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Using an Old Satellite Dish as a WLAN Antenna

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the rolling-your-own dept.

=m8s=Dark Underlord writes "I was browsing for wireless stuff and came across this link that shows how to use an old satellite dish as an 802.11 antenna." The directions tout the range as being 10 miles given line of sight. We've had other stories about building antennas, but I think these are cooler because of their focused nature, but a Primestar dish is a little tougher to locate than a Pringles can or a floppy disk.

7 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. You don't own the antenna... by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aren't you supposed to return the antenna at the end of the contract?

  2. Next time on Slashdot... by NakedChick · · Score: 4, Funny

    Making a WiFi antenna using a telephone poll. You use the red and green wires to transmit a signal to another WiFi device connected to the red and green wires up to 20 miles away. But what would I know? I'm just a naked chick.

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    So I'm naked. So what?
  3. Difficult to locate!?!??! by jared_hanson · · Score: 4, Funny

    Primestar dish is a little tougher to locate than a Pringles can or a floppy disk.

    Will a DISH Network or DirecTV dish work? I can locate hundreds of these without walking too far. Give me a couple of nights and I can send a bulk shipment you're way for a few thousand dollars.

    Now, where did I put my screwdriver?

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    -- Fighting mediocrity one bad post at a time.
  4. Steal one by ArchieBunker · · Score: 4, Funny

    A few years ago I saw one still attached to a pole near an old trailer foundation along the highway. A few minutes of working it loose and we threw it in the trunk. I had plans to buy a receiver on ebay and get C and Ku band channels but never followed through.

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    Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
  5. it may have 10 mile range... by deathcloset · · Score: 4, Funny

    but it is powerless against slashdotting!

  6. Hard to locate? by christopherfinke · · Score: 5, Funny

    Satellite dishes aren't hard to find; just visit any trailer park or upper-lower/lower-middle class neighborhood, and I guarantee you, there'll be a dish stuck on the corner of every other house. The kids'll be running around half-naked, there'll be a car or two on the lawn, but getting satellite tv still seems to be first priority.

  7. Not for long by SuperBanana · · Score: 4, Funny
    Looks like you can pick up a Primestar dish on eBay for about 50 bucks

    Given the fact this story was just posted on Slashdot..not for long.

    Somewhere, tomorrow morning, some poor satellite dish dealer in East Nowhere is going to be very, very happy and not know why.

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    Please help metamoderate.