5-Minute Project Video: Parabolic Cookware Wi-Fi Antenna

Extend your range with some old-fashioned cookware

By John Mahoney Posted 10.12.2007 at 3:18 pm 2 Comments

Here we have yours truly demonstrating a quick and easy way to greatly enhance your computer's ability to detect and connect to Wi-Fi networks both near and far with a piece of Asian parabolic cookware. Yes, the steamer basket we used is perhaps not the most Asian member of the parabolic cookware family, but this project is most famously done using a wok or deep-fry strainer, and the term stuck. Basically anything parabola-shaped and made of metal soft enough to puncture will work to some extent—experimentation will determine which yields the best pickup.

And if you want to get really precise, you can plot the focal point of your improvised antenna and position the Wi-Fi USB stick there for greater reception. Much more info can be found here.

As always, our 5 Minute Projects are available in video podcast form—. And see the whole series at popsci.com/5minutes.

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2 Comments

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Ratchet29

from gloucester, va

09/08/08 at 9:24 pm

I made one of these while on a 6 month deployment. the range and signal strength was fantastic. it does take some working with to fine tune. the only bad thing is line of sight has to be decent, i.e. not alot of trees or structures in the way.

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Maxwellz2

from Charlotte, North Carolina

12/17/08 at 7:07 pm

Very good and very efficient. It also helps with sangging that annoying neighbors free wifi but you normaly dont have enough range to get to it. Now i dont have to worry if his internet conection will be strong enough.

Use it!!!