A: You´ve probably heard of the Wi-Fi antennas made from old Pringles cans, but those are tricky to build and often require special connectors and soldering. A much easier option is a parabolic reflector antenna. You can whip one together using an old shoe box, tape and some aluminum foil in about 30 minutes, and it will double or triple the range (in a single direction) of just about any wireless access point with an external stick antenna.

ASK A GEEK: Scott Fullam




Q: Can I hack a standard flashlight to use LEDs, making it brighter and longer-lasting?


--Jacob Miller, San Diego, Calif.




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