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(/member/TheGoodLife/)

TheGoodLife (/member/TheGoodLife/)ecopunk(http://www.ecopunk.org.uk)

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WiFi cantenna without pigtail by TheGoodLife (/member/TheGoodLife/)

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There are many w ebsites detailing the construction of cantennas, all of them referring to a pigtail. Apigtail connects the antenna to the WiFi adaptor. How ever, any length of cable induces signal lossthrough impedance of the electromagnetic w ave.

This cantenna design does aw ay w ith the pigtail by using an n-type to reverse polarity male SMAadaptor. This adaptor connects your cantenna directly to a WiFi adaptor w ithout need for a pigtail.

The microw ave signal is processed in the adaptor so you can then use a long USB cable to connectfrom the WiFi adaptor to your computer w ithout signal loss.

The cantenna is directional so you w ill need something like a tripod to direct and hold the cantenna inplace. Expect about a 3dB improvement of the signal, w hich is roughly a doubling in pow er, andhopefully many more access points being revealed.

I w on't go into detail about the construction of a cantenna but point you tow ardshttp://w w w.saunalahti.f i/elepal/antenna2.html (http://w w w.saunalahti.f i/elepal/antenna2.html) fordetailed measurements.

How ever, do look at the slide show to see the subtle difference that obviates the need for a pigtail.

Parts List:

High pow er WiFi USB adaptor w ith SMA connection for antenna ( I use an ALFA AWUS036H)Can - over 76mm in diameter (Long and thin is better than short and fat)N-type female chassis connector

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wifi (/tag/type-id/category-/keyword-wifi/)

cantenna (/tag/type-id/category-/keyword-cantenna/)

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Post Comment

(/member/whoispetty /)

Dec 1, 2010. 2:44 PM Reply (C6YN54EGH6IFI55)

11(/member/TheGoodLif e/)

Dec 1, 2010. 3:13 PM Reply (CTTRS78GH4NN4WL)

(/member/Wilderbeast52/)

Feb 11, 2010. 9:10 AM Reply (C9SMT8IG5FRB1PK)

N-type male to RPM SMA adaptorSome thick unsheathed copper w ire (about 1 to 1.5mm diameter mains w ire is best)SolderFour small nuts and bolts to attach N-type female to can

Tools:

Drill and bits (cone bit to make hole for n-type chassis connector)Soldering ironScrew driverWire cutters

You can see other self-reliant things I make and do at http://w w w.ecopunk.org.uk(http://w w w.ecopunk.org.uk)

whoispetty (/member/whoispetty/) says:

Instead of using a second adapter, could you just purchase a N-type female to RP SMA male?

Or would that not work correctly?

I'm interested in making one of these for my belkin range extender.

Here's a l ink to an adapter I'm talking about.http://cgi.ebay.com/N-female-RP-SMA-male-Jack-Straight-Connector-Adapter-/160513197349?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255f550525#ht_2645wt_907

TheGoodLife (/member/TheGoodLife/) (author) in reply to whoispetty

Yes, that is perfectly okay. Infact, I used one with thefollowing build...

http://www.ecopunk.org.uk/2010/06/double-bi-quad-wifi-antenna.html(http://www.ecopunk.org.uk/2010/06/double-bi-quad-wifi-antenna.html)

It works much better than acantenna.

Wilderbeast52 (/member/Wilderbeast52/) says:

I assume that this setup would be for asingle computer? Also, would the"N-type male to RPMSMA adaptor" work in place of anyantenna? Would a different adapterbe necessary on some devices?

TheGoodLife (/member/TheGoodLife/) (author) in reply to Wilderbeast52

I have never thought of splitting the signal from a wifi aerial. However, once onecomputer has connected to a network then you network other computers into the

Feb 11, 2010. 10:22 AM Reply (CF4F6F7G5FRB3DZ)

11(/member/TheGoodLif e/)

system witha hubswitch.

The bestwifiadaptorsall seem tohave screwin aerials(as per thesecondphoto intheslideshow) soan RPMSMAadaptor isprobably amust.

The N-typemalescrews intothe N-typefemale,into whichyou soldera piece ofwire thatacts as thenew aerialinside thecan.

The link inthe maindescriptionwill givemoredetail.

If you haveanythingspecific inmind, andthe nameof youradaptor,then I canhelp youbuild asolution.

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