Home made wi fi

10 DIY Long Range Wi-Fi Antennas You Can Make at Home

Don’t need to spend big bucks on Wi-Fi extenders, just build a budget-friendly Wi-Fi antenna at home.

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While modern Wi-Fi antennas allow you to use the fastest speeds within your ISP’s package, they can be quite expensive. Luckily, you can always turn to DIY projects to improve your connection signal without spending too much money.

Check out these 10 DIY long range Wi-Fi antennas you can make on a shoestring budget. Note that some of them may require you to obtain a license from the FCC (or relevant authority governing wireless devices in your territory), so do check before making yours.

1. Homemade Wi-Fi Antenna

A homemade Wi-Fi antenna can save you the hassle of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a new gadget. There are several routes you can use to make this hack a reality. The project is perfect if you’re experiencing Wi-Fi connections issues and would rather not invest in a new router immediately.

A homemade Wi-Fi antenna can be useful if you frequently deal with dropped connections at peak hours. You may also rely on the option as a temporary fix until you get your finances ready for a retail unit.

2. DIY Tin Can Wi-Fi Antenna

A tin can antenna (cantenna) is a great project for anyone who wants to improve their home Wi-Fi speed but doesn’t have the cash to buy the factory-made product from a store. The hack will cost you less than $5.

The only thing you’ll need for this project is some waste metal cans and basic hand tools. Remember, this project will improve your home internet speeds while expanding the range of the signal.

3. DIY Long Range Wi-Fi Antenna

Did you know that you don’t have to reach out to your telecommunications dealer if you simply want to increase your Wi-Fi range? That’s right, all you need to do is gather a few locally available materials such as a metal can or pipe, 12-gauge copper wires, and soldering iron.

Once the setup is complete, all you’ll be left with is turning on your Wi-Fi router and attempting to capture the signals away from your home. You can test out the longest distance the antenna covers from the router.

4. Wi-Fi Signal Catcher

You can easily build a signal catcher at home to boost your internet connection speed while providing additional flexibility to internet-activated phone services such as VOLTE. The setup has two important components that should be designed to work together, the Wi-Fi antenna and a dish-like surface to catch the signals.

Once the project is done, you’ll still have to set the catcher so that it captures the signals efficiently. You can do this by making small increments to the height and angle of the dish. The best setting will have the strongest signal.

5. Dual Band Wi-Fi Repeater

If you’re concerned that your home internet isn’t covering all the rooms, there may be a DIY solution to your problem.

During the setup process for this DIY wireless repeater, you’ll have to decide whether you want a long-range receiver for 5GHz or 2.4GHz. This choice will depend on your connection and the devices you’ve plugged in.

6. Wi-Fi Scanner Made Using ESP8266

The ability to scan and analyze your Wi-Fi speed is crucial if you plan to use the internet for a major streaming or downloading session. For example, you want to know whether your web speeds are enough for Zoom or Skype calls before you start a virtual meeting.

A DIY Wi-Fi analyzer will help you in this regard since all that’s required of you is to invest a few hours of your time. You can use any ESP8266 board you already have lying around for the signal detection coupled with a suitable android app for the visualization.

7. Long Range Wi-Fi MSP/PPM

If you have a Wi-Fi MSP or PPM, you may have noticed that the range is somewhat short compared with other devices. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this problem in the DIY space. To successfully complete this long range Wi-Fi MSP/PPM project, you’ll have to invest in an ESP8266 module.

You’ll also need to use a PC to program the setup in Arduino IDE. One key benefit of this hack is that it doesn’t rely on an external antenna.

8. Ultra-Long Range Wi-Fi Router

You don’t have to be stuck with a router that doesn’t have the necessary range to cover your entire house or apartment. Setting up an ultra-long range WiFi router is relatively easy if you have the right materials and tools. You’ll only need a microcontroller, high power antenna, and a Wi-Fi adapter.

This hack is an excellent money saver if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars shopping for a Wi-Fi booster or extender. You can use it to turn your entire home compound into a Wi-Fi zone.

9. From Scrap to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Antenna

Scrap metal doesn’t end up in landfill. You can transform old scrap metals into a functional 2.4GHz Wi-Fi antenna with this DIY project.

The final product will boost your Wi-Fi speeds and connection stability allowing you to fully enjoy the bandwidth your ISP allocates to your account.

10. DIY 1KM Wi-Fi Antenna

Most home and office Wi-Fi connections have a relatively short range. As a result, you end up being restricted in what you can do with the signal outside a small radius around the router. But not with this amazing project, which requires just a Wi-Fi dongle, a mesh wire spoon, and a baby bottle.

Once you’re done, you’ll enjoy your Wi-Fi connection up to a distance of one kilometer. This is perfect if you live a few blocks from your office block but would still like to use the connection from home. Another possible use case is that of a rural setting, or a town where a neighborhood can share an internet connection.

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Homemade Wifi Antenna

You don’t need to hire an engineer to setup a homemade wifi antenna. With the right equipment, it will only take about an hour at most to finish the job.

Required Tools and Materials

Duct tape
Bowl (must be made of aluminum)
Soldering tools
Wifi antenna
Drill (optional)
Wifi antenna node

Instructions

First decide on what antenna to use. The directional ones are good for great distances. However their deflection angles have limitations. The width cannot go beyond 30 degrees. What this means is that it’s good for long distance but poor for local transmission. If you want local transmission, use an omnidirectional antenna.

After you have decided what antenna to use, take off the handle from the pan’s cover. Use the hole to pass the homemade wifi antenna’s cable. If there isn’t, make one in the middle. Use a drill to make the hole.

Set the wifi node in the middle of the lid. This setup will force the emanating wave to focus in one direction. There are also other reflectors you can use. Metallic pipes or cans will do just fine. Usually, the parabolic dish has a wider angle so it’s better to use.

Testing the Receiver

Set the wifi dish at the receiver. Give the signal a try. Under certain conditions, the signal can go as far as ten miles. Using a reflector will generate a stronger signal for the homemade wifi antenna.

The bowl you use will make a big difference. The bigger and shinier it is, the stronger the signal will be. Depending on the setup, you’ll need a wifi adapter. You’ll need a USB chord for this setup to work with your desktop PC.

Put some duct tape on the wifi adapter so it remains steady in the bowl. Use the duct tape and stick the bowl where the signal is strongest.

If you’ll be using long distance and local access, have both antenna types ready. You can’t use them at the same time. But creating both of them is a good idea so you can switch easily
between the two.

Consult the manual when setting up the antenna. In most cases the wifi’s standard antenna is called the node. Don’t be confused by these terms. Be patient when setting up your homemade wifi antenna. It’s normal for the signal to fluctuate at times.

Look for strategic places to set the bowl up. Some of the most reliable wifi sources are near libraries, colleges and business offices.

If you’re going to put the bowl near the window, you can put a curtain over it. This should render the object inconspicuous. Make sure the bowl is securely fastened to the spot so it doesn’t fall off. Don’t stand in front of the bowl when you’re utilizing it.

Be careful when using extension chords. Take all necessary precautions to protect yourself. Do not touch the extension chords if your hands are wet.

Making your homemade wifi antenna only takes a few minutes. The stuff needed is so very basic. If you find your Internet connection a little weak, try this out. It might give your Web surfing a boost.

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