So my kids have a Eee mini-notebook...win XP.

One of their neighborhood friends input their homes wireless key into the laptop...

Is there a way to extract it so that i can jsut plug that into my laptop to get a better signal...?

I have a NetGear USB wireless adapter plugged into my Dell out in my garage...
Because i have a studio out there, i have soundproof walls, and extra layers of insulation applied to the wall...

I get about 2MB signal from my Linksys wireless router across the other side of the house in my wife's office...since that is where the coax cable drop was put during installation...

Is there a way to "ghetto" rig my USB adapter to boost its signal reception?

I really dont want to run any CAT5 across the house just to plug into my laptop... i dont want to feel tethered

thanks all...