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WokFi (aportmanteau derived from blending the wordsWok +Wi-Fi) is a slang term for a style of homemade Wi-Fiantenna consisting of a crudeparabolic antenna made with a low-cost Asian kitchenwok,spider skimmer or similar household metallic dish. The dish forms adirectional antenna which is pointed at thewireless access point antenna, allowing reception of the wireless signal at greater distances than standardomnidirectional Wi-Fi antennas.[1]
WokFi antennas are fabricated out of commonly available concave metal kitchen dishes or dish covers (which need not be perfectlyparabolic); Asianwoks are favored because they have shapes closest to parabolic. A commercial Wi-Fi antenna, usually aUSB Wi-Fidongle, is suspended in front of the dish, attached by cable to the computer.
The WokFi antenna is considered simpler and cheaper than other home-built antenna projects (such as the popularcantenna), but is a very effective method to boost the Wi-Fi connection quality, auditaccess point coverage, and even quickly establishWLAN viability – perhaps if a more professional setup is eventually intended.
A significant advantage is that with a USB modem the RF signal is converted to a conventional digital signal at the antenna. Therefore, by using standard USB extension cables, the antenna can be located at a distance from the computer of five meters or more, with no concerns over microwavesignal losses that would occur in an RFcoaxial cable feedline of that length used to attach a conventional antenna to the RF input of a computer modem. Chaining active USB repeaters, it is possible to locate the antenna at much greater distances from the computer, which is especially useful whenline-of-sight (LOS) obstacles (such as vegetation and walls) require the antenna to be located on a roof, for example. If using mesh reflectors, usually with a grid under 5 mm, the antenna will be lighter and present a smaller wind-load than larger dishes.
WokFi gains are typically 10+dB,[2] with range boosts, thus can be 16-32 times over the antenna of a bare USB adapter. Ranges (LoS) are typically 3–5 km (1.9–3.1 mi),[3] although an aligned pair of similarpoint-to-point transceiver setups may approach 10 km (6.2 mi) over a clear path. In addition, certain improved WokFi antennas, and antennas made using 60 to 90 cm (2.0 to 3.0 ft) diameter round or oval satellite TV dishes, allow even far greater range, up to 20 km (12 mi).[4]
Interference from nearby 2.4 GHz signals (perhaps from cordless phones, AV links, leaky microwave ovens, other APs or Bluetooth) can be nulled out—a useful feature in this increasingly crowded part of the RF spectrum. The performance of abundant, low-powered Wi-Fi "dongles", typically selling for approximately US$15–20, but of only 30–40mW transmitter power and modest receiver sensitivity, can easily be boosted with little more than cheap cookware or pot lids. The "sweet spot" on such ad hoc reflectors can readily be found by taping a small (~2.5 cm, or 1 in) mirror on the surface of the dish, to see where the sun's rays focus.
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