Cell Phone Cantenna

Yep, you read that right. Instead of your typical Pringles can antenna to boost your WiFi signal, someone has created a cantenna for use with cell phone networks.

Pop Sci's How 2.0 has a handy diagram and parts list for building your own cantenna from Mike Outmesguine - the thing that makes this one awesome - it's a cellphone cantenna, not a wi-fi cantenna. Mike crunched the numbers and came up with the right size/length, etc to amp a 1900Mhz cell signal.

Time: 1 hour
Retail Cost: $43.94 (includes free coffee and cookies)

MJB coffee: $3.50
Pepperidge Farms Pirouette: $6
Copper wire: $1, Radio Shack
N-Female panel connector: $10, electro-comm.com (RF Industries part no. RFN-1022)
Connection adapter (if needed): $8.50, electro-comm.com (RF Industries N-Male to FME/TNC/etc. depending on pigtail type)
Cellphone pigtail: $15, alternativewireless.com (depends on exact model of phone)

Total: $ 43.94

Diagram and parts list (via Make:Blog)