Media for getting good range .. - ditching USB wireless adaptor. What PCI one?

getting good range .. - ditching USB wireless adaptor. What PCI one?

I have a MIMO 802.11g router, and USB wireless adaptor.

range is insufficient.

I measured signal to noise ratio in netstumbler on the comp with the usb thing. It went from -85dbi to -95dbi and disconnected (dunno if was db or dbm or dbi ). But apparently that indicates the outcome of signal strength /power over the distance (and there's no other easy way of measuring signal level or power). What is a good value for that signal to noise ratio?

I read that USB wireless has a rubbish internal "chip" antenna , and that makes for small range. I have one and it doesn't go past 2 flights of stairs.

I'd like a wireless 802.11g MIMO PCI Card, that comes with a reasonable antenna, but i'd also like it to have a connector for an antenna. (so I only have to buy an external antenna if it's not good without one).

Changing the router isn't an option at the moment.

(I did try pointing the aerials, including so the length of the aerial as oppose to the tip, faces the wireless usb adaptor, but no use. I didn't try moving the wireless usb adaptor around on a usb cable. I don't plan on getting a wireless usb adaptor with an antenna, but I might)

I'd like to know the power of these things before buying.. I've heard that Buffalo make powerful wireless stuff. But they don't seem to have any PCI, and I can't see the power rating.

(the buffalo website is a silly design anyway. each irrelevant picture links to a directory, the directory's name reveals what it's about. - so if you ever want to browse it, that's the way!)

I know linksys show power rating, but a few have recommended buffalo.