Starwood (Sheraton) properties and Wi-Fi range extender from lobby possible?

In article , Arawak wrote: :Most Starwood properties, including Sheraton hotels, provide free :Wi-Fi in the lobby area but charge via Wayport or Boingo from guest :rooms. Are there any solutions to extend the range from the lobby to :my laptop up to a few floors above the lobby?

A) Get a battery-powered two-radio AP and place it somewhere that is in reach of both; or

B) Get some kind of directional antenna for the wireless on your laptop and aim it towards the hotel AP.

Note: the hotel AP might be using a standard omnidirectional antenna. If it is, then the effective reception field is not spherical: the top and bottom do not receive very well, and the reception area is mostly on the flat plane except angled a few degrees up and down. If you happen to be within the projection of those few degrees, you might have access from other floors, but if you are directly over the antenna, your reception will be poor.

Using a directional antenna would help get your signal -to- the AP in such a case, but the AP isn't necessarily going to be able to transmit enough power in your direction for you to get a return signal.