How to build Cantenna

I had a wireless training some few weeks ago courtesy IICD and GINKS at Winneba. It wasn’t quiet an advanced stuff as I expected, it seems to be for beginners and on the beginners level I must say it was quiet intensive just that organization and planning of the workshop was quiet poor.

Last day of the training, we were giving loads of slides and software on wireless networking. I have been reading through most of them and I came across a slide on how to build a Cantenna and would like to share. This is something we had a hands on training so I have quiet a little experience on how to build it. This may help those of us who can’t afford all these fat prices antennas, we just have to kill time and we can build our selves a home made antenna. Wouldn’t you be proud if you build an antenna of you own. Oh yes I know you will be proud.

I know you’re yearning to see the details right? There it goes.

To build a Cantenna, the tools needed are

• Marker
• Can opener
• Ruler
• Hammer
• 1 4d 1- 1/2″ nail
• Drill
• 1/2″ and 1/8″ metal bits
• Soldering iron
• Rosin core solder
• Wire cutters/strippers

Supplies

• 1 Can
• 1 Wireless adapter with external jack
• 1 Pigtail ( N-type male to your style jack )
• 4 #4-40 Hex Nuts
• 4 #4-40 Pan head slotted screws
• 1 2″ 12 gauge solid copper wire
• 1 4 hole flange mount N-type female connector

Preparing the Can

• Use the can opener to open the can
• empty out contents
• clean,clean till its well and dry cleaned

Drilling the holes

• Calculate center point for antenna using your diameter and length ( http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna2calc.php )
• Mark center point with marker
• Start the hole using a nail at the point
• Use 1/2″ bit to drill the final hole
• Insert the N-Type female connector into the hole and mark the four mounting holes
• Use the nail to start your four mounting hles
• Use the 1/8″ bit to complete the mounting holes
• Insert the female connector again and screws to make sure everything is aligned properly
• Remove the connector to prepare for building the antenna

The out come should be like this

Building the antennae

• Strip a 3 inch piece of wire
• Solder wire to brass fitting on N-Type female connector
• Cut wire exact length ( including brass cup )
• Insert antenna unit back into can with flange on the outside
• Fasten with screws
• Connect to computer and Test

Final look

Finished Product

With what we have, you can extend it to improve the signal collection and that would look something like this

This how to was taking from the slides prepared by Dr. Tauritz and Jason Trent with slight modification from me

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