(no subject)

[roadrunnertwice]

I don't own a soldering iron, and I really don't feel like actually building anything this month. It's too hot out. I also don't feel like getting any calls from the FCC or exposing myself to any potentially dangerous radiation.

That said, I want to hook a directional antenna up to a hacked Linksys WRT54G router that's sitting on my desk, so as to get a better link to friendly open networks in the neighborhood. Does anyone have any suggestions? What's cheap, usable, effective, and reasonably legal?

Comments

[zqfmbg.livejournal.com]

The WRT54Gs connect via some connectors (I want to say BNC, but I don't know for sure) to external antennas, right? Surely you can find the right combination of adapters to hook up any antenna, or an antenna with the right connector.

Heck, I've got one in my basement I'm not using.

[roadrunnertwice]

[researches real quick.] Yeah, the two little rabbit-ear antennae are just hooked on with a reverse-polarity TNC connector, and the upgraded firmware lets me send all traffic through one of the antennae if I want to.

So what kind of antenna is sitting in your basement? If it'll work with that, do you wanna arrange a trade?

[nightswatch.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I love measuring legality on a continuum. :-)

[roadrunnertwice]

Welllll... radio waves are kind of special that way. There's "that antenna doesn't really have an FCC approval sticker on it" illegal, which, while it's best to avoid it, isn't particularly worrisome and isn't going to cause your neighbors any grief. But then there's "you're screwing up the operation of someone else's radio equipment and causing alarm and havoc" illegal, which will get your ass busted.

And then there's "you're emitting dangerous levels of electromagnetic energy in a residential neighborhood" illegal, AKA Mad Science.

[robertcalvin.livejournal.com]

Does anyone have any plans for a cheap, easy-to-build EMP gun?

[roadrunnertwice]

What, the atmospheric nuke isn't good enough for you?

Actually, I feel like someone does. I mean, depending on your values of "cheap" and "easy-to-build." It was definitely a minor plot point in Cryptonomicon.

[tomax.livejournal.com]

A decently heavy piece of wire or thin bar (preferably cast iron) can make a decent soldering tool when heated in a fire (such as your stove or grill).

[roadrunnertwice]

Electric stove!

But dang, I'll keep that in mind.

[baceramus.livejournal.com]

http://www.cantenna.com/

Thought that might point you in the right direction, or help you figure out a way to do some homemade. Does the Grease Pit have any soldering tools?