Foldable Wi-Fi antenna adapter (julioz07)
A tape-on printed hinge that holds the antenna flat for carrying and folds it up, clear of the metal body, when you need the signal.
What it takes
- 3D print
- Disassembly
Difficulty 2 of 3 — moderate.
Details
Júlio Rodrigues designed the adapter after finding the stock antenna loses most of its reach when it sits against the chassis: the printed part sticks on with double-sided tape, needs no modification to the console, and gives the antenna two positions — folded down and discreet, or upright and clear of the aluminium. It was posted in September 2025 with a request for test reports and a note that the design may still be adjusted; no measurements yet.
Links
Open at Forum threadRelated mods
A printed replacement for the stock antenna cover that hides a full-size dual-band Wi-Fi antenna and an LTE antenna behind an engraved 'uConsole CM4' panel.
A slimmer plastic backplate that helps Wi-Fi by getting the aluminium out of the way and hides extra radio hardware, with a matching antenna side compartment.
One line in config.txt switches a CM4 from its on-module PCB antenna to the u.FL connector the uConsole's antenna is actually plugged into.
Swap the stock foil antenna for a u.FL-to-RP-SMA pigtail, a small dual-band whip and a printed mount, with three years of measurements behind the choice.
The zero-cost fix: a scrap of plastic or foam tape between the foil antenna and the aluminium body, plus a re-routed lead, is worth 10–15 points of signal.
The most-printed external antenna mounts for the uConsole — a small bracket on the console's own M4 screw positions with an RP-SMA bulkhead for a short whip.