Introduction: Weatherized Wireless Network Adapter Using a Water Bottle

While in Iraq, I used a water bottle to weatherize my wireless network adapter. It is a simple procedure, but it is very effective. Obviously, this instructable will be most useful to services men and women in the Middle East, but could also be useful in other situations.

My weatherized adapter survived the rainy season and the extremely hot summer as well as several dust and sand storms. I gave it to a friend when I left in November 2007, and I can only assume to it is still there. I made this one specifically to show how I did it.

DISCLAIMER: this instructable requires the use of a knife. Use it safely. I am not responsible if you injure yourself or damage any property while following my instructions. Also, the application is weather resistant, not weather proof. The wireless adapter may still become damaged by the elements. So, please use common sense.

Step 1: Materials and Tools Needed

The materials need for this project are as follows:

a wireless network adapter (I used a Linksys Wireless-G)
a USB cable (I would recommend at least 15 feet in length)
a used water bottle
a rool of 100-mile-an-hour tape or duct tape
(optional: paper or white paint and 550 cord)

The only tool need is a sharp knife. (If you have one, a Dremel tool would be useful as well).

Step 2: Get Cutting

Cut the bottle in half (Remember your knife safety). This is also a good time to dry it out. (Remember, you will be putting electronics in here to protect it from water, so it should be dry).

You will also need to cut the cap. If you bottle has a sport/sippy cap, cut out the post holding the mouth piece from the inside. Check to see if the end if the USB cable slides in easily. If not, you will need to carefully cut a slit in the tube on the top of the cap.

If your water bottle has a normal cap, place the knife point in the center of the cap. careful not to cut or stab yourself or anything else, push the knife down, creating a slit. Now, on on the edge across from that slit, make another slit that meets the first slit in the center. In the same manner, continue making slits until you can easily push the end of the USB cable through the cap.

With the USB cable through the cap, screw the cap on to the top of the bottle.

Step 3: Taping It Up

Wrap tape around the USB cable so that is thick enough that the cable will not pull out (This precaution should save you the head ache of the adapter becoming unplugged).

Now plug the USB cable to the wireless network adapter. If it has an external antenna like mine does, this would be the time to extend it.

NOTE:Most wireless network adapters do not deal well with extreme heat. For my Iraqi version, I rolled some paper, and placed it in the bottle around the wireless network adapter. The thought was that this might shield the wireless network adapter from some of the heat. It seemed to work ok, but I am sure that white paint on the outside would be more effective.

Place the top and bottom of the bottle together, encasing the wireless network adapter. Tape the two ends together, and continue wrapping the bottle on both sides of the seam to ensure that it is well sealed. Also tape the cap to the bottle and the cap to the USB cable.

Step 4: Finishing It Up

If you so choose, this is the time to paint you bottle white. Any weather resistant/proof white paint should do.

Follow the installation instructs for your particular wireless network adapter, if it has not already been installed.

In Iraq, I use 550 cord to hang my wireless network adapter just under the roof of my trailer. You could also mount it to a mast (broom sticks seem to work well), or hang it from a tree (good luck finding a tree in most parts of Iraq).

I just set this one on my front porch with my laptop.

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