The latest audiophile streamer craze
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Of course, audioiphiles being audiophiles we don't care what it looks like so long as it's more revealing. :D
But seriously folks, remember that Wi-Fi analyzers for your PC and phone are free and can help you not only understand your signal strength but pick unused router channels. If you live in a Wifi congested area moving to a less used channel can really boost your signal reliability. |
I went out and bought a newer faster router with a bigger processor and buffer and have docsis 3,1 The motorola 8702 my wifi range is much better and faster a true wifi hack is all come with Junk wall warts .I put a12 v linear power supply. On it ,it improved the wifi signal ,better picture and music streaming better. i initially bought from little green computer it’s good up to 8 amps most 12 v routers draw around 4 amp ,imo $$ well spent. |
I can remember the days when you did this to your t/v rabbit ears antenna it worked on them who knows it might work for what they say it does. I don’t recall anywhere in the article it said anything about improving sound. Just signal there is a reason for mounting your router on a ceiling there is less blockage up there |
Will upgrade to Titanium Foil for even better sound (and protection from the pesky government and aliens trying to scan my brain) arranged in a secret euclidean fashion. Will use four layers on ceiling and 3.14 for the remainder table router I got at Best Buy in 2001 on a shopping odyssey. Yes Virginia there really is Titanium Foil. Don’t forget to take your meds.
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The key is to use the Reynolds Wrap Non-Stick foil. The signal will actually be repelled by that vs just bouncing off of normal stuff. As for anything audiophile, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if some company would try to market copper sheets as performing better than regular foil and there absolutely would be people who buy it and swear it sounds better "to their ears." |
I tried this after reading the article, and it actually worked! My wi-fi signal went from -48dBm (which my BlueOS app says is "Excellent") to -43dBm, which is the lowest number I've gotten). Since my signal was excellent already, I'll be surprised if it makes an audible difference. But if it also shields the signal from hackers, that's icing on the cake. This is an almost-free tweak that is measurably effective. Do you guys only like expensive tweaks that can only be judged subjectively? |
The word "aluminum" triggered their conditioned reactions... 😊 Many audiophiles dont experiment they buy marketing ready to plug products and think that the user manual is all there is...Then they mock others like the crowds reacting to the comedia dell Arte apparent caned chosen thug programmed for them ... In audio thread the icon identifying the "victim" and the "deluded" is the "tin foil hat" icon... it remind me of primary school courtyard...😊
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It can work by the laws of physics, IF it is the correct size, IF it is the correct shape IF it is the right distance from the antenna IF you are lucky or actually know what you are doing. So congratulations to drmuso! For routers that have screw in external antennas you can get high gain antennas designed by real engineers that will extend in the direction they are pointing. Remember, total energy is the same. It is just concentrated over an narrower beam. 180 degrees from 360 is 3 dB gain. No magic. So at least this is one hack that is not total BS. I tried this, but with the Spectrum router. No help. I tried a plug in extender. Useless. Tried a newer more powerful router. Only slightly better. BTW, 2.5G band has better range than 5 or 6. Snoop to be sure someone else close by is not on the same channel. I would get fair connection, then it would go to crap. Next door is a gamer, so I hard coded a different channel and now we don't step on each other. So I just put in a point to point extender from my attic to the outside of my workshop with a remote switch. Full bandwidth finally. I may plug an access point into the remote switch. That would give me full WI-FI remotely. Audible? If dropouts, yea. But if no dropouts, then no as we are still talking IP packet based layer one digital transport over low power RF instead of Ethernet. Again I plead with folks to read about how IP works. A little knowledge can help a lot separating fact from fiction. |
@jon_5912 Cantenna is a little different. It’s about long range from point to point, like if you needed to get Wifi in a remote location and had line off-site. As I recall, you need 2, one on each end, the idea being that the far side would have a router/switch there that would extend your LAN. The article I linked to is more about signal shaping. Like your router is on the west side of your house and you lacked signal on the east. But seriously though the author fails to point out that the culprit is often not signal strength but congestion, and in the modern world of mesh routers I wonder if anyone really cares. |
@drmuso I believe you. :)
I only meant that with mesh networks the overall need for aluminum foil tweaks goes down. I think the article is correct for the physics. I just think most consumers would opt for moving the router or using a mesh network to extend it first. There is of course the benefit that shaping your wifi footprint away from neighbors and the street can make it harder for crackers to drive by and hack into your network. |
You said to have fun…I tried. The Firewalla Purple does an excellent job at keeping your network private. |
I’ve been putting aluminum foil on my head for decades. Saves me from the aliens getting my brain. I learned that trick during the late 70’s while in Sedona. 😆 But joking aside you’re correct. I started playing with foil while in high school in the early 70’s. Started building stereo amps in electronics class and speakers in wood shop. I used the foil to insulate sections of the cheap kits to reduce hum. Ah the good old days when there was an RCA tube tester and the bottom was full of tubes at Thrifty Drugs. Cheers , Mike B. |
The more things change… https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anyone-using-crystals |
Einstein made an error when he says that stupidity is infinite... "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former." Albert Einstein the truth is when everything change in us and around us , stupidity dont change at all ever...Stupidity is a finite enduring process defined by Cippola in his laws of stupidity : «A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or group of people when he or she does not benefit and may even suffer losses.» Carlo Cippola Think about it BEFORE mocking other people .... |
" .....personally....I'd rather 'boost' the young lady's 'routers'....but being an DOM is a joy Forever...." "Hi dere....wanna get 'foiled around' with?"
I've got a stock of 2mil alum sheet AND titanium.....Does it work?
Well....If you were to wrap it around your head really REALLY Tight..... The hallucinations might be entertaining on some levels 'n planes of diminishing existence; perhaps an arc from the nearby gadgets would either augment or end the experiment in a blunt and odiferous fashion.... You'd look....amazing.....amazing enough to be taken away in one of those really nice canvas coats with the long straps 'n sleeves, leather gusseting ....*pant, pant* ('Pants are Optional at extra cost...").... "AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME, BASED ON YOUR ATTENTION! Just email all your cash to:
Pirate Website Intercepted>Interceptors En Route>Please Stand By |
" .....personally....I'd rather 'boost' the young lady's 'routers'....but being an DOM is a joy Forever...." "Hi dere....wanna get 'foiled around' with?"
I've got a stock of 2mil alum sheet AND titanium.....Does it work?
Well....If you were to wrap it around your head really REALLY Tight..... The hallucinations might be entertaining on some levels 'n planes of diminishing existence; perhaps an arc from the nearby gadgets would either augment or end the experiment in a blunt and odiferous fashion.... You'd look....amazing.....amazing enough to be taken away in one of those really nice canvas coats with the long straps 'n sleeves, leather gusseting ....*pant, pant* ('Pants are Optional at extra cost...").... "AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME, BASED ON YOUR ATTENTION! Just email all your cash to:
Pirate Website Intercepted>Interceptors En Route>Please Stand By |