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WiFi range expander on wireless repeater Linksys WRE54G

by kot_as_kot on December 28, 2006

Table of Contents

WiFi range expander on wireless repeater Linksys WRE54G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: WiFi range expander on wireless repeater Linksys WRE54G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Solution idea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Materials & instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Realization. Part 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 5: Realization. Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 6: Realization. Step 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
Intro: WiFi range expander on wireless repeater Linksys WRE54G
Problem definition

Sometimes the existent operation range isn’t enough, or if there are obstacles on the route between the device and the router the distance of operation can be
dramatically decreased. In this case You need to increase the sensitivity of the repeater respectively increase the radiation power.

Increasing of the radiation power on the device side isn’t legal and might be a subject only for the qualified electrical engineers. So the normal practice is to redistribute
power in the volume. Thus many WiFi devices have an option to exchange their antennas. Than you can replace the original omni-directional antenna by a directional
antenna. The power and sensitivity can be increased in a desired direction. The antenna of Linksys 802.11G RANGE EXTENDER - WRE54G can not be replaced for
now.

Image Notes
1. The device is a WiFi repeater and expands the range of any wireless 802.11G or 802.11b router itself.

Step 1: Solution idea

This paper suggests a noninvasive method to extend the operation range in order to connect to a remote access point or client. The method is an approach to form the
omni-directional radiated signal into a beam signal. This causes a reduced range/power in other directions.

Image Notes
1. The method is an approach to form the omni-directional radiated signal into a beam signal.

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
Step 2: Materials & instruments
1. kitchen aluminum foil
2. hard paper
3. invisible post tape
4. scissors
5. a bottle
6. a kitchen cloth
7. a ruler

Step 3: Theory
You need to increase both incoming and outgoing signal strength on the antenna.

Use an idea of circular waveguide antenna described http://flakey.info/antenna/waveguide/ to shape outgoing signal. The overall signal in the desired direction will
be “amplified” by this means up to 8 times = ca. 9 dBi
Use an idea of a parabolic antenna to collect incoming signal power. The overall signal in the desired direction will be “amplified” by this means up to 5 times =
ca. 7 dBi

The antenna of the Linksys device will be virtually divided in two parts for incoming and outgoing part. So the total signal power will actually be reduced twice. The overall
gain will be respectively up to 4/2 times of signal strength = 6/3 dBi. Additionally you will become a better signal/noise ratio in a noisy WiFi area because of construction.
You “filter” noise from undesired directions. It is practically equal to increasing gain up to 3 dBi. It is the case if a lot of locked access points are around. After all that
means you could increase the distance to your access point or user up to 2 times.

Image Notes
1. situation if transmitting power and sensitivity of antenna are incresed. Not possible since an invasion into the device is not suggested.
2. the normal solution you could use if the antenna can be replaced. We want to create this situation without exchanging antenna.
3. the situation you want to solve by this instruction

Step 4: Realization. Part 1

1. Take a bottle and roll a kitchen cloth over it up to diameter 3.3 in (84 mm).
2. Roll over the cloth the aluminum foil. Do a couple of turn over. The more – the better, because of harder final shell.
3. Stick tape over the foil to fix the construction
4. pull out the bottle
5. stick the tape inside the aluminum tube to fix the construction
6. Make an aluminum cover for the tube
7. measure the inside diameter on the both side of the tube.
8. calculate an average value of it
9. find the value D in the table: http://flakey.info/antenna/waveguide/
10. find the appropriate value ¼ Lg
11. Drill a hole in the tube with this distance from the cover side
12. find the appropriate value ¼ Lo
13. mark on the Linksis antenna the distance ¼ Lo + 0.2 in ( + 5 mm)
14. fix a aluminum strip on this mark as shown on the picture

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
Step 5: Realization. Part 2
15. Cut of an appropriate size paper
16. Roll aluminum foil over the paper
17. Fix foil with the tape
18. Isolate edges by means of the tape

Step 6: Realization. Step 3

19. Shape the paper into a parabolic kind surface. Use bottle to roll paper over and
20. transform form homogenously
21. Make more foil on paper to shield noise from undesired directions
22. Assemble construction and set up in the right direction

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
Related Instructables

Bi-Quad WiFi
"Poorman's WiFi Directional The Conetenna - My version of a
Antenna by antenna fix, a wi-fi antenna cheap back yard
WiFi"- USB My
TheGoodLife adapters & DIY WiFi Signal from Aluminium by Shadetree wi-fi internet
cookware Booster Wok can. by Lftndbt Engineer dish by Dcrap
reflectors! by Antenna w/
manuka Directional
Antenna from
LinkSys
(Photos) by
liquidCo0L

