How to Design a Simple Antenna

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Last Updated: June 29, 2023

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This article will show you how to build a monopoly for any use you see fit.

1

Choose a frequency.

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For Wi-Fi you are using 2.45GHz = 2,450,000,000Hz). This is needed because this determines the length of your antenna.

2

Get a conductor.

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For the example we can use a copper wire and a piece of copper plating. Also you will need a co-axial cable (75 ohm is better than 50 ohm, for Wi-Fi 50 ohm is better than 75 ohm).

3

Determine the wire length.

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This is done by using the frequency value from step 1 to find the wavelength of the signal. To do this you simply need to divide the speed of light (c = 299 792 458 m/s) by the frequency (f). In the case of 2.45GHz the wavelength is 12.236 centimeter (4.8 in). Usually monopole antennas are quarter-wavelength structures, so the length of the wire should be 12.236/4 = 3.0509cm

4

Cut the wire.

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Cut about 3.2 centimeter (1.3 in) for a quarter-wave monopole. This way you can pare it back based on performance (and "tune" if needed) .

5

Form a ground-plane.

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Simply use the copper plate that you picked up earlier. It should be at least half a wavelength square.

6

Drill a hole.

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The whole should be just big enough for the co-axial cable to fit through.

7

Pare the coaxial cable.

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This can be pulled back to reveal the inside insulator.

8

Feed the cable through.

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The ground conductor is now above the ground-plane. Fold the ground conductor back and solder it to the copper ground plane.

9

Reveal the signal conductor.

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10

Solder the wire.

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You now have an antenna.

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Question

What metal is in copper plates?

Community Answer

Presumably, copper, as it's called a copper plate.

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Question

Which direction should I set the antenna?

Denneisk

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You should point the antenna in a direction that would make it most useful, e.g. point an antenna connected to your router toward the opposite end of the house.

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Tips

The radiation pattern is null at the tip of the wire so make sure that you keep the antenna perpendicular to the source of the radio signals

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Make sure the wire is perpendicular to the ground plane

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The Antenna has a pretty much circular pattern when viewed from the top, so it should pick up your signal no matter where you decide to place it.

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Warnings

If you short the GND and the signal wire you'll be in trouble.

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Don't let it get wet, as this frequency is not "friendly" to water.

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