Hello! I live in an apartment that has free internet, but the only way for me to even get a signal due to its terrible range is to use a USB Wifi receiver. I have the receiver connected to my laptop which is set to share the connection via ethernet to a switch. From there I have various things like my PC and game systems connected. At first this worked beautifully, but now nothing connected to the switch can get internet access. I've also tried swapping out the laptop for the PC for the whole internet connection sharing process, but nothing different happened. Any ideas what may be the problem and what I could do to fix it? Thanks!

The signal probably is weaker than it was originally and by time you split it at the switch, there is nothing left. It looks like you're going to have to pay for your own connection.

Get a wireless broadband router which will work in "client mode". That means that you can set up the wireless transceiver in the router to be the WAN which will connect to the free wireless Internet in your apartment, you then have 4 Ethernet ports to connect your computers to. Of course, you'll only have wired connections (have to get a second wireless router to set up a wireless network), but you'll find it'll get a solid connection. And even if you still have problems, there are modifications which can be made to the router's antenna which will fix the problems.

Thanks so much! I'll probably have to modify the router's antenna like you said because I actually made a "satellite" I made that my USB receiver sits in which gets me a great connection. Other than that, though, I should have no probelms. I think I'll give it a shot. Thanks again!

Here is an antenna modification which I have used very successfully. It is dirt cheap if you are the least bit handy with craft type stuff. http://www.freeantennas.com/project... But, finding a wireless router that works in this client mode, also called client bridge mode, is not trivial. Very few of the typical consumer wireless routers do this. One model that I've brought and used is the Edimax BR-6204Wg, but there seems to be only UK based stores selling these anymore (so if your in the UK your in luck!). The hardware in all wireless routers can do this, it's purely a software/firmware thing. That is one of the reasons many people risk ruining their router by replacing the factory firmware with something like DD-WRT. I've done this too, but I am not recommending it because if you screw up the process the router is "bricked" and useless. Also, all factory warranty is voided.