Hooking Up

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Technology & Work  
antenna computer internet wi fi wireless
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ReadyMade

Posted by ReadyMade  
Project by John Jernigan

Boost your laptop’s wireless signal.

Skill Level

Easy

Active Time

Less than an hour

Cost

$

    Materials

  • 12" PowerBook
  • 2.4 GHz antenna with an MC card connector (we used the 5 dBi omni-directional blade range extender antenna with an integral 19" cable, available at sharperconcepts.zoovy.com)
  • Stick-on Velcro
  • Four stick-on feet (we used Radioshack’s 1/2" round plastic clear cushion feet/protectors)

    Tools

  • Dremel with cut-off wheel
  • Safety glasses
  • Masking tape
 
1

Remove the battery and fi nd the Airport Extreme card. Pop out the existing antenna that’s plugged in, and push the connector all the way into the nook it emerges from. Plug your new antenna into the Airport Extreme card.

2

At this point, the metal flap won’t close because of the protruding hookup and the new antenna’s cable. With the masking tape, cover all areas of the battery cavity except a piece of the metal fl ap about an inch long (on the side closest to the center of the PowerBook). Using the Dremel, cut and remove a piece of the metal flap so the flap can close over the protruding hookup and new antenna cable (take out the new antenna while cutting). Blow away any metal filings, and remove the masking tape.

3

If you tried to reinstall the battery at this point, the new antenna cable would obstruct it. The edge of the battery has a flat piece of metal that overlaps the PowerBook chassis; make a 3/4" long and 3/8" wide notch where the battery is situated above the hole you just

4

Reinsert the battery. Using masking tape, affix the metal fl ap shut, then jiggle the battery down. It may take some adjusting, since space is tight, but it will fit. The new antenna cable should be running underneath the PowerBook and behind the screen. Use the stick-on Velcro to attach the antenna to the top of the back of the laptop screen.

5

If there’s a wobble when you type, it’s because the antenna cable— which is about 4 mm thick—is preventing the laptop from sitting flush on your work surface. To fix this, raise the laptop a few millimeters by applying four stick-on feet to each corner of the bottom of the laptop. Boot up the Power- Book and test the Wi-Fi reception—you might see access points you never knew existed. Start poaching signals!