Still have a Dish Network satellite dish that is not in use or gathering dust? Rather than watching it being wasted, you can repurpose it into a fantastic WiFi antenna to enhance the reach and power of your wireless network. Turning a satellite dish into a WiFi antenna is a cheap and effective idea. Long-range WiFi antenna is another simple and easy project that you can construct with ease, using simple and accessible tools and parts. The present article aims at giving a detailed description of the entire process, and in order to do so, we will break it into several steps.
Step 1 – Things You Will Need
Here are all the materials and tools you will need for this DIY WiFi dish antenna project:
- Old Dish Network satellite dish (the bigger the better – at least 3 feet wide or more)
- WiFi USB adapter with an external antenna it could be fix or removable.
- N-type female to RP-SMA pigtail adapter
- Metal wire mesh screen which can also be fiberglass.
- Outdoor silicone sealant or marine-grade epoxy sealant
- Power drill with assortment of drill bits
- Tape measure and marker
- Scissors
- Nuts, bolts, screws
- Wrench and pliers
Step 2 – Some of the procedures that may be followed to change satellite dish to a WiFi antenna include the following;
Follow these simple steps to convert your old satellite TV dish into a high-powered WiFi antenna:
- Dish disassembling: The first process in the dish preparation is to disassemble the dish, and the following are the steps that are followed:
- Begin by taking apart each of the satellite dish parts: Take off all the nonessential components; feed horn and the LNB swinging on the dish. You only require the actual reflecting parabolic dish.
- The Second Step: Measuring and Marking the Centre Point
Take a ruler and determine the center point of the dish on both the front and rear sides. This will be your platform to fix the WiFi adapter and the pigtail connector at a later stage of the process.
Step 3 – Drill Hole for Pigtail
Taking a power drill and the correct size of the drill bit, put a hole at the center point of the dish marked earlier. It is also important to smoothen up any rough edges that surrounds the hole. This hole is for the connection of N-type pigtail adapter.
Step 4 – Pigtail insertion and sealing:
Apply some sealant around the hole and then fit in the threaded end of the N-type pigtail adapter from the rear side. Screw it tightly to make the threaded female connector of the pigtail protrude forward. Apply additional sealant if any and allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 5 – Install Mesh Screen
The first step is to measure and cut a circular piece of metal wire mesh depending on the size of the dish. Put on the mesh and fix it by using bolts or screws on the concave part of the dish. This screen will act as the new reflector surface.
Step 6 – Connect WiFi Adapter Can be done by going to the control panel and then network and internet and then click on network adapter then click on WiFi then Enable and connect to the desired network.
Connect the WiFi USB adapter to the protruding pigtail connector. Secure the adapter in position with a few hard pieces of sticking tape. Route the USB cable neatly along the backside of the dish by threading it through the groove in the dish’s backside.
Step 7 – Seal Dish Edges
Use weatherproof sealant along the entire circumference of the satellite dish in areas that are not covered by the mesh reflector. This will help avoid cases where an item is left to dry on its own and develops some form of moisture damage.
Step 8 – Mount the dish of the satellite system At this stage, the dish will be mounted on the pedestal and fixed firmly to the appropriate place.
Lastly, install your new high-gain WiFi antenna on a pole or wall near your house. Ensure that it is aligned towards the source of the preferred wireless network.
Step 9 – Linkage
Plug the WiFi adapter USB cable directly into the computer’s USB port or router LAN port. Switch it on and employ NetSpot or inSSIDer to position the antenna in the direction which is best suited for signal reception. Have fun with longer WiFi reach!
Conclusion
Using old satellite TV dishes as WiFi signal boosters is another simple and cheap method. The following handy project can extend your WiFi network signal range much farther than routers or store-bought antennas. If you follow the construction and installation point as recommended above your DIY WiFi dish antenna will offer you excellent and fast wireless network connection all over your house at almost no cost!
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.
