# Wi-Fi question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-question/216623>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 3, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-question/216623 "2003-12-03T02:15:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bat\_attack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@bat\_attack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat_attack)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-question/216623/1 "2003-12-03T02:15:17Z")

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I recently purchased a linksys wireless usb adapter. I got the usb instead of PCMCIA because I live in a basement and wanted to be able to put the antenna at a higher spot than my laptop. As I have it now, I get ok reception but it could be a lot better. My question is can I do anything to make my antenna larger? can I wrap tinfoil around it or a coathanger or something? This may be a stupid question to the more informed but I really have no idea.

Thanks for any responses

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**Author:** ![leenmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@leenmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leenmi)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-question/216623/2 "2003-12-03T02:37:49Z")

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Move around in your basement. Signal strength can vary by location.

Otherwise, I can’t help you much with improving your antenna, but I have seen articles on antennas made with pringles cans. Google “pringle antenna” and you will see some links.