What it does
Internet speed’s not fast enough? Need an extra kick in downloading and streaming? Use the BoostPad to amplify WiFi signals on your router and surf the internet better than before!
Your inspiration
As an international student taking summer classes in UCLA, I constantly move between Airbnbs while attending online computer science courses. Many locations have weak internet, making it hard to access school servers and test code. Installing repeaters is inconvenient, so a portable, easy-to-use device like BoostPad would be ideal. It also benefits families who can't afford high-end routers or complex setups. By redirecting wasted Wi-Fi signals, BoostPad improves speed, enhances connectivity, reduces energy waste, and supports a more eco-friendly, cost-efficient lifestyle.
How it works
WiFi waves are emitted from a router omnidirectionally–that is, they are spread out all over the house in every direction. As they travel, they can get blocked and absorbed or reflected against obstacles such as walls and different rooms. If a router is placed against a wall, a lot of the emitted wave energy would be absorbed into the wall instead of travelling to your devices to use the internet, representing energy loss, electricity bill cost, slower download speeds. This device uses a flexible reflecting screen that is placed behind the router. The screen itself is bent to form a parabolic shape. As the waves are emitted, they get reflected and conserve the energy, transmitting stronger WiFi signals that increase internet speeds and can better penetrate walls, giving the whole household better internet.
Design process
Prototype 1 The first prototype was made with a wide, flat base and a rectangular reflector, both 3D-printed from PLA plastic. To save on cost, the base was designed as a hollow ring. For the reflector, cheap and flexible aluminum foil was wrapped around the plastic. Total cost of materials was estimated at $2.75. Testing showed this design increased WiFi speeds by a minimal 1.7%. The main issues were the crumpled foil scattering waves erratically, the flat reflector not directing signals effectively, and the rigid PLA plastic making it difficult to form a curved shape. Prototype 2 We switched the reflector material to flexible TPU plastic, which allowed for a parabolic shape to better direct waves. The aluminum foil was also applied smoothly to this new surface. However, the TPU was too flexible to support its own weight and would flop. Prototype 3 Used PLA support sticks to hold up the flexible TPU reflector. However, it required hot glue to attach the TPU onto the sticks. Latest design Redesigned the reflector to have holes that is slotted onto the sticks. Iteratively created a compact, easy-to-assemble device that was both portable and sturdy. Our testing show an increase in download speeds by up to 50 mbps, boosting WiFi across walls.
How it is different
Our innovation comes from the simple and versatile design of the BoostPad, drastically increasing the WiFi amplification ratio when compared to similar products. By comparing the BoostPad to a WiFi extender, we can see that the BoostPad is both a one-size-fits-all solution to all slow WiFi issues, whereas many WiFi extenders only work for specific routers with reliable extenders only being available at the $100-200 price range, and cheap WiFi extending solutions running the risk of not working at all. They also work by taking in WiFi and re-emitting it along the same bandwidth, effectively cutting the bandwidth in half. While products to boost WiFi do exist, none are as customizable–meaning they may work better for some routers compared to others–and also nowhere as cheap, relying solely on the fact they have no competition to optimise their product. They also take a lot of time to set up, while ours is an order of magnitude cheaper and faster to set up.
Future plans
Development wise, we would like to further test our product on a wide range of routers, as routers and their antennae vary widely. We want a base that allows flexible fitting to any router and an adjustable reflector, giving consumers discretion to fit their needs. The ideal design would be easily bought off the shelf, so users don’t have to fiddle with setting up a WiFi booster. Business wise, we aim to distribute BoostPad to households seeking low-cost, high-impact WiFi speed increases, and to travelers needing better WiFi in weak signal areas. We plan on selling and distributing prototypes across households in US to gauge market demand.
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