How to Build a Tin Can Wi-Fi Antenna

Although you can find commercial antennas for extending your Wi-Fi range for your laptop or desktop computer at retailers, constructing your own Wi-Fi antenna out of a tin can be done for less than $5. You can build your own antenna from a coffee or soup can cheaply and in a fairly quick time frame. Besides saving money on the antenna, building your own Wi-Fi antenna is a technical project that can be accomplished by anyone with no advanced engineering degree required.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• N-female chassis mount connector
• Wireless card with a connection for an external antenna
• Thick 1.25 inch-, 12-gauge wire
• Soup can
• Solder gun

1. Remove the wrapping of the soup can, open one end, empty the contents and then clean and dry the can thoroughly.

2. Drill a hole on the end of the can that is 1.27 inches from the edge of the can. If you were to set the can on its side on a table, you would measure 1.27 inches from the end closest to the table. Use a drill bit that is the same size as the center of the connector you have purchased.

3. Cut the wire so that when it is inserted into the connector the length of wire protruding from the connector is 1.21 inches. Then solder the wire to the connector by applying a light amount of solder over the the connection the wire makes with the connector by using a traditional solder gun and lightly touching the solder to the top of the wire.

4. Screw the assembly into the can by inserting the wire-connector assembly into the hole you drilled in the can and twisting clockwise. Once you have screwed the assembly into the can, you connect it to your wireless card by inserting the connector into the antenna connection on the card.

Tips & Warnings

• The antenna is linearly polarized, which means that as you rotate the antenna, the strength of the wireless signal will change.

Resources

• Alternate Tin Can Designs with Theoretical Information