One reflector boosted Wi-Fi throughput by 55%, and it’s made of foil

A system built largely from a thin layer of aluminium improved wireless throughput by as much as 55% in tests conducted by researchers at Dartmouth College, according to findings presented at the ACM International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking.

The system, called WiPrint, uses custom-shaped reflectors made from 3D-printed plastic coated with aluminium, each one precisely designed to match the layout of a specific room. Rather than an ordinary sheet of kitchen foil, the reflector redirects a router’s radio waves toward areas needing stronger coverage while limiting transmission in unwanted directions.

Alongside the throughput gains, the project demonstrated signal strength increases of up to 6 decibels in target locations and reductions of up to 10 decibels in areas where coverage was intentionally minimised. By confining more of the signal within a building, the system also reduced Wi-Fi leakage beyond walls.

Researchers are careful to note the reflector is not a substitute for cybersecurity. A strong password, WPA3 encryption and regular firmware updates remain the most effective ways to protect a home network. What WiPrint offers instead is a passive, low-cost way to make better use of a router’s existing signal, requiring no electricity, software updates or ongoing configuration once installed.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by ShriniwasGajare