How To Boosting Wirless Reception?

Question

At the moment i am tapping into my friends wirless network, but the reception keeps dropping out. Is there any way i can boost it without having to bie any more hardware. At the moment i have a D-link usb reciever and a PCI wirless card.

Answer 1

if cost is an issue, you can always make a pringles or tin can antenna, more info:

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

other then that, you need to get closer to the source.

EDIT (BETTER DESIGN):
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Answer 2

The wireless units use unlicensed radio frequency broadcast. Although unlicensed, the broadcast power is limited by law.

You both receive and send to the wireless access point. You are legally prohibited from boosting your send signal. If you could boost the reception, you would still be hampered by inadequate broadcast signal.

If your friend and you are sufficiently close to have some connection, you may have some success by moving your pc and the friend's pc closer together and near facing windows.

I am not sure his ISP would be comfortable with what you are doing however - or if that is legal

Answer 3

The only way to improve reception is to move his router closer to your palce, and near a window preferably. You can't boost the signal, if you try any of the advertised home solutions you make his router very directional, any of this may hamper his own signal.