External Wi-fi

[J1night]

Hi all.
I've looked through the wi-fi section and couldn't see a previous post on anyone having done the Externall Wi-Fi antenna modification.

Carved my PSP up some time ago to try this out and works an absolute treat.

Finished condition as shown.

Anyone else done this?
What increase did you find?

The cable and the extra antenna worked out about £15 total.

[thornygravy]

Cool, I'm sure it would have a pretty good increase, but imo it's not worth it. Doesn't look like it's a very practical mod, or easily reversable.

[iedwardsIII]

Yeah, not practical at all. It might help but wouldn't increase it drastically and when I'm in a cafe I don't want to hold that thing and wave it around hoping for a signal. IMO, you shouldn't have tried to fix what wasn't broken.

[J1night]

The increase was quite significant. Will try and get some pictures to show range between modded and unmodded version.

You're both right about the stick being impractical. Managed to pull it off after about 6 months. Couldn't find a good place to mount it. I did look at making a clip to hold it on top though this blocked access to the UMD slot.

It's place has been stuck to the back of the psp until snapping the aerial off. Now I'm left with the wire sticking out which is working better than the in-built wi-fi card.

Took a hell of a long time to strip the whole thing down to get to the old board.

If I did this again I'd use a hole cutter to put the hole in the back and find a rubber grommet to fill the hole and pop the wire through.

Don't knock it till you've tried it. Any improvement has got to carry some merit.

[iedwardsIII]

Sorry, we're not trying to knock down your efforts. If it is an improvement it does carry some merit. Shit, having the guts to cut through your PSP to do this carries merit. We just wish the stick wasn't as big.

[SomeGuyNamedMatt]

there are all ready holes in the psp like the screw mounts by the usb for whatever

But you could wire the Antenna cord right to one of the mounts and find a Antenna with the right threading or re-tap the end so it fits

one for model cars boats etc. like so


this make me want to do it now thanks for the idea

[Electrohacker]

a telescopic antenna is a bad idea. the Wi-fi signal is 2.4 Ghz which requires a antenna of a specific length. anything longer is just wasting weight and space. they make an antenna with a foldable 90 degree bend, that would probably work the best because it screws on a smc type port, those would look a lot better than a wire going through the back of your unit as it's surface mountable. plus if you ever wanted to change the antenna you just unscrew the antenna and put on a different one

[J1night]

Now that's just insane.?!

Think I'm ganna try that one as well.

Just for credits I best point out this isn't all my own work.

Followed the intructions given on another website. (will post when I find the old link).

They carried out their own tests and found the external extender improved quality of signal as well as strength and distance. I chose the 5db antenna against the 7db shown, though having tested both didn't recon the 7db (slightly longer and shown in my pic) gave as much of an improvement over the 5db.

Havin seen SomeGuyNamedMatt's comments I'd like to try the fixing on top.

Biggest grumble about all this was having to strip the PSP down to bear bones.
Going back to my last post. It would be a damn site easier to cut the back and make a tidy plug to fill the hole.

Having priced the connecting wire up from the states I was shocked at the $70 cost to get it to the UK. Did some digging and found a UK supplier with it on the shelf.

[J1night]

quick post. article on the wi-fi extender was by Seth Fogie (with thanks) and can be found here.
w w w .informit.c o m/articles/article.aspx?p=383849

[J1night]

BTW. Seth's website instruction was the first I'd ever seen on doing this so probably been a few updates since. I followed it to the letter to avoid "cockin it up"

I used the 90 deg. type antenna which could be changed since the end adapter I purchased was standard type.

Will get some pics on soon(tomorrow) so show the difference in strength.

Proof in the pudding.

[thornygravy]

cool man, i wish there was more shit like this on the forums, keep it up

[J1night]

Back again.

As promised here's a picture of the signal strength as of this morning sat at my desk.

The top one being our own wireless netgear box over my shoulder so both giving 100%.

Underneath we see the nearest wireless box over in the building over.

The top PSP being the unmoddified one showing 45% the lower one showing the remains of my wireless extension (the pigtail to the left) giving 75%.

Will take them both outside at lunch and take another shot for you all.

So far a 35% improvement over the standard.

[J1night]

Had lunch and here's picture 2.

This was taken approximately 50 metres away from the access point in a unit over the road from my work.

The unmodded PSP could not detect a signal whereas the modded (without antenna) is picking up a 20% signal.

Must point out that when the antenna was attached the strength was a lot better than that I'm getting now.

I'll try and get another cable and show you the true potential.

If possible with a means of attaching to the top of the PSP in the holes provided.

Anyone interested in having one let me know. I'll try and get a better price.

[SomeGuyNamedMatt]

good to see some trials going on for this new hard mod nice pics 2

i am convinced now i got to do it my self!

[zackg.]

um its very cool but seems diffuicult