How to Make a Wireless Antenna

Have you lost your wireless antenna from the back of your network card? no problem! make one from scratch using some solder (or pliable wire) about 15 cm, and a thumb tack. The wire will act as the 'antenna' while the thumb tack will secure it in place.

Steps:

1. Grab some solder (preferably thick) or some bendy wire/solder and wrap it around the point of a thumb tack. this will provide you with a small loop about that same size as the inner 'pin' on the back of your wireless card.
   
   
2. Bend the wire at a 90 degree angle just under the loop you just created. this will allow for easy insertion when you place it around the inner 'pin'
3. Place the wire around the pin, and wrap the remaining wire around the outside 'threads' where you would normally screw in the antenna.
4. Insert the thumb tack in between the inner 'pin' and the small loop you made. this is to ensure the inner pin is always in contact with the solder.
5. The other end of the wire/solder can be wrapped around any cable from the back of your computer to enhance wireless reception.
   
   

 Tips:

• Fiddle with it! The main objective is to have the wire looped around the inner 'pin'(the input into the card), and because this is so small, it can require a few tries(use the thumbtack!). After that, it is just a matter of securing the solder/wire into place by wrapping it around the outer 'thread'. The thumbtack is also only there to secure the wire into position.
• Depending on where your computer is, leaving the wire/solder dangling down from the card may also provide adequate reception.
• The thicker the solder is, the better.
• Making the end of the antenna touch the chassis of the computer may enhance reception.

Source: www.wikihow.com