Cantenna
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A cantenna (a portmanteau blending the words can and antenna) is a homemade directional waveguide antenna, made out of an open-ended metal can.
Cantennas are typically used to increase the range (or discovery) of Wi-Fi networks.
Construction
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The cylinder portion of the can may consist of metal-coated paperboard.
Although some designs are based on a Pringles potato chips can, this tube is too narrow to increase the 2.4 GHz signal by a useful amount,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although at 5 GHz it would be about the right size. However, a cantenna can be made from various cans or tubes of an appropriate diameter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some designs include a pole mount to elevate the cantenna.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
At 2.4 GHz, losses can occur if the cable from the cantenna to the Wi-Fi circuitry is too long. A more efficient cantenna can be made by minimising this length or connecting the cantenna directly to the Wi-Fi circuitry.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Use
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Cantennas are typically used for extending a wireless local area network (WLAN).
The tiny design makes them ideal for mobile applications such as wardriving.
Cantennas can be used to increase cell phone range,<ref>MAKE: Blog: Cell phone - Cantenna diagram and parts list </ref> improve reception, and decrease noise.
A cantenna can be used as a satellite dish feed horn. The 5.5 GHz cantenna dimensions are almost perfect in that they make a good fit for the standard TV satellite dish. The resulting setup is a low-cost high-quality high-gain antenna.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Such setups are widely used in wireless community networks for long-distance Template:Nowrap links.
Cantennas may be used with other RF devices such as wireless security cameras.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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