diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

BOB IS THE OIL GUY » Forums » General and Off Topic » Computers » diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. You are not logged in. [Log In]
Register User Forum List Active Topics FAQ

Form-A-Funnel Topic Options Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. #1627511 - 10/11/09 04:31 AM

Recent Topics
daves66nova I have an HP ZE4100 laptop and i want to add some type of high gain antenna.Does someone know of something easy
Formula Shell 1.68/qt to make or put together?
at Menards
by Diesel_Clatter _________________________
5 minutes 25 seconds ago THIS SPACE FOR RENT, PLEASE PM ME.
The 2011 Chrysler 300
by G-MAN Registered: 04/11/04
13 minutes 37 seconds ago Posts: 1655
Mysterious death of Loc: los angeles
older performance Top
engies
by MI_Roger Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: daves66nova] #1627516 - 10/11/09 05:04 AM
23 minutes 22 seconds ago
eljefino Google "pringles can" and "primestar dish".
Italian Loan:
by Bluestream
Today at 10:50 AM
Are we running out of
server space or
something? Registered: 06/15/03
by Nick R Posts: 10782
Today at 10:40 AM Loc: maine
Toyota brand 5-30 vs M1 Top
0-30
by tpattgeek Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1627752 - 10/11/09 11:00 AM
Today at 10:27 AM
StevieC Google Cantenna. I have built 3 of these for friends and a neighbour and they work extremely well!
0w20 in a new Toyota
by TomB985 _________________________
Today at 10:14 AM '06 Hyundai Sante Fe - 330K KM's
Reducing side-view Current Oil: RLI 0w30 (Ask me why)
mirror blind spots
by barlowc Registered: 08/21/08 Don't be part of the Sheeple, check frequently for wool over your eyes.
Today at 10:08 AM Posts: 14339
Loc: Niagara Falls, ON, CA
Newest Members (near)
LoneStarZ71, Top
austinlunsford, Matt_N,
NWjeep, TRX400supra Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: StevieC] #1635884 - 10/18/09 02:39 AM
33445 Registered Users daves66nova ok,the wifi card is under the comp.How do i connect something external to it,such as a cantenna?

Who's Online _________________________

THIS SPACE FOR RENT, PLEASE PM ME.
82 registered
(adamjeeps, Al,
4wheels, 97tbird,
ajchien, 440Magnum, 7 Registered: 04/11/04
invisible), 626 Guests Posts: 1655
Loc: los angeles
and 72 Spiders online.
Top
Key: Admin, Global Mod,
Mod
Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: daves66nova] #1635896 - 10/18/09 05:20 AM
Forum Stats eljefino The cantenna guide lists PCMCIA cards with antenna jacks.
33445 Members
60 Forums
140502 Topics
2061915 Posts

Max Online: 1079 @ Registered: 06/15/03

10/12/10 09:24 PM Posts: 10782
Loc: maine
Donate to BITOG Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1636157 - 10/18/09 10:54 AM

1 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

StevieC You can also get a USB Wireless Adapter (Cheapie $20 one Online) with an extension cable (My Dollar Store carries these). Plug the
extension cable into your computer, plug the USB Wireless Adapter into the cable. Then cut a hole in the side of a coffee can
(Bigger the better) about mid way up and stick the wireless USB adapter in this hole. You can also get a dollar-store tripod for a
camera and use it to create a holder to hold it on your desk. Similar to Picture #2

See below... And don't laugh because it works!

Registered:
Like this:
08/21/08
Posts:
14339
Loc:
Niagara
Falls, ON,
CA (near)

Holder:

Note: You don't need one like the picture shown above with an antenna, the one with an internal antenna in the USB adapter will
do the same job.

I have 3 of these in service for myself a friend and a neighbor.

Now if you want to pick up a ton of wireless networks you can build one of these. I have one on my TV tower 50ft high above my
roof and I can pick up almost 50 networks and I live in the country with my closest neighbour about 1/2 mile down the road in
either direction.

2 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: StevieC] #1636158 - 10/18/09 10:56 AM

eljefino There are specific measuring qualifications for where you want to put the cantenna holes to get proper signal.

Registered: 06/15/03
Posts: 10782
Loc: maine
Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1636162 - 10/18/09 11:01 AM

3 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

StevieC Originally Posted By: eljefino

There are specific measuring qualifications for where you want to put the cantenna holes to get proper
signal.

Registered: 08/21/08
Posts: 14339 This is true, but most of the time if you locate it between 1/3rd and 1/2 the way up from the sealed end of the can it
Loc: Niagara Falls, ON, CA will work very efficiently.
(near)
I have found the Large coffee can to be best for this out of the ones I have built. My first was using a foil coated
Pringles Chip can. It worked, but not as good as the large coffee can.