Comments
25 comments Add Comment

chrishangsout says: Sep 10, 2010. 12:20 PM REPLY

I use a Linksys WRE54G repeater mounted on an old Dish Network satilite dish. (Modified with a 15 dbi antenna) I cut off the Dish Network electronics and
simply taped the repeater onto the steel arm. This is very directional and once setup it must be locked down. I then connected a Linksys WRT54G access
piont with an omni-directional antenna to the repeater via network cable. The access point re-transmitts the repeaters signal on a new SSID on a different
channel. I am currently connected to an unsecure network that is over 4 miles across a lake and forest preserve. I have a full 54Mbs connection. Internet
upload speed is 1.38 Mbs and download speed is 5.12 Mbs. I have my access point setup with my own SSID and WEP security. Totally free internet. I've
been doing this for over 5 years without any problems. The network is mapped like this... Targeted unprotected wireless access point >>>> Linksys repeater
mounted onto the satilite dish pointed at the unprotected network >>>> Repeater connected to the Linksys access point via network cable> >>> Signal is re-
broadcasted througt the Linksys access point using my own security settings.

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
 The Ideanator says: Oct 11, 2010. 6:26 PM REPLY
Make an instructable on how to do that, I'm very interested.

chrishangsout says: Sep 10, 2010. 8:46 PM REPLY

To give a better idea on the connection. Rather simple. The only difficulty you may have is programming your routers.

estefan2020 says: Oct 4, 2009. 6:29 PM REPLY

why not go to e-bay and search for a RP-SMA 2.4GHz 12dbi- 18dBi Wireless WLAN Antenna Aerial and just replace it with a 15inch antenna.

decades says: Jan 17, 2009. 11:19 AM REPLY

The FCC power limitation (broadcast power) is the output times the antenna gain so changing the antenna gain actually changes it's transmitted power.
However as a certified WIFI engineer I can tell you that your broadcast power limit is 400mw in the U.S. and some manufacturers like Cisco ship their higher
end transmitters at 100 mw not counting the type of antenna gain. Home stuff is 35 mw usually. So the statement of changing power is dead wrong, but of
course there are rules as stated.

Blackice504 says: Sep 25, 2009. 5:32 AM REPLY

Hi i have linksys ( cisco home brand ) AP at home it has Strange connectors on the Wifi Antennea they look like a hybrid of a TNC connector but instead
of been normal its male pin is on the female outer casing and female connector on the male outer casing anyway i was hoping if someone known how do
i get a convertor to normal SMA or something usable i have nice wifi Antennea that is very big that i would like to use on one of the Linksys WAP54G PS
anyone intrested in the Linksys or Cisco Range i would have to say they are the best for networking in Wifi anything else is just cheap imertation of real
network hardware. my Linksys has a good range on it now but as all computer people i want perfect Range for Wifi.

decades says: Sep 29, 2009. 5:23 AM REPLY

Sorry that I can't envision the connector you describe, but if you are comfortable with a soldering Iron you could solder in a standard connection and
drill out the case. Be very careful when soldering the pins a "cold" solder joint is really bad in the RF world.

kot_as_kot says: Feb 3, 2009. 2:53 PM REPLY

thanks for clarification. I'm not quite sure what statement do you mean. The whole point of tweaking wireless equipment is tweaking signal power at the
receiving end. This is if you are transmitting signals, you want to increase power (power density) of the signals arriving at the receiving point. If you at the
receiving side, you want to harvest the signal energy speaded by the transmitter all around. (The higher power passes sensitivity threshold as well as
increases SNR.) In this sense, one does change power of the arriving signal. The initial radiated power - as you mentioned - stays the same. The
distribution of the energy in space changes if you tweak transmitter. And the collected in space energy changes if you tweak receiver. All exercises with
gains are simple lenses (coefficients) helping to generalize what is happening at the power level.

decades says: Sep 29, 2009. 5:46 AM REPLY

It occurred to me that if you are interested you should look into how antenna prorogation works. it does not just dump energy. there are several styles
of antennas and they act like the reflector behind the bulb on a flashlight focusing prorogation. That is the part you didn't get and the transmittor and
receiver will benefit from the proper antenna. If you put a Yagi antenna on your receiver it will be harder to aim, but will receive at a much higher
level. If you put it on the transmitter it will go a long distance, but only cover a small area.

