How to build a powerful wifi antenna for a PSP

[donatello]

This is legal to build and own!

Like any other electronic device operating in the microwave frequency, it can be used for nefarious purposes... although that would be difficult with a PSP. :-)

Anyway, I have a park near my house and sometimes use a PSP or other device in the park. The problem is, that it is rather far from my house... not too far, but far enough so that my WiFi 802.11 connection does not work.

So there is a way to make a cool combination wave-guide/Yagi antenna out of junk that will reach about 6 wireless networks from the park! I can hit the Starbucks up the street if it's not foggy.

You need:

• A Pringles Can
• A WiFi Dongle
• A USB extension
• Threaded Rod
• Washers

The one pictured here is made with a different type of dongle adapter - one that has an external antenna. But I was able to get it to work by inserting the entire dongle in a Pringles Can! I was also able to make one with 1/2 of one of those mylar metallized ballons - but it's big and a Pringles can is less noticeable in the park.

See here:


That shows it taken apart. The Pringles can is metallized on the inside and so acts as a waveguide.

For added boost, there is a Yagi insert the goes inside. That's the threaded rod with the washers on it.

You need to know only basic arithmetic to figure out how far away to place the washers on this contraption. It's easy.

Microwaves travel at the speed of light: 300,000 Kilometers/second.
The waves we want to capture are about 2.4 GigaHertz (WiFi).
So that means we need to know how to do division. I learned division in 2nd grade. So I know all I need to know to design a Yagi Antenna because you need to calculate how far away the washers must be spaced.
300,000 Kilometers = 300,000,000 meters
300,000,000 meters = 30,000,000,000 centimeters
That's how many centimeters light travels in a second.

WiFi is about 2.4GHz, which means that every second there are 2.4 billion waves. We want our washers spaced to match this number.
2.4 GHz = 2.4 Billion waves
2.4billion = 2,400,000,000

So now all we need to do is divide 30 Billion by 2.4 billion and we know how many centimeters apart to place the washers! EASY!

30/2.4= 12.5 centimeters.

So each washer must be about 12.5 centimeters away from the one next to it!

Anyway, if you build something that looks like my picture, oh and the "driven element" needs to be about 1/4 of a wavelength from the back of the can...

This will enable you to tap into the wireless connection at the Starbucks up the street or from far away. If you have your own network, you can build two of these types of antennas and blast your Wi-fi connection halfway across town! One of the antennas will hook up to your network at home, and you will go across town and point the other antenna at it creating a kind of microwave beam between the two antennas. You can get REALLY FAR this way. Perfectly safe from Wardrivers if you have secured your home wireless network.

Bwahahahaha... this is one of the coolest projects and all your friends will think you are an evil genius. Come to think of it... I am an evil genius... or at least that's what my mom always says.

NOTE: This does not work well in the rain. WiFi are very weak Microwaves, in fact, the same exact frequency that your microwave oven uses. It's the resonant frequency of water... which is why microwave ovens heat water so well. So when rain falls, it actually tries to cook the raindrops thereby attenuating the transmission.

But don't worry... your microwave oven is about 1000 watts, and this little device is less than 1 watt. Still, don't put it up to your head if you don't have to! :-D


Bwahahahahahahaha

For my next post, I will teach you how to tap into GPS satellite systems with your PSP, a couple of triacs and an old TV set, an old umbrella and tin foil or an old metal screen.

[donatello]

I forgot to mention that you don't actually need to combine both the Yagi antenna with the Pringles Waveguide. Either of these will work entirely fine on their own!

You can make a Yagi antenna with a broomstick and some long nails! Yep!

You know what a Yagi-Uda antenna is. You have seen a million of them. It's easy to figure out exactly what the antenna is for just by looking at it and by doing one simple calculation. (OH NO! MATH!!!)

Check it out:
Here is a Yagi-Uda antenna:


So from looking at it, you can guess that each tine is about 12.5 centimeters from the one next to it, right?

So then x=12.5

Then all we need to do is calculate the wavelength and we know what the antenna is for:
30/x = wavelenght in GHz

So this antenna is for WiFi!
30/12.5 = 2.4 GHz

That's right. It's a WiFi antenna. The kind you can build to make your PSP a super receiver.

Anyway, you can build a simple Yagi from a broomstick with a drill and some metal rods or big nails. It will look like the one in my picture. It's hard to carry into the park and everyone stares at you, so the Pringles can is better. See my other post on this kind of stuff. The one in my picture is a real one, and YES it could be hooked up to a PSP quite easily. You would tap into every wireless network in town with that beast! You can make one just as powerful with a broomstick! Bwahahahaha! :-D

Have fun!

[DVSNAZ]

I came across your post in a search for plans to build a USB version of the "cantenna"...

I was wondering if you could clarify where in the can you placed the USB dongle and in what manner.
You say "Anyway, if you build something that looks like my picture, oh and the "driven element" needs to be about 1/4 of a wavelength from the back of the can..."

Is that referring to the driven element on the internal yagi with the washers?( and i am assuming THAT would be the washer at the end which would be closest to the the back of the can?) OR the antenna within the dongle...in either case i am assuming that using you calculations this should be 3.125 cm.

Again, I appreciate any input or direction you may have.

read the review of your wifi booster. and I wanted to make one for myself. my question is what would be the best type of metal to use on this project or does that even matter...
thanks for your help you can send reply to kmhartbeat@yahoo.com

cooooool i was thinkin the same but were would hook that pringles beast up to? The original wimp antenna or the usb??????

also for my psp i run mac on it and i hooked up a mac keyboard and cd drive all through the usb connection. it drains the battery but i got solarpanels and a wind turbine outside my window backing that up

i got an A+ on it for a green science project

ps im typing this through my psp

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! evil/green grevil

does the usb cord just connect to the psp and the can too? if so why would an antenae be neccercserysary(sorry im lazy).

PLEASE HELP

Hey i was wonderong if you could make me one and I pay for it, i dont feel like makin one myself
Blue_lambergini@hotmail.com