Wi-Fi booster antennae
If you’ve got a laptop or PC on board, all you need to boost your community Wi-Fi reception is a signal booster comprising a high-gain antenna (preferably waterproof) and a long cable, terminating in a USB connector. Plugging it into your computer simply overrides the internal Wi-Fi card and software supplied with the antenna will enable you to select and lock onto your preferred WiFi hotspot. Often, the software will also include the ability to monitor the signal strength of surrounding hotspots.
High-gain antennae come in two types. A directional antenna, usually a flat box with a plate inside, can be pointed towards the preferred signal source, effectively ‘tuning’ it to the transmitter. An omnidirectional antenna, on the other hand, is normally a tubular ‘stick’ shape, and doesn’t need to be aligned to any particular direction making it a better choice for a permanent installation.