Cantenna; useful?

The Cantenna, and other tube based wireless boosting devices, have been on the market for years. I've always wanted to get one to see if it would help subdue noise in wireless communication. And, I thought it could help use various free city wifi access points.

Has anyone used one, and how well does it work for you?

francovecchi over 15 years ago

I have made many cantenna.
They have a gain of about 6-7 db, an they works.
If you want make a production, i think that is better (and cheaper ) to make a patch antenna.

Were you want put the cantenna and how much you plan to use?

Franco
(sorry for my poor english)
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Catwell over 15 years ago in reply to francovecchi

I mostly wanted to see how far away I can pick up a signal. 6db is impressive.

Cabe
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francovecchi over 15 years ago in reply to Catwell

Sorry, I've seen only now that you make a reference to hot-spot.

Since cantenna is directional, for hotspot I think better collinear antenna, that are stylus omnidirectional, and may have the same gain.

Keep in mind that in some country there are EIRP power limitation, so is possible that you must limit the output power of the access-point (the RX gain is not limited and it is an always an advantage).

Are there omni antenna with gain even 18 db, 360° around and about 7-8 degrees in altitude.

Normally, for a rough calculation, I consider that 6db=double the distance.

If you need directionality , you may think about sector antennas.

Franco
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Catwell over 15 years ago in reply to francovecchi

Franco,

Could you post a link to the omni antenna with the 18db gain? That sound more effective than the cantenna.

Cabe
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francovecchi over 15 years ago in reply to Catwell

for example this is a link to a catalog of an italian distributor, i think you can find also in your country.
http://www.wi4net.it/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=15&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=60&vmcchk=1&Itemid=60

Play attention that such omni has an emission like a disc, if receiver are higher or lower, they receive a very small signal.

Franco Vecchi
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Former Member over 15 years ago

Before I started my hibernation in my cave, the US company, Heathkit, sold the Cantenna, a high power HF frequency range RF load for testing high power (perhaps up to 1KW) transmitters at low duty cycle. It was a non inductive power 50 ohm resistor immersed in a gallon can of mineral oil. Some enterprising people managed to obtain transformer oil, well suited for the job, except, now, that PCB type oil is considered hazardous waste. The name Cantenna, comes about from the use of the 50 ohm termination (dummy load) in this CAN as a substitute for a radiating anTENNA.
I realize this term now applies to what I call a "Pringles (brand name of snack food) can" type of waveguide directive antenna.
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