Have been having a lot of fun with the new Netstumbler (0.4), & was delighted to find it supports the bargain (~US$40) USB ZyDAS ZD1201 adaptors. These dongles of course need only cheap USB feed cable & connectors & can hence be easily moved around to a reception sweet spot! I paid more than US$40 for a short Orinoco pigtail in 2002 - grr ...

 After trials at the focal point of a larger solid dish ( see => www.manuka.orcon.net.nz/roofscan.jpg), several DIY antennas were rustled up,with a nifty 12" (300mm) mesh parabolic dish especially promising. It's based around a US$4 Chinese cooking vat scoop & 15dB gain looks feasible. With a lick of black paint it could be quite professional & versatile + near invisible. Initial trials indicate a couple of these should give 10km LOS & have low wind & corosion resistance & hence be ideal "Poor Mans WiFi". See => www.manuka.orcon.net.nz/usbscoop.jpg Stan. in NZ