Wi-Fi signal strength can be increased with aluminum foil

Scientists have discovered a simple and inexpensive way to increase the power of Wi-Fi signals inside our homes and this is based on the use of aluminum foil.

The researchers say that using a reflective screen made of aluminum foil, as a "virtual wall" positioned behind the Wi-Fi router, you can control the direction of propagation of wireless signals inside homes. This way we can improve the power of the wireless signal in a certain area of ​​our house.

"With this unique solution, we address a number of challenges affecting users of wireless technology."

"We have increased the power of wireless signals and made Wi-Fi connections safer," said researcher Xia Zhou of Dartmouth College, Hannover, New Hampshire.

Inspired by a simple method that would have succeeded in amplifying the wireless signal using a dose of beer, the researchers set out to study whether a similar solution could be used to optimally direct the wireless signal from the router dark fiber network.

Although there is some evidence that the use of an aluminum beer can, under certain conditions, can increase the intensity of wireless signals, this method involves making a curved aluminum panel as a reflector.

If we take into account the varied configuration of our homes, it is obvious that the solution of the location of such a reflector is not very scientific, because it does not offer an exact control over the place where the aluminum reflector directs the wireless signal.

To improve this solution, Zhou's team developed what is called WiPrint , a system that scans the interior or floor plan of your home to identify places where the Wi-Fi signal can be amplified, as well as areas where we don't need a signal. powerful wireless.

Based on this input data, the WiPrint algorithm can calculate the optimal shape of the signal reflector to be placed next to the Wi-Fi router. Subsequently, the reflector can be 3D printed in plastic and covered with aluminum foil.

The whole process of making the signal reflector takes about 23 minutes, and the only costs involved are to obtain the printed 3D frame.

"With an approximate investment of only $ 35 and the indication of wireless coverage requirements, we can make a custom reflector whose performance can be even higher than that of antennas that cost thousands of dollars," said Zhou.

The reflector made by the research team managed in tests to amplify the wireless signal by up to 55.1% in the areas where it was desired to increase its power and also managed to reduce the intensity of the wireless signal by up to 63.3% in areas where this was desired.

Aluminum foil signal reflector to increase Wi-Fi signal strength

Most of us will probably not be interested in lowering the power of the Wi-Fi signal. However, it is good to keep in mind that a high-intensity wireless signal that reaches outside our home can help malicious hackers. to take control of the wireless network we use in our home, although this risk is probably quite low.

Even if we do not have access to the researchers' algorithm for calculating the optimal shape of Wi-Fi reflectors based on the floor plan, nothing stops us from trying different forms of reflector to see if we can increase the signal coverage of the wireless network we use.

You only need to know that wireless signals must comply with certain technical regulations and, consequently, their modification, outside the permitted range, is prohibited.

"I can't really advise people to use aluminum foil or any other kind of reflector, mainly because of the regulations."

"In the US, FCC regulations set the power of wireless signals. Thus, the maximum power level of wireless routers is limited to a certain value ", said Eric Siu, Linksys product development director, who was not involved in this research.