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[Psychoca]

You can use a USB extension cable to reach better signal areas, but, you need to remember that you will also gain loss of signal over the length of the cable.  You can do a screening bodge with foil, but, it doesn't really work very well...

Does the dongle work plugged directly into the computer???  If it does then you don't need the new ports..  If your computer is over 10 years old, then you may be struggling with USB 1...  USB 1.1 it should function...

As has been mentioned, there are USB 2 cards available, readily available for under 10 quid (PCI, Desktop/Tower). which are easily fitted (Switch computer off at the wall, but, leave plugged in to keep the box earthed and you earthed when you put bare skin against it).  Remove top/side, remove suitable blanking plate (hold card over the white slots until you see one that will take it), push card into slot and replace screw/clip that held blanking plate in position...

Start your computer up and it should go to windows and tell you it has found it, install the drivers, switch off, put your computer back together and use as normal...

[Varche]

Cheeky beggars. We have plenty of toilets here (outside of course) There are millions of olive trees - just choose a different one each time!

The dongle does work direct in the USB port. It has been working fine on the end of a 5 m USB extn cable for two months.

What I am after is cost effectively improving its performance as I pay the same whether I get 1.5meg or 3.6 or the soon to be offered 7.2 Meg at no extra cost just exchange dongles.

I would be quite happy to install a USB2 card if I thought that would improve things. Off EBay they come in at less than £5 including postage here.

The 10 m USB cable doesn't work presumably voltage drop as suggested on here.

I like the idea of buying an antenna and connecting that outside the house, facing the transmitter which we can see 5 miles away, and into the dongle modem. 

[omegadti]

I bought a Huawei mobile broadband router that the dongle plugs into(about £30 on e-bay) and a big rubber antenna that plugs into the dongle.   I put the antenna in the window and put the dongle into the router and then have broadband for all my computers and itouch and manage to get a good signal as well. 

[Varche]

Mr Omegadti That sounds a brilliant solution.

I have had a look on Ebay but haven't a clue which of the 46 items is the one.

I have two stand alone PC's to ideally connect to the net but just one would do. Mains power isn't a problem either if the router needs that.

Any links to an appropriate router would be greatly appreciated. Any extra cards needed? Both PC's have ethernet cards fitted.

[omegadti]

It's the Huawei D100 like this one on ebay Item: 300411242299.   I use mine on "3" but it is easy to unlock and use any E160 usb modem - instructions are online.   You can connect any number of computers to it - I have had three laptops, a desk top and an itouch connected at the same time!!