Wireless networks and antennas

Finally I move to a new apartment and bought myself a new desktop computer. My plan was to get a wireless router to share a broadband cable connection in my apartment. I heard a lot of complains about a cheap wireless router cannot provide enough signal even inside a small apartment. So I did a little research on the wireless routers how well the 802.11 signal penetrates obstacles.

Here is what I found:

1. There are actually many people trying to extend the range of the 802.11 network. This becomes a hobby I guess like the old amateur radio. Things like pringle cans are used to build cheap antennas that claimed to extend the range to the magnitude of miles. But the easiest solution I found was a very simple reflector antenna that can put on your wireless router from here . All you need is a knife, glue, cupboard, and some tin foil.

2. here is some expert's experience on wireless LAN networking.
http://gpsinformation.net/articles/80211installtips.html