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I want to put my router in a box for security reasons (it's in a common area of the building) and I was wondering in what ways would the box's material affect the signal's strength. It'll be either metal or wood.
user1433415
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 31
4
If enclose it in a metal box, you could end up making a Faraday cage, which would cancel out much of the signal.
Wood shouldn't be a problem (2.4 GHz can go through walls), but it will still impact the signal strength (though probably not as much as the walls currently separating you). Make sure you have enough power to get from where the router is to where you are, and you should be fine.
SlightlyCuban
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 605
2
Metal will interfere with wireless signal, wood will not (noticeably) interfere. Make sure it is vented for airflow.
Rod MacPherson
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 405
1You could use a wire cage (with large openings, but not large enough to pull the whole router through) to protect the router. Think of something like the cage over a gym clock to protect from stray basket balls, not a tight mesh like the faraday cage in your microwave oven. – Rod MacPherson – 2013-09-05T16:03:16.330
3See my previous answer and associated comments, it would make a Faraday Cage, nullifying the signal. – Doktoro Reichard – 2013-09-05T16:04:25.180
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You can mount a router inside of anything, as long the antenna are still exposed. That said, find a decent router (like a high-end Netgear), that uses Coaxial connectors for the antennas. Then you can connect the external antennas outside the box anywhere you wish.
Bjorgen Eatinger
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 1
0
The more material you put between your devices and the router the weaker the signal can become.
Here is an article that talks about various materials and their impact when put between the device and the endpoint.
Material summaries
Clear glass -4db
Sheetrock and insulation about -2db for each intervening wall.
Plywood -5 to -12db
Brick -28db
Metal -32 to -50db
Decibels are a measure of signal strength and loss. If you're not familiar this will be helpful
I would look for other ways to secure the device than a box. If you must use an enclosure, the above list should help you choose you materials appropriate to your purposes.
To understand antenna's better here is a good article about antenna theory with an emphasis on Wifi
Hogstrom
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 1 312
0
I got a moment to think... and what really matters is the antennae not being enclosed in the box.
If the antennae aren't enclosed and the only thing inside the box (which would have holes for the antennae) was the router, then it doesn't matter whether the box is made of metal or wood, as long as it was properly ventilated.
Even if the metal box had a Faraday Cage effect, since the antennae are outside it shouldn't interfere.
Doktoro Reichard
Posted 2013-09-05T15:39:12.777
Reputation: 4 896
funny thing is "router on a stick" is actually a thing – barlop – 2017-01-02T06:17:42.460
1perhaps putting the router in a safer location would be a better solution? And what are your security concerns? – Keltari – 2013-09-05T16:04:20.657
3Metal would be a horrible material for something like this. The best material would be plastic. Wood would reduce the signal strength but people put their routers in there desks all the time without a problem. I would worry about the heat generated and trapped in this box, which will end up, killing the router itself. – Ramhound – 2013-09-05T16:24:06.753
Maybe I just have a criminal mind, but if I really wanted to steal or mess with a router-in-a-box, couldn't I just take the box? – Moses – 2013-09-05T16:38:11.750