If you want more range, DD-WRT tells you that you shouldn't turn up the power because the laptops you are communicating with don't have the range. Instead, make a reflector that will direct the signal for both reception and transmission.
It is amazingly easy at freeantennas.com, print out the template, they have listed on cardboard and then then cut it out and make the little sale and glue tin foil on the back and voila you have incredible gain. I've got to try it. It works best where you want to direct the pattern in a particular direction, like across a room.
There are two models, the EZ-10 looks liek the simplest as it is just a bunch of straight pieces. It increases the gain by 11dBi which is pretty . amazing. You cut the template and fold it.
