Tell me more oh smart one!!!!

This is the Portland Radio site, and WiFi is just radio, at 2.4GHZ. I don't see how this prospect is any different than improving radio reception for audio radio. The design of antennas changes depending on the frequency range I guess but otherwise, it's just radio.

From a practical standpoint, many wireless cards do not allow you to plug in an external antenna. The desktop PCI variety do and I've had good luck getting directional antennas from Fry's for about $10 on sale and they really can help if you point the antenna in the direction of the access point radio. I'm not sure how a pringle's can helps other than acting as some sort of passive repeater or something. Like with any other radio waves...

Andrew

It's highly directional, which helps with signal to noise.

http://binarywolf.com/249/coffee_can_antenna.htm

(one of many links on the topic)

People have used recycled Sat dishes, of all kinds, to setup very long range wi-fi links too.

Pringle can shootout:

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

Note: The FCC may take a dim view of this!

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1428941

1W EIRP for mobile devices,and 4W EIRP for fixed devices.
There's a small loop-hole also,after the 4W EIRP limit,you are required to lower the (TPO)signal level 1dB for every 3dB of antenna gain.
So,in essence,you gain another 2dB.

----
"For antennas having gain greater than 6 dBi, the FCC requires you to reduce the transmitter output power if the transmitter is already at the maximum of 1 watt. The reduction, however, is only 1 dB for every 3 dB of additional antenna gain beyond the 6 dBi mentioned above. This means that as antenna gain goes up, you decrease the transmitter power by a smaller amount. As a result, the FCC allows EIRP greater than 4 watts for antennas having gains higher than 6 dBi."

From what I've read, the Pringles can is suboptimal due to it's small diameter. One of those big metal juice cans would be better.

Here's one from kitchen utensiles:

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FWY/INQW/EY0ET2JYE3N/FWYINQWEY0ET2JYE3N .MEDIUM.jpg