DIY Wi-Fi antenna from CD packaging

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

So, the first problem you face is poor signal strength. And anything can be the reason for this! Trees, buildings, distance from one point to another. The only way out in this case is to amplify the signal, for example, with an external antenna.

We offer a design of a simple, inexpensive and reliable antenna, which can be made practically from the ground!

The antenna gain is about 8 dB (the received signal becomes about 10 times more powerful). This is exactly the same as most commercial antennas used for the same purposes give out. The main requirement is that the distance from the resonator in the form of "copper glasses" to the reflective layer of the CD (reflector) should be 15 mm. But first things first…

Wi-Fi antenna from the CD package connected to the signal receiver

Step 1. Manufacturing the case

We take the usual packaging for 25 CDs

Cut off the central axis at a distance of 18 mm

With a round file we make slots for attaching the resonator

It should look something like this

Step 2. Making a resonator

The resonator can be made from a piece of copper wire about 25 cm long and 2.5 … 4 mm in diameter. In our example, we used a wire with a diameter of 2.5 mm.

If the wire is insulated, it must be removed

The wire must be bent in the form of square "glasses" so that the distance between the central axes of the opposite sides of each square is 30 … 31 mm

We bend, strictly maintaining the size

We continue to gently bend the wire

We got such "glasses". Check the dimensions again

Solder the ends of the wire and tin the place of the future fixing of the coaxial cable

Solder the cable

Step 3. Mounting the resonator

Trying on a resonator. The distance to the base at all points must be 16 mm

With two drops of glue, glue the CD with the working side up

We push the cable into the hole of the holder and fix the resonator with glue

The double square of the resonator will be held by glue

We fix the cable from the back side

Step 4. Connecting the antenna

We will show the connection using the example of a D-Link 900AP + Wireless Access Point (WAP).

Anyone who has experience and who is confident in himself can unsolder the original antenna and solder a new one. Those who are not sure of themselves can connect the antenna via the SMA connector.

It should be borne in mind that by "getting into" the device (just opening the case, and even more so, manipulating there with a soldering iron), you take on all responsibility for possible damage and its failure. You must be sure that you know where and how to connect the antenna.

We open the case of the device. Inside is a PCMCIA card with antenna

Carefully!!! Due to the high temperature of the soldering iron, thin conductors may come off the board

Ready. The antenna power, despite its seeming simplicity, will surprise you

Now you can receive Wi-Fi signal where it was out of the question before!

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