How to make a Wi-Fi TV receiver and enhance wireless reception

Today, the Wi-Fi is considered one of the easiest and best ways of logging on to internet. It gives superior speed in terms of internet connectivity, and greater freedom to the user. To log on to the internet using Wi-Fi, all you need to do is to be near a Wi-Fi network. No need to sit glued to a desk as in the case of wired internet modems. With computing devices getting more and more portable, people are finding it necessary to have a wireless connectivity of Wi-Fi networks for using internet on their laptops, tabs and mobiles. And all that's needed to ensure this seamless Wi-Fi connectivity is a medium that can pick up and transmit the Wi-Fi signal. And surprisingly, something that's so useful can be easily made out of something as cheap and worthless as an old trash can. Yes, an old trash can. With just a little effort, it can be turned into a Wi-Fi Tv Receiver.

Wi-Fi Can

Let's see how that can be done:

Difficulty Level:

Moderately difficult.

Time Needed:

Well, it will take more than an hour. So if you are in a hurry, better wait till you are more at leisure. Too much haste may lead to total waste, you know.

Estimated Expenses:

About 35$.

Things Required:

1. An old can
2. A plastic pipe
3. A pair of scissors
4. Pliers
5. Soldering iron
6. A plastic bowl
7. Box cutter
8. Duct tape
9. Glue
10. Soldering wire
11. Drill machine
12. A piece of steel net
13. Vernier Caliper
14. A connector
15. Audio/Video receiver
16. Some wires and Coaxial cable

Follow the steps given below:

1. Take up the scissors and use them to cut off the top of the can. Also make a hole in the can's bottom.
2. Wash the can and dry it properly with a towel.
3. With the scissors, make a hole in the side of the can. The hole must be in the center of the side.
4. Fix a receiver at the can's base. Use the soldering wire to secure it at its place.
5. When the receiver is firmly fixed, connect the transistors and ants to it.
6. Now comes the time to add some wires. You have to connect a cable wire and three wires to the receiver.
7. Time to use the drilling machine and the plastic pipe. Make four holes in the plastic pipe using the drilling machine. To ensure accuracy, take careful measurements by using the Vernier Caliper.
8. Carefully roll the steel net. Next, you have to insert it into the plastic pipe.
9. Make sure that the steel net sits properly within the pipe. Now, put the can into the pipe too.
10. Pull the cable and wires out through the holes in the plastic pipe.
11. Now you must connect the cable with the center hole in the plastic pipe. Do it by using connector to the steel net that has been inserted into the pipe.
12. Attach another plug to the pipe, right in the middle of the holes. Use the glue to attach this plug securely.
13. Once the plug is secure, connect the wires to it.
14. Pick up the plastic bowl and remove or cut away its base.
15. Stick its cap to one side of the plastic pipe. Paste the base of the bowl to the other side of the pipe.

Some Tips to Remember:

1. There are many ways to enhance the strength of the Wi-Fi reception. Many of these ways involve collecting the microwave radio frequency (RF) signal and channeling it into a computer's WLAN card. However, this is not just a complicated procedure, but it also proves expensive as it needs costly coax cable and connectors. But our approach is USB based and it very easily puts the 'dongle' or the RF receiver right into the target spot in the dish. This does not just prove simpler, but less expensive too.
2. A baby's bottle that is made up of plastic and has a wide mouth can serve very conveniently as a weatherproof container for setups located outdoors.
3. A good way of concentrating and enhancing the signals of the antenna is to use a reflector.

Necessary Precautions:

1. Remember to keep the setup out of direct sunlight. You don't want your 'dongle' to get cooked in the solar heat, right?
2. Avoid using 'borrowed' bandwidth as the provider may not like it!
3. When your dish is active, move away from it. Standing right in front of an active dish is not really a good idea.