On 2003.06.21 10:41 John Hebert wrote: > I was considering using aluminum foil over a cardboard or cardstock form. > The difficult part would be in getting the correct curve of the form, but I > guess I could use a light rigid material like a drinking straw(s) at a > bisection of the parabolic curve. The drinking straw(s) could also serve as > an anchor to attach the dish to the WAP antenna. > > I guess my questions are: does the material for the reflector matter? Would > aluminum foil serve as a good reflector?
As long as you have a reasonable conductor of electricity, you will bounce the signal. Drink cans are cheap enough and come with an assortment of attractive designs painted on them. ;) Whatever you use, it will cut nice and square on a paper cutter. As for the rigid form, I liked the foam on the original site. Just cut it into a parabola and put a hole in the focus. It will hold the dish on and your foil in shape. My favorite foam is exterior insulation foam. I've got a few 4x8 foot sheets left over from insulating my garage door. Any construction site at that stage of building should have a dumpster full of scraps. You might even find a beer can while you are there.
