REQ: Science Fair Cantenna

My son and I are discussing making a cantenna or an omni-directional
antenna as his science fair project. I don't think making the antenna
itself will be hard. What I would like advice on is the best router to
hook it to.

Here's what I am looking for:

* Cheap, because if we ruin it I don't want to be out a bunch of money.

* External antenna connector. I would really prefer to not open it up and
soldier in the antenna, because my son is supposed to do the work. He's 12
and I am not sure teachers will believe he can crack it open and splice in
an antenna.

I am not opposed to a PC Card instead of a router, but a router would be
more useful at home if it really does work out.

I saw a router at MEI Microcenter on sale for $30 less rebates, so I know
something cheap is out there. What do you recommend?

Dave

(E-Mail Removed)

Dave wrote:
> My son and I are discussing making a cantenna or an omni-directional
> antenna as his science fair project. I don't think making the antenna
> itself will be hard. What I would like advice on is the best router to
> hook it to.
>
> Here's what I am looking for:
>
> * Cheap, because if we ruin it I don't want to be out a bunch of money.
>
> * External antenna connector. I would really prefer to not open it up and
> soldier in the antenna, because my son is supposed to do the work. He's 12
> and I am not sure teachers will believe he can crack it open and splice in
> an antenna.
>
> I am not opposed to a PC Card instead of a router, but a router would be
> more useful at home if it really does work out.
>
> I saw a router at MEI Microcenter on sale for $30 less rebates, so I know
> something cheap is out there. What do you recommend?
>
> Dave
>
> (E-Mail Removed)

Get yourself some cardboard and aluminum foil. Fold it into a corner
reflector that you can wrap around the existing antenna of a usb 802.11b
device. You can use a router, but it's more expensive and you'll need
a network interface.
There are websites with information on how to do this.
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):

>> My son and I are discussing making a cantenna or an omni-directional
>> antenna as his science fair project. I don't think making the
>> antenna itself will be hard. What I would like advice on is the best
>> router to hook it to.
>
> Get yourself some cardboard and aluminum foil. Fold it into a corner
> reflector that you can wrap around the existing antenna of a usb
> 802.11b device. You can use a router, but it's more expensive and
> you'll need a network interface.
> There are websites with information on how to do this.
> mike
>

Thanks for the suggestion, but aren't USB devices more espensive than the
cheapest router? I've never seen one for $30, but I have seen routers at
that price point. On the other hand, a USB device would be handy for that
TiVo I am getting the family for Christmas or for XBox Live. Hmmmmm.

I'll check it out, because maybe the tin foil will work with my existing
router (D-LINK DI-624).

Dave

Dave wrote:
> mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
>
>>>My son and I are discussing making a cantenna or an omni-directional
>>>antenna as his science fair project. I don't think making the
>>>antenna itself will be hard. What I would like advice on is the best
>>>router to hook it to.
>>
>>Get yourself some cardboard and aluminum foil. Fold it into a corner
>>reflector that you can wrap around the existing antenna of a usb
>>802.11b device. You can use a router, but it's more expensive and
>>you'll need a network interface.
>>There are websites with information on how to do this.
>>mike
>>
>
>
> Thanks for the suggestion, but aren't USB devices more espensive than the
> cheapest router? I've never seen one for $30, but I have seen routers at
> that price point. On the other hand, a USB device would be handy for that
> TiVo I am getting the family for Christmas or for XBox Live. Hmmmmm.
>
> I'll check it out, because maybe the tin foil will work with my existing
> router (D-LINK DI-624).
>
> Dave

The last two 802.11b I bought, cardbus and usb were each free after
rebate. I think the Gigafast rebates are still on, but you'll have to
search for them at a rebate price. The USB boxes with the cable and
rabbit ear antennas are more amenable to adding a reflector.
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):


>> Thanks for the suggestion, but aren't USB devices more espensive than
>> the cheapest router? I've never seen one for $30, but I have seen
>> routers at that price point. On the other hand, a USB device would
>> be handy for that TiVo I am getting the family for Christmas or for
>> XBox Live. Hmmmmm.
>>
>> I'll check it out, because maybe the tin foil will work with my
>> existing router (D-LINK DI-624).
>>
>> Dave
>
> The last two 802.11b I bought, cardbus and usb were each free after
> rebate. I think the Gigafast rebates are still on, but you'll have to
> search for them at a rebate price. The USB boxes with the cable and
> rabbit ear antennas are more amenable to adding a reflector.
> mike
>

It all boils down to knowing what you want, and keeping your eyes open.
I'm in the "getting to know what I want" phase. I'll check out the tin-
foil thing and talk it over with my son.

I also thought a pringles can yagi might be good. I could point it at the
soccer field where I watch my son for hours. It is only 1.5 miles by the
crows flight.

Dave

mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):

>
> Get yourself some cardboard and aluminum foil. Fold it into a corner
> reflector that you can wrap around the existing antenna of a usb
> 802.11b device. You can use a router, but it's more expensive and
> you'll need a network interface.
> There are websites with information on how to do this.
> mike
>

After a little research, I built a parabolic antenna using a Diet Coke
carton (stiff paper) and aluminum foil. The basis was:

http://osiris.urbanna.net/antenna_de...ects/template/

My digital camera is in the truck, or I'd attach a pic (or point to one).
Anyways, the signal increase was pretty neglible. Especially compared to
turning the laptop so that the screen isn't between the PCMCIA card and the
router. Netstumbler went from -50dBm to -45dBm with the parabolic antenna.
Turning the laptop sent it to -30dBm.

I'll definitely try again. Pretty interesting.

Dave

Dave wrote:
> mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
>
>>Get yourself some cardboard and aluminum foil. Fold it into a corner
>>reflector that you can wrap around the existing antenna of a usb
>>802.11b device. You can use a router, but it's more expensive and
>>you'll need a network interface.
>>There are websites with information on how to do this.
>>mike
>>
>
>
> After a little research, I built a parabolic antenna using a Diet Coke
> carton (stiff paper) and aluminum foil. The basis was:
>
> http://osiris.urbanna.net/antenna_de...ects/template/
>
> My digital camera is in the truck, or I'd attach a pic (or point to one).
> Anyways, the signal increase was pretty neglible. Especially compared to
> turning the laptop so that the screen isn't between the PCMCIA card and the
> router. Netstumbler went from -50dBm to -45dBm with the parabolic antenna.
> Turning the laptop sent it to -30dBm.
>
> I'll definitely try again. Pretty interesting.
>
> Dave

Now wait a minute Dave...Who's project was this again???
Good luck with YOUR science fair entry....;-)
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Dave wrote:
>> I'll definitely try again. Pretty interesting.
>>
>
> Now wait a minute Dave...Who's project was this again???
> Good luck with YOUR science fair entry....;-)
> mike

He he he! Yeah, I'm pretty enthusiastic. My son will do the cantenna or
omni-directional, but a 5 minute attempt is easy enough for me.

Besides, doing the experiment is the easy part. Writing the report and
making the display is the real work.

My daughter is thinking about wardriving and mapping the networks around
the school. She's 10! I'll do the driving, and she'll operate the GPS and
laptop.

Dave

PS: I'm still looking for a cheap router I can hook an antenna to.