Parabolic Reflector

thingiverse

This is a homemade reflector for a standard rubberduck antenna. Small, cheap antennas like this one require some DIY expertise to assemble. To create the parabolic shape, coat it with aluminum foil - a discarded beer can works great for this purpose. Use super glue to join the parts together. Next, insert the rubber duck antenna into the tube and you're done. I'm still uncertain about the gain of this setup, but some calculations are in order before I can determine that accurately. The math behind the parabolic shape is spot on, and the antenna is precisely positioned at the focal point. I've attached the SCAD code for your review. Now, it's time to print out a prototype - stay tuned for photos soon.