= Autonomous wireless networking =

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-sul-tetto1.jpeg}}

a PC equipped with PCI wifi card and handmade antenna under the roof of our hackers

<<TableOfContents>>

== Introduction ==

This HOWTO doesn't go into technical detail, if you are new to soldering and cutting metal we recommend to team up with an experienced friend before engaging this funny adventure :)

Also this HOWTO doesn't go into detail, instead tries to link and reference more detailed information sources that you can follow; our focus here is to inspire.

== Wireless card ==

To connect the antenna to the computer we need a WIFI card. The one shown here was found at the price of 18 EU in a shop in Amsterdam.

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-0004.jpeg}}

It is a PCI card to be inserted in the slot inside the computer.

Beyond the branded name and smiling face this card mounts an Atheros chip which is well supported by the [[http://madwifi.org/|MadWifi]] drivers.

The wire coming out is a modification: the shop sells this card with a short black antenna connected.
But we need a bigger one ;) so we will connect our antennas with a thick coaxial cable to avoid dispersion and get a better signal. In this case an "N-connector" was soldered, providing a bigger plug than the usual small wifi plug (also called pigtail)

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-0002.jpeg}}

Soldering this cable requires some skills, with the help of a few tools.
If you never did it, a talented patient friend might teach you how to do it.

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/soldering.jpg}}

On the other side of the cable the connector goes to an antenna which in this case was self built with recycled metal:

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-0005.jpeg}}

The back of the antenna is the plug connected into this metal plate

On the other side the antenna spreads into romboids

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-0006.jpeg}}

Which is a variation (3 romboids each side) of the double-quad antenna described here:

{{http://www.wlan.org.uk/simple_double_quad.gif}}

You can build many different shapes... see http://www.wlan.org.uk/antenna-page.html for more plans

This website has a useful collection of resources for autonomous wireless network development
http://www.wlan.org.uk

As well this other website http://www.seattlewireless.net/

And Jason Hecker's wireless goodies http://www.wireless.org.au/~jhecker/ which include also instructions
translated in Turkish, Bahasa Indonesia, Nederland and Polski

Once the connection antenna -> card -> computer is completed, boot from live CD or install the back|track operating system which comes ready with network tools and wireless card drivers.

== Wireless software ==

{{http://amarcord.dyne.org/albums/antenna-diy/antenna-0009.jpeg}}

Installed in the [[http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack.html|Backtrack operating system]] you will find the [[http://www.aircrack-ng.org|Aircrack]] software which can help to detect and connect networks (even if encrypted).

For a full collection of WIFI software see http://www.raulsiles.com/resources/wifi.html

Suggestions to autonomous wireless network developers:

Be tollerant and ospital in sharing connectivity: everyone needs it.

And If you have no other way to get online, dare to crack a WEP key.

We should all be online, really ;^)



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big up to:

 * fruity, piotta and ganja for this antenna hack
 * xaver, fructi and janki - funkfeuer
 * harirama - anc
 * elektra - CCC

and all the other roof hoppers not mentioned here...



happy hacking -jrml