Need help -- WIFI Internet Antennas... ?
 

This sounds cool as hell to me... can someone point me in the right direction so I can hit the free wireless network 6 blocks from my house?

Can I do this from a serial port -- or do I need to buy a laptop and go PCMCIA...?

My laptop came with one built in :) Compaq Presario 2120

Yeah but how powerful is the signal...? Aren't there optional antennas that are a little more powerful? I come from a family of Ham Radio operators :p I don't want to do any soldering -- I just want to be very happy from 6 blocks :)

See I just did a google search and this guy has built a tin can antenna for $5... http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

but building antennas can be an artform -- I don't want to go overkill tho... I'd just like to know if there's anyone on GFY that is doing this already...

Looks like I probably won't be able to use an antenna... way too many trees around here... Here's a little site about the Fresnel effect and LOS...

http://www.fab-corp.com/lineofsight.htm

Are you planning to use UF's network? I would not recomend it, because it is really slow.

No, the one downtown...

so, there is a wireless network in downtown?