Your laptop might have 802.11n built-in if it is new enough. OK, maybe not until next year. But you can add the new MIMO technology with a tiny little USB gadget, and get 10 times the range of your old 802.11g networking.

Computers & networking

The next generation after 802.11g is 802.11n.

Called MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out), the new standard has 10 times the range of 802.11g, and makes use of reflections from walls and objects to increase the range, speed, and eliminate dead spots around the house.



When your laptop just doesn't reach that hammock under the tree, or the lounge chair by the pool, this tiny little gadget can plug into the USB port and make a world of difference. And unlike adding a 300 milliwatt PCMCIA card and high power access point, this does not resort to brute force and chew up all of your battery time.

Because it is a tiny USB device (it comes with an extension cable) and is weatherproof, you can duct-tape it to the focus of an old satellite dish to get a range of several miles, so you can share a neighbor's Internet access. I share my Internet access with several neighbors, using similar techniques.

It is compatible with all of your old 802.11 equipment also. But do yourself a favor, and get the RangeMax 240 to go with it, so you get even better range, and up to 108 megabits per second speeds.

Netgear WPN111.