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

A new swing on an old idea for improving your WIFI signal!

Step 1

I call this WIFI booster ad on the POPtenna because you make it from a plastic pop bottle.
First get a clean plastic 2 liter pop bottle.

Comments

[macrumpton]

I don't know how much a thickness of plastic bottle would diminish the signal, but it occurs to me that you could just leave the bottle whole, and attach the foil on the outside of the bottle. Having the foil on the outside would make it a lot easier to get it smooth, and instead of gluing you could just tape the edges (or even just the corners). Another possibility is to hunt down one of those giant 1 gallon soda bottles (or maybe they are 3 litres) or even a 5 gallon paint bucket for even more gain. One of the cool side effects of leaving the bottle whole is that it would be weatherproof for exterior mounting.

[Phoghat]

Been done. They call it a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantennacantenna

[macrumpton]

I don't think you understand a cantenna. A cantenna is more like the radio equivalent of a telescope, while this design is more like a concentrating dish.

[doo da do]

I did not see how it was connected to the item looking for a stronger signal

[macrumpton]

"I did not see how it was connected "

What is "it"?

[Daniel Morales]

Hi, I ordered a Alfa 100mw adapter on Ebay, and am thinking of biulding this!, hmmm how mucho signal would I get with the included 9dbi 15" antenna? will post results! ;-p

[bird8898]

Hi, what is the result?

[wintergoat]

Yeah, what IS the result?

[WIFIENGINEER]

A very creative use for the heavily discarded 2 liter bottle.

However, any flat metal surface spaced about 1/4 wavelength behind the same antenna would likely produce similar results
IE 3 db of gain

But for being green I give it 4 stars!

[bradpugsley]

Could you possibly show a picture of the cap cut on the edge... Sorry I just want to be sure I do it right. Thanks!

[paulomichael]

nice ! the bottle could also be used as a candle holder&reflector.

[macrumpton]

and a solar cooker for cocktail wienies!

[dickiejoe]

has any one else noticed trendnet cant spell?

[Derin]

yes

[Katjusa Roquette]

This totally didn't work for me. Maybe I did something wrong?

[tlc4u03]

anyone please I have an recreational vehicle RV and I have wife build in my laptop and I have 4 years of warranty don't want to do anything to the laptop it self but I sometimes get a week signal can't not be always near the antenna can some one help me please thank u

[kea]

The only proven way to get lots of gain are a Yagi or parabola these have typical gains of around 20 Db. John M

[shadowspydre]

I'm not seeing all your tools and parts needed. What is the white "antenna" made of and how is it connected? Is it connected to a router or a card?

[BadMonkey63]

White antenna is a standard 12dbi wifi antenna that is connected to your wifi card in your computer. Tools would be skisors and a pocket knife to cut the "X" in the cap. Use elmers or any other glue to glue the tin foil to the plastic bottle.

[jhowen1]

I made this today, while it is not the most pleasing thing to look at it sure works great, I noticed a huge improvement thanks. (I moved it out of sight now)

[BadMonkey63]

Cool glad it worked for you!

[missingxtension]

actually its not hard at all, but there 2 tricks to it. Number one is to use elmers glue on the back and let it dry. But before you do that if you want to get the foil with out creases, use another piece of folded foil. Fold it like 4 times and use your fingers to straighten out the foil on the soda can. ill ad an image latter.

[Spajky [-Spikey]]

I did it similar way for my default Pci card antenna & gained almost 7dB ... photo is here ...

[BadMonkey63]

Nice work Spanjky! It is basically the same thing, but, all metal construction :)

[mking2012]

Nice, I'll have to try this.. I don't know much about signals, but how much would it boost your signal if you used a satellite dish like the ones for satellite TV?

[BadMonkey63]

Don'y know, but, that would be a different design alltogether! :)

[Esmagamus]

You must be stealing thoughts. I was looking at a protein bucket a while ago and thiking some kind of reflector could be built by cutting it and lining it with foil, and there it is. Congratulations for the great idea.

[BadMonkey63]

Thanks! I love your profile icon! It just came to me one day while looking at a bottle and wham there it was and it worked too! Whit some minor mods from other's suggestions here, I made it even better!

[Esmagamus]

And the cork almost had my eye (missed by very little). Now it's my own brand: a brand of outrageously effective stuff (yeah, that Esmagamus sparkling wine is very effective in getting people absolutely drunk, and so is my "aguardente"). Notice the effect created in the dark: the only thing you can see is that wicked logo.

[rimar2000]

Very cool instructable. But the focus of the reflector is not in their curvature center as you suggest, but approximately halfway the distance. That is to say that approaching the antenna to the reflector approximately one inch, that should enlarge the profit.

[BadMonkey63]

RIMAR2000.... Thanks and take a look at the updated instructions noting your suggestions. the signal went from 76 to 90 upon the information you sent. It took a long time to translate that page, but, it was worth it in the long run. Thanks! Consider yourself a co-designer of this project.

[rimar2000]

Bueno, no es para tanto... (well, isn't for so much... ) Thanks for your info.

[BadMonkey63]

(removed by author or community request)

[dmachek]

Your antenna is in the center of the cap, which puts it in the center of the curvature of the bottle, but the waves are not focused at the center of the bottle. He's pointing out that if you move the antenna closer to the focal point, you'll get more gain. Of course, that's a much more involved project.

[BadMonkey63]

(removed by author or community request)

[rimar2000]

Bueno, peor es nada (well, worse is nothing). I expected that the enhancement would be of more than one 20%. Thanks for the advice.

[lasersage]

My intuition said that you were wrong, but I just ray traced it and you're right. Much closer to the edge than centred. I should know better myself being an optics man (same behaviour as radio waves in this circumstance). I'm sure it is just a case of imprecise science masking the effect here.

[rimar2000]

In the following link you can see some drawings where they show this:
EspejoEsferico

[dmachek]

I suspect it has to do with the imprecise nature of coke bottles!

[BadMonkey63]

Sorry I got a little bent out of shape guys... I need to work on my people skills and learn how to take suggestions in the spirit they are given. Sorry. BadMonkey63