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Cardboard WiFi Antenna Upgrade

Posted by michael on from the don't-get-it-wet dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A British company called Tritium is marketing a piece of cardboard with metal foil on one side. You order it for under US$25, shipping included, and you get a flat envelope with the cardboard. Cut it out, shape it into a parabola and snap it into the little stand. Then slip it over your current antenna. It is advertised to extend the range of your current antenna by 2 to 3 times. See their website for more information on the cleverly named Tritium Flatenna."

34 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Hah by dotslashconfig · · Score: 5, Funny

    And you thought tin-foil was just for hats!

    1. Re:Hah by SilentChris · · Score: 2, Funny

      Apparently their server is also made out of cardboard and tinfoil...

    2. Re:Hah by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 3, Funny


      Then there are the guys who advertise a fool-proof cockroach killer for sale, just send $25, will work every time.

      Of course, what you get is two wooden blocks and instructions that say, place cockroach on first block, smash with second block, repeat as needed.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
  2. Tritium by Metasquares · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's an awfully bad company name to associate with antennas, considering some people are nervous about them to begin with.

    1. Re:Tritium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but their website had a halflife of only about 15 minutes. The irony...

    2. Re:Tritium by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny
      I know all about the stuff, I injected it into rats for years.

      I can't decide which kind of rat's eyes are creepier: original blood red reflective glow or new cool green self-illuminated glow.

    3. Re:Tritium by lost_packet · · Score: 2, Funny
      That's an awfully bad company name to associate with antennas, considering some people are nervous about them to begin with

      are you sure you don't mean Iridium?

      --

      BLOCK STRUCTURE breathing apparatus required for special maneuvers!!

    4. Re:Tritium by fermion · · Score: 2, Funny

      but...but...Tritium is the most valuable material in on earth. There is only 25 pounds of it. I think every new company is going have tritium or some variation of it in thier name. It so exudes power and value.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
  3. Microwave Pizzas by mcgroarty · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microwave pizzas, hot pockets, etc come with foil-backed cardboard underneath. That looks to be the same material -- I'd wager you could cobble something together with those as well. And you'd have something to eat while you're geeking out.

  4. Second use by Tokerat · · Score: 5, Funny

    A British company called Tritium is marketing a piece of cardboard with metal foil on one side.
    If you don't have Wi-Fi, these also make excellent hats.
    --
    CAn'T CompreHend SARcaSm?
    1. Re:Second use by snowblind · · Score: 2, Funny

      Only if you're a garden gnome.

  5. Finally, a use for tinfoil hats ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    just turn it inside out, insert over antenna, viola 10 mpbs and encrypted ...

    1. Re:Finally, a use for tinfoil hats ... by SoTuA · · Score: 4, Funny
      viola 10 mpbs and encrypted ...

      I'd rather have an unencrypted cello at 22mbps, but that's just me...

      (so THAT's how burning karma smells!)

  6. Re:This looks strangely like advertisement by gphinch · · Score: 3, Funny

    More like /.ing.

    --
    in bed.
  7. Let the price wars begin! by glowfish · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll offer the same thing for $22.50! Shipping included! and um, I'll throw in a free yahoo e-mail account to boot!

    Beat that!

    1. Re:Let the price wars begin! by MachDelta · · Score: 4, Funny

      $19.95 for a tinfoil antenna booster, with a free tinfoil hat for ordering now! The first 15 customers will get a bonus mint (I found some under my bed). Price includes shipping, and one of those tiny bags of potato chips.
      Everyone knows you can't beat something thats "all that and a bag of potato chips!"

  8. In other news... by dotslashconfig · · Score: 4, Funny

    I tried this once. People called it "fraud", though... they were so disappointed when they saw the Staples price sticker still on the cardboard and tin-foil.

    Just goes to show you, those British folk can get away with anything! :)

    Anyways... back to planning my quest for world dominaton using nothing more than a stick of gum and a paperclip.

