How to Make a WiFi Antenna for a D Link Card
A D-Link card, like other external wireless laptop cards, has a Wi-Fi antenna built inside of its case. An external antenna provides a better Wi-Fi signal to the D-Link card. You can make a Wi-Fi antenna to use with a D-Link card from a few household items, provided you have a PCMCIA computer card slot in the laptop you want to use. Best of all, a homemade Wi-Fi antenna does not violate the warranty on the D-Link card or the laptop.
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Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- CD jewel case
- Business card
- Scissors
- Aluminum foil
- Glue stick
- Glue gun
- Ruler
- Laptop
Instructions
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1
Put a sheet of newspaper on a table. Put the business card on the newspaper with the short end facing you.
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2
Measure one inch across the width of the business card with the ruler. Cut a vertical line across the length of the business card starting at the one-inch mark.
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3
Place the larger piece of the business card on the newspaper with the long end facing you. Apply glue from the glue gun to the business card’s center.
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4
Place one end of the smaller piece of the business card onto the glue at the center of the larger piece of the business card so as to form a “T.” Let the glue dry for a minute.
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5
Lift up on the plastic top of the jewel case. Pull the tabs at the back of the plastic top off from the hinges connected to the black plastic bottom. Discard the plastic top.
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6
Cut a piece of aluminum foil that is about the same size as the black plastic bottom.
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7
Apply glue from the glue gun to the top and bottom edges and the middle of the black plastic bottom. Place the cut piece of aluminum onto the black plastic bottom. Let the glue set for a minute.
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8
Insert the D-Link card into the PCMCIA slot on the laptop.
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9
Apply glue from the glue gun to one side of the larger piece of the business card. Place the side of the larger piece of the business card that has the glue on it onto the aluminum foil. Let the glue set for a minute.
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10
Insert the free end of the smaller piece of the business card into the PCMCIA slot, above the D-Link card, as far in as it will go.
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Tips & Warnings
A piece of cardboard the size of a business card can be substituted, if necessary.
Don’t crinkle the aluminum foil, as it can disturb the strength of the Wi-Fi signal.
