Building a wi-fi “cantenna” is costly (over $30), because the connectors are $12 each. WTF.. do we really need these pricey N-type connectors? (www.amazon.com)

submitted 3 days ago by evenwicht@lemmy.sdf.org to c/sdfarc@lemmy.sdf.org

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Hope no one minds me being slightly off-topic in a relatively inactive group, but it’s the best fitting community I could find for the question.

I plan to build a directional wifi antenna using a can (aka the Pringles can antenna). I am baffled at how costly the connectors are. Why are the prices so high for a connector? Cantenna instructions always say to use an N-type connector. Is that really necessary? Coax cable connectors are a dime a dozen. Would those work?

Or what if I just strip the end of the coax cable to the right length and find a way to skip the connector and secure it to the can.. will that work?

Otherwise it’s ~$12 for the panel mount N connector + $10 for the connector that mates to it + $10 for the RP-SMA connector that attaches to the wi-fi AP. So over $30 for a home built wi-fi antenna. Fuck that.

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[-] artwork@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Just in case, for starters, this type of connector's internal pin receptacles are normally plated in gold to ensure maximum conductivity and to prevent oxidation. There's also likely brass, nickel, and teflon even, I believe.
And... this is a whole lot of ~6 GHz frequencies! Add to it a quite uncommon shape of a connector, it requires a dear complex manufacturing, too.

this post was submitted on 17 May 2026

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