Clamp Lamp Wifi Extender

Here is another idea for a wifi range extender. I put this together one night in my workshop. This is a parabolic type of extender and work pretty good. I have used it around town in different areas to test signal strengths. A great benefit to this little dish is the clamp that is already there and made for multiple mounting positions.

Step 1 Tools and Parts

TOOLS:
Thankfully the clamp lamp I used and my USB WiFi card fit
perfectly together. The lamp itself was able to be unscrewed
by hand.

PARTS:
1-Clamp Style Work Light
1-USB Wifi Network Card
1-USB Extension Cable (Length can vary on your needs)

EXTRAS:
Spray paint to paint your new dish.

Comments

[bowman1]

More of a question than a comment. I have tried making several of these as shown on the site but none extend my distance at all. I am thinking the adapter has to be inserted a certain distance. How far in do you put it on your product and what is the gain factor?

[decades]

You are correct. Sort of. (ain't it always a tech answer?) For max signal strength 1 Download NETWORK STUMBLER- it is a free program the presents the signal like an oscilloscope select your wireless by name so it is tracing your signal.. 2 You are making a directional antennae which means it has to be aimed directly at the transmitter like a telescopic sight on a rifle or it will not work as well as the actual usb device which has an omni meaning "I look at everything and lose strength because of it.. 3. Once you have the best signal strength (clamp it to something) you should mess with the positioning of the usb actual device. Antenna's are polarized and work best in either a vertical or horizontal position and what you are trying to do is get the signal to bounce off the metal and concentrate on you usb. Keep you extension cable as short as possible as it causes loss. Been doing this for decades and I are an engine gneer.

[Barbacoa]

But there isnt any signal loss over usb

[wherespaul]

 awesome worked great for me but i just put my desktop antenna inside of it and it went from 24mbps to 54mbps.  Took me 1 minute to do it.  My clamp lamp had a hole in the side of it already so it was really easy to put the end of the antenna through it.  Thanks for posting :)

[Lamagoalik]

this stuff works I just used a coffee can on mine it was picking at 54mbps with out the can and with the can it jump to 162mps haha with the hole at the back of the can not on the side just use a flat screw driver find the midle of the can traces the usb antana and cut open the hole no glue just put in the can and hook it up and point

[joejoerowley]

Nifty! I would like to see before and after with network anylictics software but other then that great instructable! Thanks

[FullyInvolvedScientist]

I'll post some pics or at least get some numbers from a really good location to show the range. Thanks again.

[oldscool]

My reflector has small lines or ribs running around it.How much will that effect the signal?

[FullyInvolvedScientist]

This one has some lines on it but, I don't think that they interfere. I would have to do a comparison.