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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.

6 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. Jeez....this is an obvious dupe... by Geraden · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Original Slashdot Article

  2. Primestar Dish's on eBay by TheMysteriousFuture · · Score: 5, Informative

    Looks like you can pick up a Primestar dish on eBay for about 50 bucks (current auctions here). Shipping looks to be about $20. Anybody know of other sources for acquiring these dishes?

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    1. Re:Primestar Dish's on eBay by ajlitt · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've picked one up at Goodwill for $5 (actually a DirecTV dish) and it works great with the cantenna.

  3. Re:You don't own the antenna... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Primestar was purchased by Directv, who made the old primestar dishes "useless". Directv sent new satellite dishes and receivers to anyone who was subscribing to primestar.

  4. FCC rules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hey, guys, this would violate FCC part 15 and other applicable rules. Specifically, we are referring to ERP (effective radiated power).

    Have fun if you get nailed!

  5. Re:Canteena for $19.95, shinier and FCC legal ! by v1 · · Score: 5, Informative


    I shopped around a month ago for wifi antennas too, and found there's a lot of rip-offs and a few hiddeen gems. Cantenna doesn't come with the pigtail, which doubles the price. Add a "mounting bracket" (it's a camera tripod) and the price is now triple.

    For about the same money, check out the real thing by Pacific Wireless: http://www.rangeextender.com/224pagransy.html

    24db gain, versus the cantenna's 12. Adding 12 more db of gain amounts to 16 times more signal than the Cantenna, and it even comes with a weatherproofing kit and is meant to mount to a pole outside where it belongs. I don't think a Cantenna would last one season outside where I live, and it certainly won't mount on my roof using that camera tripod.

    I think the Cantenna is meant for people that want to just experiment, war-drive, look for waps near their house, etc. If you really want to establish a long-distance or "shooting through trees" link, the Pacific Wireless looks to be the real deal.

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    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.