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Before I go any further, I do not condone, endorse, or suggest illegal activities in any way.
That said;
There are different types of adapters, which, as a general rule have different ranges.
Most laptops, and even some desktops are configured with a PCMCIA card, in some desktops a PCMCIA card is somehow plugged in through a PCI adapter, clearly wasting your money on what could be a much cheaper adapter. Any PCMCIA based adapter will have a fairly shoddy range. Effectively, it is under 50'. Technically, it will very likely be able to see further, but it won't get even a decent connection.
Some laptops and desktops use USB adapters. In these cases, it varies depending on the setup. First, if it's a laptop, it's probably going to be between 50-75' MAX. This is because power from a laptop's USB port is somewhat limited, it's fine for controllers, usb lights, but a wireless adapter is a different beast. If it's plugged into a desktop, you should note whether it is plugged into a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port, this can make a difference. If it is plugged into a USB port on a desktop PC that is 2.0 compliant, with a good power supply, you will see an effective range that, in some cases, can be 150ft.
The best option, is a simple PCI card. These also tend to be the cheapest. But not everybody has an extra PCI slot, so not everyone can utilize these. Effectively, I have seen these configurations go over 150ft through walls, without need for a booster. Now, I've *heard* but cannot confirm higher ranges. The important thing to remember, is that wireless is pretty much a standard deal now, with a couple rare exceptions wireless g is wireless g is wireless g (Again, there are a COUPLE small exceptions). So range generally isn't going to be affected, as long as it's a brand you've HEARD of. So stay away from Yoshibitsimaru Co. cards.
There are extenders which can be purchased at locations like Fry's, but it is important to understand that these are more of a segway mid-point that can cause some breakage in signal to occur, and are best placed directly in between (Preferrably as close to a middle between as possible) the adapter and the source.
Now, again, I don't condone illegal activities, but this should be somewhat helpful if you need information on how to extend your range. I'm sure you understand only to connect to authorized sources, so that should help you do it.
:D
"Its not stupid, its advanced!" - The Almighty Tallest, Invader Zim |
