How to Get the Most Out of Your Wireless Internet

Does your wireless connection drop when you move from your modem? Most routers, even the bleeding-edge ones, can't send a signal more than a few hundred feet. The antennas that follow will expand your signal to the end of the street. In fact, you can drive miles and the connection will stay intact. Best of all, they're extremely affordable and simple to make.

Cantennas were some of the earliest cheap, DIY antennas on the Internet. Cantennas, as you might not realize, are antennas made from cans. Pringles cans are very popular items to use as bases for these antennas, but aren't necessarily the best. The best products are metal cans with large diameters, like ones that hold hearty servings of fruit or stew. The first notable cantenna design on the internet can be accessed here. Surprisingly, it's not a Pringles can. By searching for "cantenna" on the Internet you can find some newer, better ones.

The "Poorman's Wifi" is from the second generation of do-it-yourself antennas. These are commonly constructed using traditional Asian cookery like parabolic cookers or dumpling steamers. Their similarities to the region and style of cooking has gained it a shorthand label, a Wok-fi. These often work better than cantennas, because they are shaped like miniature satellites. Most of these generate a signal from miles away.

If you have advanced technical knowhow, you can try your hand at a robot Wi-fi optimizer. These require you to have a robot, or the money to buy one. A hacker was able to turn an iRobot Create, a popular hobbyist robot, into a device that searches for the best wifi signal in a given area. That is, you can let it loose inside your house and it will travel around until it finds the strongest wifi connection. From there, you can setup whatever Wi-fi enabled device you have at that location and enjoy the robot-helped Internet. Imagine if you could have the device vacuum at the same time! Don't forget to thank the little guy after this task.

If saving money is the most important criteria for you, than the paper Wifi antenna is probably what you are looking for. All you have to do is print out the template at the site and construct it using aluminum foil, scissors and glue. Obviously, this design isn't that strong and won't get you the connection of your dreams, but you might be surprised. After all, it's an antenna made from paper!

Sources:

Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router Review by CNET: reviews.cnet.com/routers/belkin-wireless-pre-n/4505-3319_7-30993672.html
Homebrew Antenna Shootout: www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html
Poorman's Wifi: instructables.com/id/%22Poorman's-WiFi%22--USB-adapters-%26-DIY-cookware-refl/?ALLSTEPS
Instructables Wifi Group: http://www.instructables.com/group/wifi/