    1. Re:In other news... by SpookyFish · · Score: 4, Funny

      This one is right up there with the little ads in the back of magazines (like Popular Science) several years ago:

      "Genuine Copper Bust of Abraham Lincoln -- only $9.99!"

      And the lucky purchaser received a nice envelope containing a small cardboard stand -- and a penny.

      They were *unsuccessfully* sued for fraud.
      Caveat emptor!

  9. Oh Crap by T-Kir · · Score: 2, Funny

    Damn that summary...

    Cut it out, shape it into a parabola and snap it into the little stand. Then slip it over your

    ARGGHHH, but I really have the urge to say 'HEAD'.

    Damn you tinfoil hat posters, damn you to hell and back damn blast and double damn.

    --
    Are you local? There's nothing for you here!
  10. Ouch by r.jimenezz · · Score: 1, Funny

    The site itself already got "flatenned" :(

    --
    The revolution will not be televised.
  11. cardboard webserver by cenonce · · Score: 2, Funny

    Looks like their webserver is made of cardboard too...

  12. Cheaper solutions exist by mcgroarty · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can get Wi Fi Speed Spray for a few bucks less, and there's no overseas shipping to worry about.

    1. Re:Cheaper solutions exist by MesiahTaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      Speed Spray? From the makers of Handsome Cream?

      --
      Are you an open source warrior?
  13. History of ideas, volume 27 by legLess · · Score: 5, Funny

    Good idea Getting an ad for your product posted to Slashdot. Bad idea Hosting the site on DSL in your mom's basement.

    --
    This isn't as much "normalization" as it is "don't take so many drugs when you're designing tables."
  14. Re:This looks strangely like advertisement by happyfrogcow · · Score: 2, Funny

    excellent point. i wasn't going to click on the link until now. /., lets do our best!
    click
    click
    click

  15. Other cardboard products for under $25 by James+Turpin · · Score: 5, Funny

    For $24 I'll sell you a cardboard box that you can sleep in. Just think how much money you'll save by not paying for housing! This is ideal for people living in Silicon Valley.

    --
    Mathematics is not a crime.
  16. Re:This looks strangely like advertisement by nizo · · Score: 3, Funny
    so? let's try to keep some dignity to journalism. I am not bred to be an advertisement absorber.

    Luckily I have a paper hat coated with tinfoil that I can sell to you for $19.99 to block out all these kinds of advertisements.

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
  17. Beware Mortal by trifakir · · Score: 2, Funny

    The distribution of magnetic waves is His business and thou who tampers with it art deeply sin. Instead of getting thee Ethernet frames in the coffee below, they (the frames) can end-up at the neighbour above.

  18. Other Cardboard/Tinfoil Geek Project (OT) by Embedded+Geek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Once you've got a few dB's of gain, why not use the leftover cardboard from your pizza box and heat up some more pizza?

    --

    "Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."

  19. Re:Low-Sodium salt... by Nasarius · · Score: 3, Funny
    Low-Sodium salt

    Also known as chlorine?

    --
    LOAD "SIG",8,1
  20. Re:Make your own by Saeger · · Score: 2, Funny
    MAKE YOUR OWN? Why you dirty pinko commie! How dare you deprive this glorious capitalistic company the RIGHT TO PROFIT! Won't somebody please think of the GDP?! Go break some windows today!

    --
    Power to the Peaceful
  21. Re:Microwave Pizza boxes make rotten antennas. by Lehk228 · · Score: 3, Funny

    1)Collect hot pocket wrappers
    2)?????????^Wcover car
    3)Don't get speeding tickets

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  22. Re:This looks strangely like advertisement by happyfrogcow · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quitcherbitchen != ...

    oh.

  23. Re:Microwave Pizza boxes make rotten antennas. by pyrrhonist · · Score: 2, Funny

    I tried this, and my car overheated.

    --
    Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.