Got no dough for a commercial WiFi antenna? Looking for an inexpensive way to increase the range of your wireless network? A tin can waveguide antenna, or Cantenna, may be just the ticket. This design can be built for under $5 U.S. and reuses a food, juice, or other tin can.
Building your Cantenna is easy, just follow these steps.
- Collect the parts
- Drill or punch holes in your can to mount the probe
- Assemble the probe and mount in can
You'll need:
- A N-Female chassis mount connector.
- Four small nuts and bolts
- A bit of thick wire
- A can
The Connector
A N type Female Chassis-mount connector. One side is N-female for connecting
the cable from your wireless equipment, and the other side has a small brass
stub for soldering on wire. These can be found at electronics stores internet
suppliers (see the list below under "Connect your antenna..." If you
shop around, you should be able to find these for $3-$5.
Nuts & Bolts
You'll need them just long enough to go through the connector and the can. I've
used #6x1/4" stainless. If your N-connector is a screw on type, then you
won't need the nuts and bolts.
Wire
You'll need about 1.25" of 12 guage copper wire. This wire will stick into
the brass stub in the N-connector.
A Can
This is the fun part. You're looking for a can between about 3" and 3
2/3" in diameter. The size doesn't have to be exact. I made a good antenna
with a Nalley's "Big Chunk" Beef Stew can that was 3.87" in
diameter. Others have reported good results with big 39oz. coffee cans that are
6" in diameter. The pringles can is really too small for good performance,
however. Try to get as long a can as possible. The old fashioned fruit juice
cans should work well.
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
