NodeMcu dish antenna

thingiverse

This is an experimental high-gain dish antenna I designed for the NodeMcu long-range project. I didn't print it, as I'd given up on the project, but I'm uploading it if anyone wants to give it a try. The design is 100% printable, although you might need to adjust the middle section slightly for better fitting of the NodeMcu board. The antenna was designed specifically for the original NodeMcu board, but it should also fit Chinese clones. To print the antenna, follow these steps: 1. Print the dish part eight times. 2. Print a single mounting plate. 3. Print a single middle dish part. 4. Print a NodeMcu holder and receiver antenna once. The entire antenna is 263mm in diameter, but each component will fit on a 20x20 print bed. I managed to pack everything into one file, although it's recommended to print the parts separately to avoid nozzle clogging issues. When printing the dish part, use a skirt to prevent warping due to its small printing surface. If you plan to expose the antenna outdoors, use ABS instead of PLA, as it handles heat better. To assemble the antenna: 1. Glue aluminum foil inside the dish part to reflect the Wi-Fi signal towards the receiver. 2. Attach a 50cm long wire around the NodeMcu holder's long part and wrap it tightly. Use your discretion when applying zipties, glue, and tape to secure the parts together. If you print this antenna, I'd love to see how it turns out – send me some photos! Happy printing and hacking!