2.4ghz wifi

[W2NAP]

so. im thinking of playing around again. making a wifi groundplane antenna. so far this are the figures i have come up with

1/4 wave = 1-5/32in
1/2 wave = 2-5/16in
7/8 wave = 4-1/16in
full wave = 4-5/8in

i made a 1/4 wave virt once. didnt do to bad (it had no ground plane tho) @ 10ft in the air i was able to get into networks over 2 miles away

which got me thinking, how well would a full wave perform with ground radials or would it be better to go 7/8 or 1/2wave w/ radial.

would the full wave virt. really be worth it?

[KG4CGC]

You could try etching a 2.4gHz log periodic on a rectangular piece of blank pc board.
I would copy one of these designs: http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LPY2

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LPY244P

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LPY245Y

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LPY41

You could do your own calculations for 2.4gHz making it more specific to your needs.

I just think it would be very cheap and easy this way.

[W2NAP]

well, in the past i have played with a "beam" on 2.4 but gets to be a pain in the ass to go out and turn it.

im shooting for just a virtical ground plane. yea it will limit the range so to speek, but if i could get strong access within the few block radius id be cool with it.

just trying to figure out of a full wave virticle will really be worth it, or should i just use a 7/8 or 1/2 wave.

[KG4CGC]

Something about the VSWR not cooperating when you go with a full wave radiator. Someone correct me here but doesn't the antenna act as a dummy load at a precise full wave?

Investigate a design that utilizes a half wave radiator over a quarter wave radiator.

[WØTKX]

http://wireless.gumph.org/articles/images/fig1.jpg

http://wireless.gumph.org/articles/homemadeomni.html

http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=12609

http://www.hamuniverse.com/2m440collinearvertical.html

[W2NAP]

http://wireless.gumph.org/articles/homemadeomni.html

^beautiful. i maybe trying this soon