Multi-tasking steel drum...

[BobW]

Todays' 'Lectronic Latitude has an interesting item about picking up wi-fi signals.  See the first item in the following link:

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2008-04-25&dayid=105

I thought of Kurt and Zen when I saw this.  I have limited computer/wi-fi knowledge, but if this really works it is a remarkably simple signal booster.

[AdriftAtSea]

From what I know of Wifi antennas and antenna design, you'd probably be a lot better off with a $7 pringles cantenna... which you can make in about 15 minutes.   It's also a lot smaller and easier to stow.

[CapnK]

Thanks, Bob! I suppose a wok would work as well. ;D

I've used regular old aluminum foil to do the same thing, also. Shaped into the approximation of a parabola, it'll noticeably increase signal strength. And *that* can stow even smaller than a Cantenna! ;D (It won't have the range of a cantenna or other Yagi-style antennas, but then it doesn't require an external card with a cable attachment, either...)

Here's another trick, if you have 120V power - use a wireless router that can act as a bridge. They have a lot more power than your laptop card, and better antennas.

Since I run the wireless network here at our marina, I actually have one of the access point nodes literally sitting on my boat, up on the port-side vberth shelf. ;D *That* is the single best way to boost signal, lol...  :D