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We Built Wi-Fi Antenna Boosters

Anne Shroble
Dec 1, 2015
4 min read

Our last project for the class was to create a booster system for a Wi-Fi antenna. The following is my rendition:

Why did I choose this design?

I would like my antenna to be omnidirectional as well as directional if needed.

After much research and decision making, I decided to make my version of the steamer/strainer antenna. Since we technically are not building an antenna, but an antenna booster, I chose the steamer because it looked simple, (meaning I probably couldn’t mess it up too badly), and it looked to be a fun project.

Once I got a full understanding of what it was that I was expected to do, I assembled my parts. I studied the example that was found on the internet and revised the plan to fit the project. I found a low cost steamer at the Target store; purchased a piece of sheet metal to be cut and shaped for the back plate; nuts and bolts; nylon spacers for support, and used a one inch square tube made of aluminum for the handle.

The steamer had a handle on the inside which would be used for removing the hot veggies from the steaming pot. I removed this handle by drilling the treads out and using larger drill bits to remove the excess metal from the fitting. Once the fitting was thin enough, it was easily removed from the steamer. This hole was the exact size for the antenna to fit into. This allowed for connection of the antenna to the power receptacle.

Leaving the original legs on the steamer for additional support, I had only one problem with this design, the power box was taller than the legs, and I had to purchase longer bolts to connect the back plate. I had to buy threaded rods for the connectors instead of bolts.

I made a template for the back plate, and drilled the holes and threaded them to fit 6 – 32 bolts. The back plate was cut and shaped by the welding instructor at school. He used a Beverly Shear to do the job. (What a fantastic device). Any way, he also used a belt sander to remove any burrs and sharp edges. Much thanks to the welding department for the assistance.

The antenna booster was then assembled:

Drill three holes 7/64 in size and tap the threads to 6-32. Insert the threaded rods and secure with nuts on both sides of the steamer. The nuts on the inside of the steamer were glued with super glue to ensure secureness.
Insert the antenna into the center hole.
Connect the power box to the treaded part of the antenna.
Connect the back plate to the handle using the 1.5”, 6-32 bolt, and nut.
Insert the three rods into the back plate and secure with nuts.
Slide two one inch nylon spacers over each threaded rod.
Secure the rods with #6 nuts.

Connect a six foot Ethernet cable to the POE connector on the power box.

You’re finished.

I made minor changes to the threaded holes, it became a minor pain to deal with all the threading so I drilled the holes out removing the threads and just used the bolts with nuts to secure the device to the back plane. Holes were drilled into the handle and the center of the back plane to allow for fastening. A small bolt and nut may be used to secure the shape of the steamer which allows for direction of the radio frequency.

Here are the entire build instructions:

Parts List:

One – 8” X 8” sheet of 10ga. steel for the back plate

One – piece of cardboard for the template

One - 1” square aluminum tube – three foot long

Three - 6 – 32 X 3’ threaded rods

Ten - #6 nuts

One - 6 – 32 bolt 1.5” long

Six - 1” nylon spacers

One – Six foot Ethernet cable (can be as long as you like)

Tool List:

Bottle of Super Glue

Screw driver

Drill press

7/64 drill bit

Pliers

Set punch

Scissors

Beverly Shear from Welding Department at BTC

Build Instructions:

Remove the handle by drilling the treads out and using larger drill bits to remove the excess metal from the fitting. Once the fitting is small enough, it will come out with minimal pressure.
Leave the original legs on the steamer for additional support.
Using the original legs, make a template for the back plate, and drill the holes to fit 6 – 32 bolts. Cut and shape the back plate; and remove any burrs and sharp edges.
Drill the three 7/64 holes.
Insert the threaded rods and secure with nuts on both sides of the steamer. The nuts on the inside of the steamer are glued with super glue to ensure secureness.
Insert the antenna into the center hole.
Connect the power box to the treaded part of the antenna.
Connect the back plate to the handle using the 1.5”, 6-32 bolt, and nut.
Insert the three rods into the back plate and secure with nuts.
Slide two one inch nylon spacers over each threaded rod.
Secure the rods with #6 nuts.