Need network range/signal help

I am not able to obtain Comcast or DSL . MY only option other than expensive verizon/sprint internet cards is wireless Clearwire. In order to obtain a clearwire signal, I have only one corner of my home I can place their modem to obtain a signal of at least 4 bars on their modem. I have wired my Zyxel X-550 wireless router next to it.

My current home configuration has our two desktops approximately 65-70 feet away from the modem/router. These two laptops are equipped with 2.4 ghz Linksys USB wireless network adapters. The signal quality on both is poor, I have seen speed as high as 36 Mbps. The signal drops out frequently regardless of where we located these adapters.

We also have two Dell laptops which we use in the same relative location as the desktops (about 65 feet from the router). The signal strength on mine is "good" with 3 bars showing out of 5 possible. As I move closer to the router, the number of bars increases to 4 then to 5. I have an "Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless connection". The other laptop has a "Netgear 108 Mbps wireless PC card (WG511T)". It's performance is very poor.. and sometimes will not connect.

My question is how do I increase the signal quality/speed to these computers? I have read about 802.11n routers, adding directional antennes, adding extenders and other gizmo's.

If possible I'd like to do one thing to correct all problems but all of your advise will be greatly appreciated

Thanks ahead of time

 

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/

They help a little. THe other would be get a router that you can use dd-wrt and boost the signal from the router. Too bad Buffalo can't sell their HP(high power) routers anymore.

Also get netstumbler and do a site survey before and after, see if it improved the signal.

 

Thanks for the info foogoo, it's really appreciated.

I searched for " dd-wrt and boost the signal from the router" on google and got thoroughly confused, I guess I don't know as much about computers and networking as I thought.

Do you know of a place I can get a "step by step" set of instruction to do as you suggest?

 

This firmware runs on specific hardware for more info visit:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Check out the FAQ about boosting/ etc
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.ph...ould_I_set_the_transmit_power_on_my_router.3F


or Netgear just started selling a router for this use:http://www.myopenrouter.com/

But I'd get net stubler from http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/
do a 'site survery' - run this app and walk around the area your looking to cover then try the parabolic idea and see if it improves. I have used them with good results. Then if not invest in a router that you can 'mod' & signal boost.