what the heck is this antenna thing on my neighbors roof? pics included

[Kenazo]

Do they have a boat? maybe it's some sort of marine radio antenna.

And regarding the Wifi. Why jump to the conclusion that they're leeching right away? Maybe they have a network set up with some friends across town.

 

[mercanucaribe]

I don't think you can steal wifi with a cantenna... You can only transmit from one cantenna to another because they polarize the signal.

 

[JDrake]

lol death ray

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: kindest
been trying to figure it out.. looks like a tin can?
just snapped the pics its getting dark out.

pic1
pic2

Nice, it's aimed at the dock out there.

He's just boosting his 802.11 to the boat or the boathouse there.

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I don't think you can steal wifi with a cantenna... You can only transmit from one cantenna to another because they polarize the signal.

thats not true, i've gone driving with my cantenna and I was able to hit networks quite well. granted you get better results if both sides are using a directional antenna its not required.

 

[aircooled]

maybe he's just sending his wifi signal to the dock?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I don't think you can steal wifi with a cantenna... You can only transmit from one cantenna to another because they polarize the signal.

thats not true, i've gone driving with my cantenna and I was able to hit networks quite well. granted you get better results if both sides are using a directional antenna its not required.

Smart.

He probably tried an closed end can but it catches way too much wind.

He learned.

Thanks for the pics OP :thumbsup:

 

[Mardeth]

Lightning rod.

 

[Rastus]

You can always knock on their door and ask them.

 

[Staples]

Well if this is a diy Wifi receiver, I'd be interested in knowing how one would make a directional signal transmitter.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Staples
Well if this is a diy Wifi receiver, I'd be interested in knowing how one would make a directional signal transmitter.

Just use the same cantenna for your transmitter then.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I don't think you can steal wifi with a cantenna... You can only transmit from one cantenna to another because they polarize the signal.

The polarization won't matter. Your wireless routers or receiving laptops use wire dipole antennas. The dipole's polarization is along the axis of the wire and the antenna in your cantenna is a vertical wire as well. A dipole can pick up circularly polarized waves, the only null is the plane normal to the antenna and even then all you have to do is angle the antenna to pick it up. So unless you're directing a null at your receiver, you'll pick it up (or just rotate the cantenna).