Researchers at the University of Dartmouth have discovered that a 3D printed form covered with an aluminum foil can enhance wireless range and increase Wi-Fi security The project, which appeared on Eurekalert, involves placing a reflector on and around the antennas of a Wi-Fi router to shape the beam, which increases the range and prevents it from crossing over. unwanted spaces.
"With a simple investment of about $ 35 and a specification of coverage requirements, a wireless reflector can be custom-built to outperform antennas that cost thousands of dollars," says Xia Zhou, assistant professor in Dartmouth.
In their article, Zhou and his colleagues tested several directional antenna styles and also tested an "anecdotal" solution that involved sticking a can of soda behind a router to form radio waves to a target. After a few iterations, they were able to create specific shapes to increase Wi-Fi reception in specific rooms. They then created a program called WiPrint that prints the exact shape needed to form the beams for better coverage and security. Once printed, all you have to do is cover them with an aluminum foil.
The team discovered that its reflectors could accurately model Wi-Fi bundles to avoid certain spaces and favor others, increasing security and coverage. For example, you can shape your beam to avoid going out through a window in the street but be stronger in a room nearby.
They have not released the software yet but rest assured that your grandfather was right: the aluminum paper and the antennas mix together.