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
 thefallen says: Aug 19, 2009. 6:33 PM REPLY
can someone send me a list of stuff i need for cantenna.i just got internet and have sucky wifi out in the boondocks.blaster_4_2008@yahoo.com.thx.btw this
is awesome site

Spajky [-Spikey] says: Oct 31, 2008. 4:46 AM REPLY

just genious idea combining one way top "cantenna" & slotted reflector also for the other/client side signal receiving :-) ...

Body4Change.com says: Mar 19, 2008. 6:33 PM REPLY

I've been reading a LOT of this WiFi stuff here on our extraordinary Instructables.com and was wondering if anyone has tested the strainer method against
the coffee can or pringles method and also against using an old directv satellite and such. Which one would give me the best reception? I'm guessing the
satellite dish but I am new to this. TIA!

kenneyd says: Jun 3, 2008. 10:14 PM REPLY

i tried the coke can against the strainer method, and the coke can got the strainer beat. Used the strainer about 6 months, now i use the can.

kot_as_kot says: Mar 20, 2008. 5:00 PM REPLY

Never been interested in big science on the subject. In many cases it is pointles. There are several different ways to consider a solution: 1)needs, 2)
expences, 3) quality. Sometime your ceativity is restricted by what you have both in price and technical prerequisites. So you might want to match you
solution with your situation. available hardware, wireless background noise, distance, signal, application all this is important for a decision. If you are
doing something from scratch price will be important. Again the selection of a solution depends on your addiction to coffee or chips. Since the supplies
could by just a byproduct, i.e. for free. etc. etc. Technically speaking, there are two approaches here. For profies and newbies. Using a dish is more
reliable and easy-to-setup solution. This solution is tolerant to frequency changes and setting up a focus point. Though it is less noise protected one. Any
can solution produce more directed and narrow beam. It is more difficult to set up correctly. Sometimes it is even impossible without proper skills.
Though, can can deliver.

jonathan95123 says: May 31, 2008. 11:10 PM REPLY

i like the idea, but i found that a can fits perfectly over the antenna. im using one of those fairly large size cans of baked beans.

killumbia says: Feb 13, 2008. 8:00 AM REPLY

I have seen a lot of different ways to do this, had a buddy that went ahead and just hooked a longer wire to his wifi adapter which of course means opening it
but hey why buy it if you cant personalize it. He also hooked the longer wire to a fan, which in some way was the kicker to connecting at longer, (maybe 10
feet or so) distance. Personally i had a one of the expanders just like the one in the pic above and it worked great.

baronvonbadguy says: Jun 10, 2007. 10:17 AM REPLY

Try google-ing a coffee can antenna. It turns any columbia tin coffee can into a one direction antenna. (Forgot the word for it :P)

Tracy says: Nov 14, 2007. 6:42 PM REPLY

Cantenna. Which, BTW, is a word which was stolen from ham radio. Since the 1950s a cantenna has been the name of a 50 ohm dummy load built into
a paint can full of transformer oil.

ColumbusGEEK says: Dec 29, 2006. 1:04 PM REPLY

I put a metal noodle strainer on my head to suck in all the WiFi when I use my laptop.

dcshoeco33 says: Dec 28, 2006. 11:00 AM REPLY

i dont think that i would want all of that foil. i would maybe do that if i could hide itsomewhere

kot_as_kot says: Dec 29, 2006. 2:32 AM REPLY

I wouldn't think I'll do it too :)) But if you need...

LasVegas says: Dec 28, 2006. 4:21 PM REPLY

I'd have to say that was the first instructable I've seen that used absolutely none of the Instructable sites tools for arranging the text and pictures into a
usable and readable format. Instead everything's just thrown into the Intro page and the heck with it.

kot_as_kot says: Dec 29, 2006. 2:27 AM REPLY

Thanks for advice. The site is real funny but first need to train an unspoiled mind. And the main thing is that it works and helps. I've found the site by
searching a solution. Suppose most of reader do the same.

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/
 trebuchet03 says: Dec 28, 2006. 10:58 PM REPLY
This paper suggests a noninvasive...

http://static2.instructables.com/pub/FSE/UI1Z/FSEUI1Z4MEEVYDXYXX.medium.jpg

I'm going out a limb here.... but that would be quite invasive and therefore would not last long here :P

PetervG says: Dec 28, 2006. 12:24 PM REPLY

You've made it into an armored tank, itl take out the aliens!

http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-range-expander-on-wireless-repeater-Linksys-W/