I also found that if you cover the outside of the coffee can with brass mesh (that looks like window screening) it will
block outside interference and can boost the signal up to 25%. I just wrapped 2 layers of this around the can and then
duct-taped the heck out of it. The brass mesh stops any kind of RF around the can so that the signal inside the can is
super concentrated and free of noise.

I won't tell you how much time I have wasted spent on this.

What I will tell you is that my dad has a 10 foot solid Aluminum C-Band TV dish and I want to put a receiver on it and

see what I can pick up then instead of using the 18" Digital Dish like shown above. It's about 20ft away from the

house so I will need to boost the power on the USB cables to get it there.

This is what the brass mesh looks like. The one shown below is Copper but it's the same only Brass. (Couldn't find a
picture)

Now all the networks I pick up that are unsecured I mark down and drive around on spare time (usually weekends)
with an antenna I have on the truck that sticks to the roof with a magnet. I then find the source as best as possible
and try to notify the owners that their network is wide open. If I can't find the network because the houses are too
close together I see if their computer is visible on the wireless network and place a file on their desktop (some
hacking knowledge I have) telling them they are open for attack and how to fix it. I don't tell them who I am. Usually
some months later those networks are secured. So I think I'm doing some good.

In the file it says that I was in there computer and if I was able to put a file on their desktop warning them of what I
did then they should know that others with malicious intend may not be so nice... I scare the $#!@ out of them so they
get the picture.

You would not believe how many networks are wide open. The antenna on the truck is the best thing I have bought.
(Entertainment)

_________________________
'06 Hyundai Sante Fe - 330K KM's
Current Oil: RLI 0w30 (Ask me why)

Don't be part of the Sheeple, check frequently for wool over your eyes.

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1636451 - 10/18/09 02:59 PM

daves66nova Originally Posted By: eljefino

The cantenna guide lists PCMCIA cards with antenna jacks.

can you post a link to a pic showing this?the original card has a cover that bolts over it.I don't see how i can install a
card for a cord connection on it.
Registered: 04/11/04 _________________________
Posts: 1655 THIS SPACE FOR RENT, PLEASE PM ME.
Loc: los angeles

4 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: daves66nova] #1636453 - 10/18/09 03:00 PM

daves66nova or can i use something that connects to the usb port like the previous pics?

_________________________
THIS SPACE FOR RENT, PLEASE PM ME.

Registered: 04/11/04
Posts: 1655
Loc: los angeles
Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: daves66nova] #1637780 - 10/19/09 03:47 PM

eljefino Stevie the C-band antenna if it has mesh has to have real tight mesh like that copper stuff. "Bigger holes" lets the
microwaves through. C-band antennae used to have bigger mesh so the snow would fall through and wind wouldn't
catch them, before satellites started transmitting on Ku Band as well.

If you can find a C/Ku antenna it will have tighter mesh that reflects the spectrum properly. That little dish saucer is
Ku.
Registered: 06/15/03
Posts: 10782
Loc: maine

They make PCMCIA (and presumably USB) wifi cards with little jacks that look like the above. Also most/all desktop
wifi cards will have those. Cantenna folks probably know the best/ most hackable cards out there.

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1637815 - 10/19/09 04:12 PM

StevieC I think you missed some info in my post above... You are confusing the two dishes...

_________________________
'06 Hyundai Sante Fe - 330K KM's
Current Oil: RLI 0w30 (Ask me why)

Registered: 08/21/08 Don't be part of the Sheeple, check frequently for wool over your eyes.
Posts: 14339
Loc: Niagara Falls, ON, CA
(near)
Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: StevieC] #1638061 - 10/19/09 07:41 PM

eljefino Quote:

solid

Registered: 06/15/03
Posts: 10782
Loc: maine

Yup a solid dish will catch Ku.

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: eljefino] #1644961 - 10/25/09 04:04 AM

daves66nova this is the one i ended up getting. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130337315459&

ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT So what do i need now to connect it to my laptop?

_________________________
THIS SPACE FOR RENT, PLEASE PM ME.

Registered: 04/11/04
Posts: 1655
Loc: los angeles

5 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM

diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. - Bob Is The Oil Guy http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat...

Top

Re: diy ,powerful laptop wifi antenna.. [Re: daves66nova] #1645031 - 10/25/09 08:28 AM

brianl703 You need something like this:

linky
Registered: 05/07/04
Posts: 9891
Loc: Manassas, VA
Top

Previous Topic Index Next Topic Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >

Hop to: Computers Go

Board Rules · Mark all read BITOG-Gray Contact Us · BOB IS THE OIL GUY · Top

Generated in 0.019 seconds in which 0.002 seconds were spent on a total of 13 queries. Zlib compression enabled.
Powered by UBB.threads™ 7.5.6

6 -> 6 11/6/2010 7:15 PM