How to Build a WiFi Corner Reflector Antenna
A Wi-Fi transmitter antenna is designed to send a signal in all directions. You can redirect the signal so it's more focused and covers a more defined area by building a Wi-Fi antenna that fits into the corner of a room. You will need a few hardware supplies along with a satellite dish from a satellite supply store. Your antenna will reflect the Wi-Fi signals towards the Wi-Fi receiving devices more efficiently and will provide better signal strength when the Wi-Fi receiving devices are in use.
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Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- Satellite dish
- Portable drill
- 50-foot coaxial cable
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Soldering iron
- Solder
- Wi-Fi plug connector
- Glue gun
- Glue stick
- 2 metal brackets
- Electric screwdriver
- Ladder
- Metal screws
- Wood screws
- Wireless home network
Instructions
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1
Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Put the satellite dish on the table with the curved end facing up.
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2
Drill a hole in the center of the satellite dish with the portable drill.
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3
Cut off both ends of the coaxial cable with the wire cutters.
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4
Strip off four inches of the outer sheathing from one end of the coaxial cable with the wire strippers. Strip a half inch of insulation off of the center wire from the end of the coaxial cable with the wire strippers.
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5
Heat up the soldering iron for five minutes. Unscrew the back from the Wi-Fi plug connector. Push the end of the coaxial cable that has the uninsulated center wire through the hole in the back of the Wi-Fi plug connector.
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6
Solder the center wire from the end of the coaxial cable that has gone through the back of the Wi-Fi plug connector to the center contact on the bottom of the Wi-Fi plug.
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7
Solder the sheathing surrounding the center wire to the contact circling the center contact on the bottom of the Wi-Fi plug. Let the solder cool for two minutes. Screw the back of the Wi-Fi plug connector back onto the Wi-Fi plug connector.
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8
Push the free end of the coaxial cable through the hole in the back of the satellite dish. Apply glue from the glue gun around the hole to cement the coaxial cable in place.
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9
Drill a hole in each side of the back of the satellite dish with the portable drill. Place a metal bracket on each side of the back of the satellite dish over the hole that was drilled. Screw a metal screw into each of the metal brackets using the electric screwdriver.
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10
Place a ladder by a corner of the room. Bring the satellite dish up the ladder.
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11
Place the satellite dish against the top edge of the corner of the room.
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12
Screw a wood screw through each of the holes in the metal brackets with the electric screwdriver to hold the dish to the corner. Plug the Wi-Fi plug adapter into the Wi-Fi antenna port on the wireless home network’s router.
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Tips & Warnings
The size of the satellite dish does not matter; you can use a smaller one as easily as a larger one.
Attaching the satellite dish to the ceiling in the corner of the room requires making sure there is no electrical wiring in the ceiling.
