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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."

14 of 200 comments (clear)

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

    And you thought tin-foil was just for hats!

  2. 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.

  3. 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?
  4. 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!)

  5. 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!"

  6. 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!

  7. 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.

  8. 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."
  9. 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.
  10. Re:Tritium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  11. 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.