CompUSA has the D-Link ANT24-0400 4dBi Omni-Directional Indoor Antennaon sale for $9.97. This antenna is easily hackable -- you can add on a "windsurfer" cardboard-and-aluminum-foil parabolic reflectorto make it a powerful directional antenna.

When my new apartment, I was able to pick up a really weak WiFi signal but was unable to actually connect. I bought this antenna and modified the Windsurfer plans above so that the height of the reflector was the height of the antenna (I used a full 8.5x11 sheet of card stock covered in foil as the reflector and made two of the cross-braces). After 10 minutes and some aluminum foil, heavy paper, a glue stick, and some tape, I had improved my link quality to 90-100%, and my signal to 4 bars. It's ugly, but it works.

A picture of my ghetto-antenna at http://www3.zansstuff.com/windsurfer.jpg

A PDF of the modified antenna plans are at http://www3.zansstuff.com/windsurfer2x.pdf. Just glue aluminum foil to the back of page 1 and cut out the 12 slots, cut out the two supports from page 2, stick the tabs in the slots, and glue or tape the tabs in place.

$7 minimum shipping almost doubles the price.

Yup. The base also is hinged and has magnets on it so you can easily stick it to a vertical surface and keep the antenna upright.

Great. Now I have to build a bigger Aluminum Foil hat to keep you from controlling my brain. Thanks alot.

Don't need one, but green for your detailed post for those who would be interested!

how long of a cable does this have?
anyone know?

neidermeyer said:With that triangular base it looks like a natural for just dropping into a can to make a cantenna.

I don't think that would buy you much. a cantenna has a small probe (nowhere near the height of this thing) and is mounted on the side of the can so it is vertical when the can is on its side (pointed at target)

How to make your own cantenna

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EDIT:

for those that care: I found the 7db version of this antenna for $17 AR + free ship at Amazon
new FW Thread

TigerDirect has the same deal on the OP's antenna, and they have 10% LiveSearch CashBack. If you order two, ends up being about $25 for the pair.

wow, thats cool

Now how do I explain the wife that I bought this just to feel like MacGyver? Since I dont really need it hehehe

This is to replace the stock antennas that comes with routers and wireless cards. It enhances/boosts signal to reach further into hard to reach nooks of your house/apartment.

Izpoof said:Ok, is this thing used for wireless internet connectivity or networking some computers? If so, why the need for it to pick up at great distances?