Easily receive WIFI signals from far away using a standard USB WIFI adaptor and a bit of ingenuity. This Simple idea requires no modifications to a USB WIFI adaptor or your computer. A simple way to increase the signal strength and range of your WIFI. Plus it works with all USB WIFI adaptors
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools and Parts Needed
You need only a few parts for this project and they all are pretty cheap except for the USB WIFI adaptor. ( I got mine on sale for $10, just check the ads)
1 - Metal Strainer/Steamer
1 - USB WIFI Adaptor
1 - USB Extension Cable (I chose a 10ft long)
½” Drill Bit (I like to use stepper bits for metal)
Gorilla Glue (Epoxy works well too)
2 - Zip Ties
1 - Metal Strainer/Steamer
1 - USB WIFI Adaptor
1 - USB Extension Cable (I chose a 10ft long)
½” Drill Bit (I like to use stepper bits for metal)
Gorilla Glue (Epoxy works well too)
2 - Zip Ties
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I do not know much about a DSL system, since I have cable internet.
Does the DSL have a router or does your mother have a router with the DSL system. I you can not send the signal via air or wireless, would you consider a wired system?
A Ethernet cable is able to carry the internet signal for 100 meters or about 330 feet without loss. You would need a router at your mothers house. Use one ethernet cable for your mothers system. Then use another ethernet cable from the router at your mothers house and run it to your place. Put the cable a few inches below ground, if you have to gross a driveway etc.put the cable in an electrical conduit so it does not get damaged.
There maybe an other option for wireless connections. Use of two external yagi antennas, one at your mothers house and one at your place. Something like that http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Wireless-Antenna-Booster-Bluetooth/dp/B0054MLMLA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1357416794&sr=1-2&keywords=yagi+wifi+antenna
Just google yagi antenna for wifi.
You would need to mount it on a pole outside both house, the higher the better, Do it at your mother's place as well your place. Aim the antenna from your mother's place toward your place and vise versa.
Remember those yagi antennas are very directional so aiming must be exact to get the best signal.
Hope this helps.
you need a directional antenna.
go here: http://martybugs.net/wireless/biquad/
good directions, I have made 6 of these biQuads. any metal will make a good back plate.
you need to get a reverse sma antemma extender cable, cut off the connector not needed & solder its end in the biquad. I use one on the distant computer to bump the signal up 3 bars. the garage is not much an issue.
My hawking tech usb antenna has a removal antenna. I just screw in the biquad & aim.
your router may have a larger connector, so buy the cable & solder it in.
teh biquad will boost singals thru the wall & thru a window is steller!
I have made ALL the various antennas. the single Bi-Quad is my Fav!
Mr Steve
This ones my personal favorite. Picking up signals from hundreds of feet away is cool. Picking up wifi from a couple miles out.
Legendary.
http://www.ab9il.net/wlan-projects/wifi3.html
_______
l router l=------cable------(---- antena
l______l.....................dish
REPLY
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In my experiments I found paper clips to be more convenient because I could remove them to close the strainer for travel.
Also, if need be, you can also use the zip-ties/paper clips to lock the shape of the dish into a different parabolic shape which may better focus the "hotspot" of the signal for a particular wifi adapter.
Remember, the strainer used as a parabolic focusing device can also be used to increase the signal of a bluetooth device or a cellular phone, so the adjustable aspect of the parabolic shape of the strainer makes for some good experiments.
I disagree with hard-mounting the USB cable of the wifi adapter to the center of the strainer. Instead the hole in the center strainer should be based on the width of the wifi adapter, or even better, based on a small piece of plastic tubing which the adapter can snuggly slide back and forth in.
How one would make the hole is up to the individual and the tools at hand, but making four cuts with a pair of tin snips and carefully bending the pie-shaped pieces with pliers to hold either the adapter or a two inch long plastic tube to mount the adapter into is not rocket science.
Not only does this allow for the adapter to be tuned for best signal strength, it also makes the unit very portable and easily dis-assembled, and preserves the wifi adapter and its USB cable in their original condition for other applications.
