Quick and Dirty USB Wifi Dongle Waveguide

This is a five minute fix to stealing neighbour net, it's not that pretty but it's simple and rather effective, plus it's fully adjustable for angles of up and down, not just side to side. 

I haven't bothered with Db gains because if you're serious enough to care about them then you've got the wrong waveguide, this will however take a just out of reach network and make a decent connection possible. 

Disclaimer - This project involved stabbing things with sharp things to make more sharp things, the edges of the can can be very sharp and I cannot be held responsible for any damage done to yourself, those around you or any passing badgers. 

If you liked this instructable then please vote for it in the USB contest, which is in the voting stage now!

Step 1: Tools and Materials

There's not much to the list, you'll need:

Materials:
 - Gorillapod, glue, a stick, a piece of string, you don't have to mount it on the gorillapod but my camera's too heavy for it so it was unused and I planned on doing some hunting for the best network so adjustability and stability are nice
 - A USB dongle, the stick kind, if it has an external aerial this would still work, you could also slide the can over any stick aerial to direct it I suppose. 
 - Some tape, electrical tape or anything thick works, I used awesome caution tape.
 - A sweetcorn can, they're fatter, though the large size bean cans would also work well

Tools:
 - Knife

Optional tools include any nicer way of cutting holes in cans, me I just got stabbin'

Step 2: Start Stabbin'

Cut your can in half, down the sides, I left the top ring of the can since it makes it more rigid and leaves one less sharp edge. 

If you want to remove the reinforced top ring some cans have then a pair of pliers or snips will make short work of your ring... 

Step 3: Making Holes.

To make the tripod hole I made two small slits in the shape of a cross then pressed the tabs upwards a bit. 

To attach the tripod I simply forced the bolt through the hole and twisted clockwise a few times, the corners of the tabs end up in the thread making a really rudimentary but surprisingly sturdy join between the two. 

If you have a drill then a quarter inch hole would attach a tripod bolt nicely. 

If you wish you can use BluTac or tape to attach the tripod. 

Step 4: More Holes.

Stab the slot for the dongle along the sides first then cut a slit removing one end, fold the remaining piece of metal out and snap it off by wiggling it until the stress breaks it.

If you used a dremel with a cuttoff wheel then you can skip this bottom bit because yours will no doubt be much better fitted and way less squinty. 

Put a few layers of tape around the dongle about 2/3 of the way up it and slide it in on to the taped bit, adjust so it's sitting straight and as a tip face the light outwards, it may seem like a small thing but using the communication light's a good way of seeing when a connection's died or if your browsers just being a jerk about it. 

Cheers for reading, Adam.