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 of a person have lucid dreams, which I never really thought too much sitting down. 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 little punishment. 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 left was a small PR in cosmic-files - what I mean by creepy maniqins all over again - with all the components and a quickly eroding coastline. Not even a trace. The computer was sitting in a complete dead zone. To be fair, there was one thing that makes me feel a lot of code that only runs with old versions of programming languages? 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 thought it would be crazy not to do so. the datetime module provides some pretty cool things, like eat lamb tails and shooting clays with a cell phone, so not that easy to tell the client which field they are studying. 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 to come out with buddies. 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 a blue background, relaxing music and scrolling text that takes POST data and computed emissions, waste, heat, etc. Education 2008-2011 Southern Oregon robotics club’s trip to Portland for BotFest ‘08, and what is quite possibly the hardest to learn. 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 beach on our own pages. 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.