Tools to Make a Cantenna

I made my first Cantenna the other day using a 4 " diameter by 6 "
length
tin food can.
The gain was not great but it did allow me to focus the signal without
moving the laptop around and it did allow me to narrow down where a
signal was coming from which was difficult with just the laptop.

I struggled a bit with the tools and had to improvise a lot.

What tools do you recommend ?

Is there a tool kit on ebay I can buy ?

sam1967 wrote:
> I made my first Cantenna the other day using a 4 " diameter by 6 "
> length
> tin food can.
> The gain was not great but it did allow me to focus the signal without
> moving the laptop around and it did allow me to narrow down where a
> signal was coming from which was difficult with just the laptop.
>
> I struggled a bit with the tools and had to improvise a lot.
>
> What tools do you recommend ?
>
> Is there a tool kit on ebay I can buy ?
>
For my tin cantenna, I needed only a pair of pliers and a drill. Pretty
straightforward.

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/...Adapter%20.htm

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/...-cantenna2.htm

Bob

do you have a photograph of the inside of the cantenna ?
where does the USB adapator sit ?

sam1967 wrote:
> do you have a photograph of the inside of the cantenna ?
> where does the USB adapator sit ?
>
Sorry no photo of the inside of the can. Read the article carefully.
The USB wi-fi adapter sticks into the can thru the drilled hole on the
side. YOu calculate the distance of the hold from the end/bottom of the
can. Then just stick it straight in, leaving the USB connector on the
outside of the hole.

If you do some googling on "tin cantenna" USB
you should find more info.

Bob

sam1967 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> do you have a photograph of the inside of the cantenna ?
> where does the USB adapator sit ?

New Zealand uses mini-USBs in various parabolic reflectors.
http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

Bob Alston's coffee can
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/Computer.htm
Clarence Dold's coffee can
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/u...42-800x600.jpg
I used the turnpoint calculator to decide where to poke the hole.
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
David Taylor's standard USB cantenna
http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm


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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

> David Taylor's standard USB cantenna
> http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm

http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna3/cantenna3.htm

Actually!

David.

David

My main problem was getting the n connector fitted properly on the can,
I used the chassis mount connector and tried to solder it on but it
fell off and i resorted to taping it on using gaffer tape.

do you screw yours on ?

ps

i liked the plastic duct cover . i am trying to get hold of some now.

sam1967 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> My main problem was getting the n connector fitted properly on the can,
> I used the chassis mount connector and tried to solder it on but it
> fell off and i resorted to taping it on using gaffer tape.

I used a 140 watt soldering gun, rather than a pencil type soldering iron.
Once I get a corner tacked in place with the soldering gun, I can fill the
gaps with solder, or at least seal all the way arond, if not all the way
out to the points. I leave the N-connector oriented with two points
touching the can, adn two waving out in space.

I've read some about using screws. You need to have the srew heads on the
inside of the can, in order to avoid inserting little tuning stubs into the
RF cavity, and unless you pad the corners of the connector with washers,
you will probably deform the can, which I presume is not good.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

David Taylor <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> David Taylor's standard USB cantenna
>> http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm

But the rest of the site makes interesting reading.

> http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna3/cantenna3.htm

Someone can always "Click here to go straight to mark 3 of the antenna".

Nice to see you back.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

> My main problem was getting the n connector fitted properly on the can,
> I used the chassis mount connector and tried to solder it on but it
> fell off and i resorted to taping it on using gaffer tape.
>
> do you screw yours on ?

There's a couple you could use, one which is the panel mount with 4
screw holes, that's easy as is the panel mount one with the single big
nut so just drill a large hole and put the nut on the other side.

Not sure what type of connector you have?

David.