Cheers
Gman
I think it would be easier to buy adapter for example from wireless adapter reviews website. It's only cost 10-20$
My favorite is Alfa AWU
You can find various reviews of best usb adapters here
We regularly spend time at our cottage where we are internet-less. As the crow flies, we are probably only about 1 km from an unsecured wifi network, but it is 10 minutes over rough roads, and it would be kinda obvious if we just parked outside. We also have an antenna tower on that side of the house doing nothing, since we have satellite.
Since I have a USB wifi adapter that's been sitting in a drawer doing nothing, I am definitely going to give this a try. I would be willing to climb partway up the tower with my laptop to connect to the 'net occasionally to be able to download weather forecasts and download/upload e-mail when we're there for longer spells. If it works, I'll post back with firmer data! Wish me luck!
try making an Cantenna out of a 46 oz. juice can.
if the probe making & construction is troublesome & it is.
teh simpler way is to
just take the can & measure 1.24" from the cans rear. cut a slot your existing ubs donagal antenna fits tightly into. shove it up inside an 1" to 1.3".
you will need a short usb extender cable.
play with it to find the HOTSPOT. aim the can & you will be amazed at the improved signal!!! cost of a can of juice.
I have made several, gave to friends .
Mr steve
_______
l router l=------cable------(---- antena
l______l.....................dish
It is a good place to start on a wi-fi extender project, with many more different examples shown at http://redirectingat.com/?id=487X782&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz%2F .
The problem I found with this particular setup is the hard mounting of the USB cable, which is not only unnecessary, but also may be placing the USB adapter out of the parabolic "hot-spot".
A quick and easy way to find the hot-spot is to cut a piece of paper to the curve of the dish, then take it outside and point it at the sun. The focused sunlight will show the parabolic hot-spot of that dish. (there is also a mathematical method to calculate the hot-spot at the orcon.net.nz site above)
I think it may have been more advantageous for this project to have hard mounted a piece of plastic tubing of the apporopriate diameter to allow the USB adapter and cable to snuggly slide in or out to adjust reception.
This technique also would allow for further experiments with the same cable and adapter using other types of dishes.
Some photos and directions for the making of my variation of the (portable) wi-fi steamer can be seen in the comments at http://www.instructables.com/id/usb-wifi-antenna/?&sort=NEWEST&limit=50&offset=100 (October 12 2006).
I found that the five foot cable attached to the base of the USB adapter, could not only be removed from the base, but it was made at a 90 degree angle to the cable which meant that drilling out the steamer was unnecessary. As luck would have it, I found that the tip of the USB adapter was perfectly matched to the hot-spot. (beginners luck) All I needed to do was zip-tie the USB adapter and cable to the steamer and it was good to go, and totally portable. I even fashioned a spring tension coat-hanger base which held it open and allowed it to sit-up straight. (if I hung the steamer with a hook from its top, the petals stayed open by gravity)
When hung from the raingutter outside of my window, depending on which direction it faced the setup worked well enough to receive 17 to 20 wi-fi networks in my neighborhood, several of which were not password protected. I suppose that if it were mounted to a pole extending above the roof which could be rotated, I would receive many many more networks.
I had similar results in Bangkok, and elsewhere on the road. Just remember that your reception is always based on line of site.
As I said, this project by tm36usa is a good starter, and from there you will find other useful dishes/strainers/steamers/reflectors etc to play with.
I found a clamp-on work light with an aluminum reflector which works awesome for extending the reception of my home wi-fi network from three bars (very good), to five bars (excellent). This is through several walls and a distance of about 60 feet from the network router.
The veggie steamer has moved-on to its next job, as base station for my cell phone. My cell phone reception inside my home has always been terrible, one to two bars at best.
I mounted a piece of a coat hanger with a loop at its end to the center post of the steamer, and hung the steamer on the wall facing my window. Then, I hung the phone by its antenna from the wire loop and presto, four out of four bars reception! If I get a call, as long as I am in front of the dish the phone works great.
The nice thing is that if I take a trip, I can re-rig the steamer for wi-fi duty in about five minutes.
So again, if you want to do this project, think about hard mounting a piece of plastic tubing to the steamer instead of the female USB cable end, and you will likely find you can use the same tube/cable/USB adapter combination with other types of parabolic dishes too.
Have fun experimenting.
Thanks again tm36usa for this instructable, and thanks again Manuka for the great ideas at the orcon.net.nz. site.
Cheers
GM