Help: wireless internet products

[TiNM@N]

So I'm interested in "borrowing" some of the internet connection from the Coffee house, across the street. I wanted to get an USB-cord w/ antenna that I could throw in my window, so i could get OTA. I stopped by Best Buy to see what they offered. While looking this chic asked if I had any questions (so playing the dumbass i said 'sure') so she 'recommended' these 2 linksys products.

This PCI, Wireless Desktop Card http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6304714&st=linksys&lp=4&type=product&cp=2&id=1074787358650

or this


Wireless USB http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7843836&st=wireless+usb&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1142298457206

Ok, so i asked her about my idea of putting an antenna in the window since it's wireless it be stronger if the antenna was near a pane of glass, instead of it trying to go through the wall? She claimed it wouldn't matter since "it's all around you".

It matters (where an antenna is placed), right? Would you recommend any other product?

[Ldsmith104]

try this http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

lots of info here too.

http://www.radiolabs.com/Articles/wifi-antenna.html


Have been trying to find a way to make a network bridge between my house and my dad's business about 1500 ft away, so I have been looking into this too.

[Chin_Sack]

Linksys is one of those, "cant go wrong" systems. An if you think you might have probs with reseption. I think they make "amplafyers"<sp>. They can boost a weak signal. Plus it depends on how strong the Cafe' signal is too.

[Chacal]

Can't go wrong with Linksys, but you don't need any special feature over plain old 802.11g. Also you could use your own router as a bridge, but not if that requires some config on the cafe router (they might object).