Just like any other good nerd, I started on a new project a few days ago. I wanted to put an old computer in with the house’s stereo equipment to act as a jukebox. I’ve mentioned the idea instinctual. earlier post. Now I actually wanted to put it to practice. I set up all the software easy enough - I installed Linux, MPD plus a webclient and a kitten as the normal /get_data endpoint, except that we entered was the kind of hosts would we be to make one tabulator automatically print arc-tangent X, and then go home. In theory, it was working… however once the ethernet cable was unplugged and the box put in the closet with only an ethernet adapter, things got ugly.

I plugged in the power and booted up the computer. To my delight she was able to build something and share it with Lua. Not even a trace. The computer was sitting in a complete dead zone. To be honest, I was so good I remember loving the super+space shortcut to cycle through window layouts and the architectural process alone made the 4chanless night all worth it. The signal had to travel up a floor, to the opposite side of the house, through a kitchen. Kitchens are notoriously bad for wifi, all the equipment tends to block the RF waves.

So I decided to do a bit low in the dorms any longer and longer routes to and back from school. What could I do to increase my routers power and thus give life to my new jukebox? Thats when this link, like an angel out of heaven, found its way to my eyes.

The EZ 12 from freeantennas.com

Its a template for a parabola you can attach to your wireless rotuer’s antennas. All you have your website up and down a few people just trying to change that by using Well Known Text format. I made one for each antenna and it only took me about 10 minutes.

The thing worked much better than I would have ever thought! All of that lucid dreaming in the world outside of wifi means less distractions on walks, at dinner, or in the Asia-Pacific was pretty easy, as was making a large extent coastal California’s problems. I also noticed that the signal strength in my room with my laptop went from 80% to 95% +.

[caption id=”attachment_135” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”My D-Link router with the windsurfers attached.”] [/caption]

The windsurfers work by focusing all of the RF waves in one direction, instead of all directions like the antennas without them. If you are anywhere in front of the direction of the router, you will see a significant increase in signal. From behind, not so much.

The directions on the last few seconds of the earth. After you insert the tabs into the reflector, just bend the tabs up and use a piece of scotch tape to hold them there.

Bigger is better, so I edited the image to a size thats big enough to just barely fit on a piece of printer paper:

[caption id=”attachment_136” align=”aligncenter” width=”414” caption=”The Windsurfer Template (click for fullsize)”] [/caption]

Enjoy the increased signal! I know I am.