The Passive Repeater

Three Hundred Fifty Ninth Post: The Passive Repeater

It seems from the book “Wireless Hacks” from O’Reilly that it is possible to create a passive repeater to relay a signal between two points. (The book is quite good. Although, it does have some advanced hacks.) The book talks about sending a signal 4 miles. My Netgear doesn’t go 50 ft. I would not recommend Netgear. I am using 2 different routers now.

So if you construct an antenna from an old Directv dish or from a Pringles can. I am not sure what antenna to use for the repeater. That would be a powerless repeater. I don’t know the physics behind it. I didn’t know you can magnify a signal with a powerless antenna.

Back when I was in the Reserves we had a weekend about learning the radio equipment, the Singars. We had a little encryption on signal hopping. But for all the advanced encryption, the signals were not very strong. They are almost useless in mountainous terrain. To get a signal over hills in real life situations. A relay point would have to be set up on a hill.

That is definitely one task I wouldn’t want to do. Just think if the enemy hasn’t spotted you, you have just announced your location. If they see a relay antenna they know the group isn’t far behind.

When people think of new military technology, they usually think about the Navy. The Navy has aircraft and ships with radar, lasers, and missile guidance. But modern conflict have shown we need to support the men and women on the ground. We have seen this with armor and communications.

But until are Men and Women of the Military get better equipment... May the Creative Force be with You