How not to make a WLAN-antenna

Step 8: Enjoy the fruits of your labour

I have one green plipp and a long wire running through my livingroom. Was it worth it? No.

Comments

[Shadetree Engineer]

Well, we can either calculate the most efficient design using the least amount of materials, or do it the long-wire way. This would appear to be a form of 'long-wire' antenna, where the radiating element has multiple wavelengths. This can work very well if you ignore the extra loading on the transmitter from a mismatched antenna. It's all about getting a connection, and if you have a notable improvement in your net surfing, then don't worry. You could try using one of those rabbit ear antenna's from an older tv set. That would give your rig a retro classy look.

[m3lvm]

I must express some concerns as to what one is doing by placing a large length of cable on the end of your wifi sma socket.
You are dealing with a radio transmitter between 2400-2500 MHz. I must stress that it is important no matter what frequency us use in the radio frequency spectrum the antenna is tuned to the frequency you wish to use!!!!
There are three types of antenna that one can use dipole, vertical or beam (yargi). If we look at the antenna thats provided with your wifi its a classes a vertical and in this case its most probably a quarter wave antenna. There are four type of vertical antenna you can have quarter wave, half wave, seven eights wave and full wave. So if you want an antenna for your wifi you must calculate the length of the antenna mid frequency 2450 MHz of the wifi range E.g for a seventh eights antenna the length of the vertical would be 4 inches and 1 thirty second. I have added a link to a calculator and if you scan ham radio sites you will find many ways of building different antennas.N3NO's

[omnibot]

Very true.