Hello all, I am having a problem with my wireless USB adapter having low signal strength. I have read about the cantenna for cards or adapters that have hookups for an external antenna. I was wondering if anyone knows of anyway to boost my signal strength without having to open up the adapter and mess with it. Is there any kind of antenna than can built for this kind of wireless adapter? Thanks

If your wireless USB adapter is the thumb type, a method is to build the adapter into a dish reflector by using a USB extention cable and a wire mesh food strainer. see following: http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/ Using USB extensions prevents rf signal loss by putting the wifi transmitter in the antenna.

Thanks for the link.....seems pretty good. Only problem is they only provide a few pictures to illustrate how to make this device. I'm not the mose technically inclined and handy person so inorder for me to make this I would need much more detailed instructions. Does anyone have any idea where I can get better instructions to mkae this, or a similar device. By the way, it is a thumb drive style usb adapter. Thanks again.

All the links in the article has enough info. It is like a miniature tv dish with the thumb adapter at the focus. Since you have the USB adapter all you need is the strainer and a usb extension.

how is the usb adapter attached to the food strainer. is it just simply attached, or does the adapter need to be opened up at all. Thanks again.

You should look closely at the detailed pictures. The adapter is not opened up. It is simply plugged into the usb extension cable. In most cases the socket is just forced through a hole in the mesh of the strainer. You probably could just hot glue the socket to the mesh, or as in some of the examples use a plastic tube fastened at the desired location. Just follow the pictures. First find the focal point by covering with foil and aim at the sun and use your finger. Then the fastest way seems to fasten the extension socket to hold the adapter in the desired position. The assembly does not have to be super precise. Just mount the wireless adapter and make a method for aiming the strainer.