi adapter, while it would never notice if I just feed it with ethernet.

Michael

I was thinking of those Netgear range extenders that you plug into the wall. If I used an 8" ethernet cord and similar power cord, I could place it up near the ceiling and would have fewer walls to go through.

The PCI express card installed in the computer on the floor doesn't get it.

Good idea not to use aluminum, it is a bad conductor. Remember all those homes that burned up because they had al wiring? An aluminum antenna could get so hot with the microwave radiation that you could burn your hand. Better to use silver plated copper. Don't be fooled by the tin plated copper bowls, use only the silver plated ones. And make sure the shape of the bowl is correct. It should be a parabowla. Airik

I convinced my neighbors to get a new computer instaed of using the 20 year old one running WIN95. So I did some research and got them an ASUS that folds up. Sorta like a laptop. Anyway, while setting up the wifi I could see my network. Through the woods. I was impressed with the antenna in their new machine. To show my friend that the wifi connection in his house really worked the first search I performed was "Debby Does Dallas". My friend said "Oh Shit!, can you erase that?". If his wife ever checks the history my friend is gonna be in trouble. Eric

On 07/02/2014 04:49 PM, snipped-for-privacy@whidbey.com wrote: . . . >>

I've got a wok that looks like a parabola, but won't sacrifice it. The price is right for one of those aluminum turkey baking pans, I can bend it any way I want.

You should name your wifi "FBI Surveilence Van Number Seven".

Directional antennas are going to eliminate the other noise in the area (that's a good thing)

Hard to tell, but seems to me the pie plate should be treated like a flat reflector (or maybe more appropriately "mask") and the colander, salad bowls, like spherical reflectors. Chances are the holes in the colander are insignificant.

And the distance between the reflector and antenna is critical.

I got one of those 35' active USB extension cables, and stuck a wifi dongle on the end of it, put it on a pole outside, and I have oodles of neighbors nearby that I can sponge off of - if I didn't already have broadband.

Without the extension cable only three signals and they were all limited to a password - with the extension I found 25+ signals and two with unsecured "guest" connections.

it's a half-way decent conductor, much better than steel.

AAUI that was due to bad connections not the wire itself.

with power levels high enough to do that you'd be dead before you touced it, IOW: bullshit.

The problem wsa at the joints. The aluminum wire was fine by itself, but when joined to something else, there was "corrosion" which meant the joints acted as a higher resistance area, and that caused the problems. It's the same issue as for trying to solder aluminum, it can be done, but you have to clean everything so carefully, and then keep the joint covered in oil or something so there's no oxydation.

Aluminum is fine as a reflector, and indeed many an antenna has been made with aluminum.

For antennas, it's easier to work with copper, but then you pay the price for something solid enough to stand up to outside weather. An aluminum reflector would be fine.

As someone else said, a reflector doesn't have to be solid material, so long as the holes are small enough for the frequency. But, if the antenna is outside, mesh (or a collander) has the advantage of that air and water can go through it, so it presents less of a barrier to wind and any water that gets in will leave through the holes.

Just take a bit of metal, stick it a bit away from the wifi antenna, in the direction away from the other wifi antenna, and see if it helps.

My "desktop" is under the desk, with a small wifi antenna behind it. A few weeks ago I suddenly had a lousy wifi connection, some metal under the desk got moved and wsa blocking the signal. Once I moved the metal, the signal came back.

Michael

Greetings Jasen, I'm sorry that you couldn't see my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. My post was aimed at stumpy. I have corresponded with him in the past and he is an ass. I didn't think anyone would take it seriously. Eric

Thanks buddy.

I have found the focus on all antennas I have tried so far with sunlight. The flat bottom bowl's focus was conveniently right on the bottom. Could start a fire with it.

Probably good enough - and a good idea.

Sunlight and radio waves are the same thing, although the focal point would shift a little... Does with visible and IR. But then the antenna is somewhat broader than the pin prick one uses to light things up.

Here's a flat panel 14dbi antenna that is $19, It will be better than a pie tin antenna.

Mikek

In that case get an old metal headlight reflector.