Sweet God for only a Nickel!

[Scottler]

So I was watching The Screensavers on TechTV last night and, being "Mod Week", they were showing some modifications that you, too, can do.

The one that caught my eye was how to build an antenna for your wi-fi network for about four cents.

Not HAVING a wi-fi network, but wanting to build this sucker, I began trying to think of a practical application I could build this thing for.

Then it hit me.  I've got a police/fire/ems/air scanner, and it's got the standard telescoping antenna attached.  It gets decent reception, but nothing spectacular.

So I built the antenna (http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html) and mounted it atop the one I had on the scanner.

Sweet God.  I don't have my scanner on that often, and to be honest 99% of the time I wonder why I bought the damn thing....but holy crap.  I'm picking up stuff three times as far as before, and it's as clear as if I were sitting next to them!

If you need an antenna for anything, try this!

[flyboy 28]

Neat...

[Politically Incorrect]

Does the template dwonload have more instructions?
I'm having a hard time seeing how this thing attaches, and how big does it need to be??

[Scottler]

You can make it any size you want.  Just make sure that if you resize it at all, you resize both pieces the same.

After that, just cut it out and stick the tabs in the slots.  As for attaching it to the antenna of whatever it is you're hooking it to, on the part that says "Windsurfer" there are two holes.  Punch those out and stick your antenna through there.

I promise, it works.  lol  I was listening to a medflight chopper from another state earlier.  

[Politically Incorrect]

Have you tried it with regular radios, or a TV yet?
I think I'll give it a try this afternoon, you know for Sh*ts and giggles!
Maybe I'll mass produce them and sell them to cell phone users, LOL!!

[bm_727]

how do I download the template?

[Scottler]

I haven't tried it on anything else.  I'm considering trying it on a radio, and as for a television, no...I've got digital cable so I really don't have a need for it.  (Though I would be curious to see the results!)

BM...to download the template, click http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/te ... index.html

Right click the two template images (not the graph looking ones) and then print them out.  

I'm considering trying to make a monster antenna just to see the result.

So this afternoon I'll need someone in Egypt to use a CB radio.  Not stopping til I pick that up.  lol

[KnightStryker]

portable radio --> $100.00 US   Reception: I don't even pick up static

Fancy antenna--> $20.00 US  Reception: stations in town 36 miles away.

Paper and foil antenna --> Free (I didn't buy any of the materials used to make it  ;D)  Reception: stations from three states away. I would have paid  alot for this thing.

Now if someone can make one that would stay on my car antenna that would be PRICELESS!

Kevin

[Scottler]

That's it.  Now I've gotta make a big one.

Standby for results.

[KnightStryker]

As an afterthought the one for my radio is two feet wide, just to let you know.

[Scottler]

Well, the new one measures 20x8....let's see how it picks up....

[Politically Incorrect]

Just made one from a refridgerator carton, there is life on Mars!!!!!!  ;D

Seriously, what did you use to glue your tin foil on with?
I found that contact cement works great! Or even the spray (aerosol craft type) .
I live by the mountains so radio reception sucks even from the strong stations in Knoxville (30Mi) .
I made one about 5 inches long and stuck it on may radio antenna and now pick up stations in VA!!!!
Absolutly amazing! Now I will make a "normal" size one to see what happens! I'm also going to give it a try at work. I work in a metal building so radio reception is messed up by machinery and the fact I'm in a metal building. I'll let you know what happens.

[Scottler]

Actually, I don't have any glue or anything handy (I never need it lol) so I just taped it on.  But come to think of it, I may have some model cement lying around...nah..this will work fine.  

So I just used some scotch tape and voila.  The only problem now is that it's so heavy that it's knocking the antenna over.  lol

[bm_727]

Hey Hyp-

I can't figure out which part to glue the aluminum foil onto  The big square part?

[Scottler]

Yep....the part that says "Windsurfer" is round, and that will be the center support.

The backplate is what should be foiled, to reflect the signal to the center where the antenna picks it up.