This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Cantenna is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
- A "cantenna" is also a brand name for a dummy load.
A cantenna is a directional waveguide antenna for long-range Wi-Fi used to increase the range of (or snoop on) a wireless network.
Contents |
Origin of the name
The term 'Cantenna' originally referred to a product sold by Heathkit Co. in Benton Harbor, MI, USA. It was a 50-ohm resistive load used by radio amateurs.1
Construction
Although the original design was based on a Pringles potato chip can, a cantenna can be made from various cans/bottles. These include antennas on both the ground and antennas heightened by means of a pole. 2
Example of a frequently used construction
A commonly used construction - which is quick, easy, and inexpensive due to use of readily obtained materials - is as follows:
- Four small nuts/bolts;
- A short length of medium-gauge wire;
- A tin can roughly 8 cm (3.66 inches) in diameter, such as a Pringles canister. The longer the better; and
- An N-Female chassis mount connector, available at many electronic supply stores.
Other constructions
The best cantennas are made using a can which has the right measurements. These measurements are in the range of
- 149.3mm length for a 84mm diameter can
- 128.2mm length for a 90mm diameter can
- 110mm length for a 100mm diameter can
- 101mm length for a 110mm diameter can 34
Additionally, the use of a pole or other method of elevation also increases the range tremendously and could be added to the can. Also, other antenna-designs using WiFi dongles may be created (notably omnidirectional, sectoral and yagi-antennas, quad-antennas and biquad-antennas 5 and waveguides and parabolic dishes. At present, the most potent antenna for its size is the waveguide. Several documents have been open-sourced to create the different antenna's diy, with one of the most popular (open-source) book now being the Wireless Hacks by Rob Flickenger 6 For extra references and pictures, the Instructables websites may be used. 7
Usage
While cantennas are useful for extending a wireless local area network (WLAN), the tiny design makes them ideal for mobile applications such as wardriving. The design of the cantenna is so simple that it is often the first antenna WiFi experimenters learn to build. Cantennas can even be used to increase cell phone range,8 improving reception and decreasing noise.
In popular culture
The webcomic xkcd references cantenna in the comic "Moving". A geek couple connect through a cantenna in an attempt to access the Internet after moving to a new apartment.
See also
- FON#La_Fontenna, a omnidirectional, cheap and high power antenna to distribute internet access around the world using a series of wireless LAN's
- WokFi antenna
- WarXing
External links
- Youtube video on How To Build A low loss Cantenna
- How To Build A Tin Can Waveguide Antenna
- Wlan antenna Waveguide type
- Antenna in a Pringles can
- Do-It-Yourself Wireless Antenna Update
- Cantenna Calculator
- Designs for 2.1GHz, 2.45GHz, 3.5GHz, and 5.8GHz cantennas
- Extending Your Wireless Range with a Cantenna
References
- ^ Hutchinson, Chuck. (May 1984). "Heathkit Cantenna, Model HN-31A". QST. p. 42.
- ^ Cantenna build on a pole (includes construction plans)
- ^ Optimal cantenna dimensions
- ^ Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design by Constantine A. Balanis
- ^ WLAN-Richtfunk mit Hausmitteln - Worauf es beim Selbstbau einer leistungsfähigen Richtantenne ankommt -Article describing the use use of Yagi, quad and biquad-antenna's with WiFi dongles)
- ^ Wireless Hacks book by Rob Flickenger (open-source version)
- ^ Instructables DIY Cantanna/antenna pictures
- ^ MAKE: Blog: Cell phone - Cantenna diagram and parts list
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 18 November 2008, at 16:01.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Cantenna".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.