Design a Simple Antenna

This article will show you how to build a monopoly for any use you see fit.

Steps

  1. Find out what frequency you want (for Wi-Fi you are using 2.45GHz = 2,450,000,000Hz). This is needed because this determines the length of your antenna.
  2. Get a good conductor. For the example we can use a copper wire and a piece of copper plating. Also you will need a co-axial cable (75 ohm is better than 50 ohm, for Wi-Fi 50 ohm is better than 75 ohm).
  3. Work out the length you need the wire to be. This is done by using the frequency value from step 1 to find the wavelength of the signal. To do this you simply need to divide the speed of light (c = 299 792 458 m/s) by the frequency (f). In the case of 2.45GHz the wavelength is {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Usually monopole antennas are quarter-wavelength structures, so the length of the wire should be 12.236/4 = 3.0509cm
  4. Cut the wire a little bigger than you need, about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or so. This way you can pare it back based on performance.
  5. Form a "Ground-Plane". This is basically used to form a theoretical mirror image of the antenna. Simply use the copper plate that you picked up earlier. It should be at least half a wavelength square.
  6. Drill a hole in the center of the plate just big enough for the co-axial cable to fit through.
  7. Pare the Co-ax cable to reveal it's ground [outer conductor], which can be pulled back to reveal the inside insulator.
  8. Push the cable through so that the start of outer insulation is flush with the hole. The ground conductor is now above the ground-plane. Fold the ground conductor back and solder it to the copper ground plane.
  9. Pare the inside insulation back to reveal the signal conductor.
  10. Solder the copper wire to the signal conductor of the co-ax.

Tips

  • The radiation pattern is null at the tip of the wire so make sure that you keep the antenna perpendicular to the source of the radio signals
  • Make sure the wire is perpendicular to the ground plane
  • The Antenna has a pretty much circular pattern when viewed from the top, so it should pick up your signal no matter where you decide to place it.

Warnings

  • If you short the GND and the signal wire you'll be in trouble.
  • Don't let it get wet, as this frequency is not "friendly" to water.

Things You'll Need

  • Coaxial Cable
  • Copper Plate

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