Half the WiFi world seems to have latched on to the Poormans USB WiFi "scoop" antenna idea we rustled up mid 2004, with ~1000 hits daily still averaged at the resource page =>
To suit situations where such Chinese cookware WiFi antenna may be
-ah- "visually distracting", we've rustled up a more professional USB WiFi parabolic design based around cheap cooking sieves and a flexible stalk desklamp base. See pix & Netstumbler testing graphs =>
Performance, measured with NS,indicates 12+ dB gain over a bare USB dongle- the classic " scoop" gives more like 15dB of course. When spray painted black, the Mk.2 setup looks almost invisible & could easily be used in a library etc with ones laptop - cover with a plastic bag or jersey perhaps for discretion. Bill of materials ~NZ$15, with parts readily available via "The Warehouse" etc.
Recommended ! Stan in NZ