WiFi Wok and the Chinese cookware 2.4GHz repeaters

Not a new electronica group, but an ongoing project by New Zealander Stan Swan to make some seriously DIY WiFi repeaters out of — what else? — Chinese cookware, among other kitchen and household gadgets. Turns out cheap cooking scoops make great 2.4GHz parabolic mesh dishes. Who knew? We don't see too many WiFi extenders with bamboo handles in the States — surely a missed opportunity for the wireless adapter market.

[Mark S @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

pre april fools? :S

[hafa @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

anyone with precal knowledge should be about to do this hack, actually is the smaller version of that dish hack (http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/Airport/Primestar/Primestar.html)
strength of signal varies

[Graham @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

phill torrone has already done this

[alan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Wow...Slashdot is gonna be all over this on Thursday!

[diggum @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Slashdot might, but only as a repeat. This originally came out a year or two ago. I used it as the original basis for a Line of Sight connection about 1500 yds since I couldn't get any internet connection in my warehouse loft. After verifying it worked with the $3 Goodwill spider skimmer, I found it worked better with a directv dish. Then I found out it worked best of all by upgrading the linksys firmware and just jacking up the rx/tx power. I did make a small cardboard and foil parabolic dish for the antennas, but I really don't think it makes much difference - especially since my friend with the connection on the otherside of the link had it backwards the first week and I never noticed the difference ;)

[Wingie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

You can find many of these cookware items in medium to large sized Chinese supermarkets in the US. Also, look for them in 99cent stores. I got a pasta-cooking-related thing for a buck from a Dollar Tree and it works wonders.

[manuka @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Those crazy Kiwis have since rustled up a classy ~12dB "boutique" indoor desktop version => http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/btique.jpg

It's no April Fool -these USB cookware parabolas certainly cut the mustard & are the best bang for buck going, especially if you've long cable runs needed for a good signal sweet spot. Although the author has a well known GSOH, part of the fun is seeing initially laughing sceptics say "Gawd - it works" when they make one!

[Miles @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

It looks suprisingly similar to this self-pointing mobile satellite internet system:
http://www.highspeedsat.com/rvsinstalls.htm
wingie wrote:
>> I got a pasta-cooking-related thing for a
>> buck from a Dollar Tree and it works wonders.
try inetvu for 10,000$US :)))

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Just when you thought piggybacking on someone elses wi-fi was all played out...

"War-WOK-ing" !!!!

[RRF @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Did you notice the size of the woks at some of the chinese restaurants? Any chance they are getting a good signal from China with those?

[Philippines Barangay Wireless @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

nice setup! even uses the floppy box casing :)
invent your own wifi AP antenna and enclosures.