3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Can I get a 15-20 foot antenna to work on my wifi router? I have a antenna that was used for police radios at a station?

The antenna was first used for a police radio but I want to adapt it for wifi. I think I just need an high power amplifer

4 answers
Aug 16, 2009. 7:06 AMsteveastrouk says:
I'd presume the old antenna was 1/4 wave dipole type. You can't use any old antenna for a wi-fi antenna, you need it to be the right length for the wavelength to be transmitted, which for wi-fi is about 125 mm, so a wi-fi 1/4 wave antenna is about 31mm long ! By the way, using a power amplifier on a wifi signal is likely to get you heavily fined in the USA or EU or even a prison sentence.
Jul 16, 2010. 12:34 PMnatman3400 says:
Depends on the amplifer and the output level of your router. Personally, i use a 150 watt unit at each end, and reroute the data through a digital mode.
Aug 16, 2009. 4:47 PMorksecurity says:
Instead, you might want to investigate directional antennas -- websearch "cantenna" to find many designs. These too technically violate FCC rules, but they're a heck of a lot less likely to actually get you in trouble.
Aug 16, 2009. 8:58 AMlemonie says:
In addition to the other answer: wi-fi works in both directions, it's little use to have one half of the system big and powerful without the other. L

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!