How to Add Windsurfer to Your W-iFi Card Antenna
The Windsurfer is a homemade parabolic reflector most commonly used to direct a Wi-Fi signal from a wireless router. To increase the effect of the wireless signal, you can place a Windsurfer on your computer card’s antenna as well. You don’t need anything fancy to create the reflector, just a sheet of sturdy cardstock paper and aluminum foil. The template for the Windsurfer is available for free download from the Freeantennas.com website.
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Instructions
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Open your Web browser and navigate to the Ez-12 Parabolic Reflector Template page of Freeantennas.com.
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Right-click the Windsurfer template image at the bottom of the page and save the image to your computer.
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3
Insert a sheet of cardstock paper in your computer printer.
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Locate the template image file on your computer, right-click and select “Print” from the menu.
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Remove the check in the box next to the "Fit Picture to Frame" option and print the template.
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6
Cut out both parts of the template with scissors. Slice open the six slots on the rectangular piece of the template and the the two plus-shaped slots on the “Windsurfer” section of the template.
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Cut a sheet of tinfoil to match the size of the rectangular piece and glue the tinfoil to the blank back side of the rectangular piece.
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Insert the six tabs from the “Windsurfer” section into the rectangular part of the template. This will curve both sections into a parabolic shape. Depending on the fit, you may want to secure the tabs with a tiny bit of glue.
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Slide the Windsurfer down on your computer’s antenna but placing the card antenna through the top and bottom plus-shaped slots of the “Windsurfer” section.
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Turn the reflector so that the side with the “Windsurfer” label is facing the direction of your router to capture the wireless signal.
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Tips & Warnings
While the site notes that you can resize the template image using a paint program, this is not necessary when using the reflector on a Wi-Fi network card antenna. A larger reflector is idea for a wireless router antenna.
