There are three unsecured wireless networks that are all just out of range to my house. I currently have a linksys travel router (small and cheap) that can detect them but cannot connect, because their signals are all under 5%. I'm only going to stay in my current apartment for the next few months and all of the broadband packages are yearly contracts, so it makes more sense to buy a piece of equipment that will allow me to connect to one of these free networks. What kind of equipment should I look at to expand the range of my current laptop? Should I buy a wireless card with antenna for my laptop, or should I buy a router that's going to relay the signal of one of those wireless networks to my laptop so I can connect?
Any advice would be appreciated.