DIY WiFi Router Antenna Using Rabbit Ears
A Wi-Fi router splits up the Internet connection so that multiple Wi-Fi devices can go online. A weak antenna on the Wi-Fi router impairs the connections by not providing a strong signal.You can improve the router’s Wi-Fi signal strength by adding an external Wi-Fi antenna to the one already built in. You will need a few household supplies but no electrical skills.
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Things You'll Need
- Aluminum foil
- Newspaper
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Empty 2-ounce snack bag
- Cellophane tape
- 2-liter empty plastic soda bottle
- Spork
Instructions
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1
Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Stand the 2-liter empty plastic soda bottle on the newspaper. Measure four inches down from the neck of the bottle.
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2
Draw a circle around the bottle at the four-inch mark with the pencil. Cut the circle with a utility knife. Place the bottle top aside and dispose of the rest of the bottle properly.
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3
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and place it on the newspaper. Measure and cut six, 8-inch long x 4-inch wide strips of aluminum foil.
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4
Turn the snack bag inside out. Smooth down the sides of the bag with your fingers.
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5
Wrap the snack bag around the end of the two antenna rods that are attached to the rabbit ears. Secure the snack bag to the antennas with a piece of cellophane tape.
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6
Remove the bottle cap from the cut bottle. Place the tip of the two antennas now covered by the snack bag into the neck of the bottle. Secure the antennas to the neck of the bottle with pieces of cellophane tape.
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Place the back end of the Spork inside of the open end of the bottle. Tape the back end of the Spork to the two antennas with pieces of cellophane tape.
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8
Wrap the end of an aluminum foil strip around the Spork and the antennas.Twist the end of the aluminum strip between your fingers to form a rod.
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Insert the end of an aluminum foil strip into the open end of the bottle. Tape the end to the bottle with a piece of cellophane tape. Bend the other end of the aluminum strip down over the outside of the bottle. Repeat this procedure with the other strips of aluminum foil while circling the bottle.
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10
Unscrew an antenna or one of the antennas off of the Wi-Fi router. Solder one of the connectors from the rabbit ears to the contact ring surrounding the base of the Wi-Fi antenna. Let the solder cool for two minutes. Solder the other connector to the side of the Wi-Fi antenna in front of the base. Let the solder cool for two minutes. Screw the antenna back into the Wi-Fi router.
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11
Stand the Wi-Fi router antenna you've created. Aim the foil-covered bottle section so that it's pointed in the general direction of the Wi-Fi devices using the router.
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Tips & Warnings
Cell phones and other devices putting out radio frequency signals in close proximity to the WiRi router can foul the signal strength.
