How to Boost a Wireless Antenna
There are two types of wireless antennas: omni-directional and isotropic. Cordless phones and microwaves create interference (noise) that weakens the reception of the wireless signal. The key to increasing the signal strength of a wireless antenna is a reception issue more than signal strength issue. The goal of boosting a wireless antenna is increasing the frequency-to-noise ratio. Signal strength depends on speed per bandwidth; an 802.11 b (or bandwidth) at 11 Mbps (megabits per second) is an average strength signal for a wireless antenna according to www.binarywolf.com. A windsurfer booster can give a wireless antenna additional signal strength.
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Things You'll Need
- Cardboard
- Pencil
- Computer
- Printer
- Internet access
- Utility knife
- Voltmeter
- Isotropic antenna
Instructions
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Determine which wireless antenna you have: an omni-directional or a isotropic antenna. The omni-directional is an azimuth, which means it has horizontal strength but can have a vertical radiation pattern. The isotropic antenna has a constant field of strength both azimuth and vertically. An isotropic antenna has a uniform 3D radiation pattern and looks like a light bulb that has no reflector. The windsurfer booster boosts the signal strength of an isotropic antenna.
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Draw a template of a windsurfer signal booster. First print out the template from the website http://www.freeantennas.com/Templates/windsurfer.jpg.
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Score an outline onto cardboard with a pencil. The accuracy of the outline will determine the aesthetics of the windsurfer booster.
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Take a glue stick and rub it along the edge of the cardboard without score marks for the reflector. Notice that the reflector scores have slots. Do not put glue on the side of the cardboard that has slots.
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Rip aluminum foil off the roll and place it on the template with the dull side of the foil facing down. Lay the foil onto the glue you rubbed on the cardboard.
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Cut out the windsurfer booster. Turn the cardboard over so that the aluminum foil is face up. The shiny side of the foil is the parabolic reflector that will boost the signal of the wireless antenna.
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Find the slots on the reflector. Cut out the reflector along the slots as well as the support portion of the booster. There are tabs on the support portion of the booster. You scored the tabs when first tracing out the pattern for the windsurfer.
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Make a quick bend in the reflector, keeping the foil in the back. Take the support tabs and tuck them into the slots of the reflector.
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Tear scotch tape from its holder and tape together the reflector and the support piece.
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Push the wireless antenna through the hole drawn on the cardboard. Slide the windsurfer booster halfway down the isotropic antenna.
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Turn the windsurfer booster so that it pivots around the wireless antenna. The goal of pivoting is to gain signal strength.
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Purchase software such as NetStumbler if you want a more technologically advanced solution to boosting your wireless antenna. Software is useful in boosting wireless antenna strength and has no aesthetic issues.
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Testing the signal strength of the wireless antenna with a field strength meter; also called a voltmeter, this device can help you determine if a windsurfer or a software package will boost signal strength more. Simply attach the diodes to the antenna and read the Ghz output on the voltmeter.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to eliminate the noise caused by microwaves and cell phones. It is easy to obsess about the lack of strength of your wireless antenna. Question whether or not you have the strength you need and then determine how much money, if any, you want to spend boosting the wireless antenna signal.
The interference weakening the strength of your wireless antenna may come from a neighbor.
