antenna-theory.com

[aa2by2]

hello

i made my own "windsurfer", its not getting the performance improvement i thought it would.

have i made a miscalculation?

the parabola has the focal point at 2.4 inches (1/2 wavelength for a 2.4 ghz signal)

there are two 15 inch antennas, tip to tip.

the reflector is 14 inches wide and 31 inches high.

there is ductape across the opening to hold the reflector in a bowed shape.

the white piece of cardboard in the middle of the reflector is to position the antennas 2.4 inches from the foil.

(photo=)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zolrFLSx82QsV53v_DKEfl4LVKDW9BS5

advice?

[admin]

What performance parameters are you measuring and what results did you get and were expecting?

You could also try a geometry as in:
http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/reflectors/cornerReflector.php

For the version you are making, are you sure half wavelength is right? If I follow a wave that is reflected it travels a full wavelength before return, but also adds 180 degrees of phase due to the reflection. Possibly it is adding up out of phase and therefore you should reduce the separation to a quarter wavelength

[aa2by2]

am getting an RSSI of -57db


your advice of 1/4 wavelength (about an inch) is in keeping with the location of the antenna in the windsurfer template.

will give you an update with the 1/4 wave modification.

[aa2by2]

per your advice, i moved the antenna. i am getting only a 1 db improvement in RSSI.

HOWEVER, the signal strength icon located on the lower right of the screen (windows 7) is now 4 bars instead of the previous 3. Furthermore, the speed tests are over 50mbps!

my router, a verizon G1100 does has the feature of power management, where the broadcast power is the lowest necessary.