Better antenna for a Thomson router?

Greetings,
I just moved into a new apartment where the internet setup is a measly 10mbps via broadband, running through a Thomson router. My bedroom is situated at the far end of the unit, separated by two walls, and my PC sits about 30 feet away from the router itself. Does anyone know where I can pick up a high-gain antenna for this router here in Washington, D.C., without breaking the bank? The connection drops constantly, especially when multiple people are online at once.

EDIT: I managed to find a few options on Amazon, so I’m curious to get your take on them:

http://www.kupikupi.eu/airlive-10dbi...AI101/product/

http://www.kupikupi.eu/edimax-antena...-io9d/product/

http://www.kupikupi.eu/tp-link-tl-an...l-MOL/product/

$33 I feel like spending a fortune on an antenna might be overkill, so I'm wondering if these cheaper alternatives actually work.

You’re just going to stress yourself out and have no idea if it actually works until you buy the antenna, which basically means throwing money down the drain. It’s hard to get anywhere with this without testing things out and measuring the signal strength first.

The smartest move is to just run a wire. See if you can drill some tiny holes along the floorboards that nobody will even notice, or just tuck the cable along the wall. If you sand down the door thresholds just a little bit, the cable sits perfectly flush—it's not rocket science, and you can make it look invisible. Plus, it's the most permanent, high-quality solution you can get for next to nothing if you're willing to do a little DIY. Any tech shop can cut a UTP cable to whatever length you need, and if you've got a Chipotle nearby, they usually have cheap cables available...

If that’s too much work for you, then look for a store or a repair shop that offers a return policy if you aren't satisfied with the antenna, assuming you can even find one that does that...

darkowl72 said:You’re just going to stress yourself out and have no idea if it actually works until you buy the antenna, which basically means throwing money down the drain. It’s hard to get anywhere with this without testing things out and measuring the signal strength first.

The smartest move is to just run a wire. See if you can drill some tiny holes along the floorboards that nobody will even notice, or just tuck the cable along the wall. If you sand down the door thresholds just a little bit, the cable sits perfectly flush—it's not rocket science, and you can make it look invisible. Plus, it's the most permanent, high-quality solution you can get for next to nothing if you're willing to do a little DIY. Any tech shop can cut a UTP cable to whatever length you need, and if you've got a Chipotle nearby, they usually have cheap cables available...

If that’s too much work for you, then look for a store or a repair shop that offers a return policy if you aren't satisfied with the antenna, assuming you can even find one that does that...

I stopped by ADM today to pick up the antenna, and I managed to strike a deal where I could return it. Honestly, the unit itself looked used, and the packaging was pretty beat up. I’m heading back tomorrow to drop it off and then I'll finally get to work on the cabling. Thanks for the input.

ADM 👍

And if you happen to be one of those people who lacks any semblance of coordination when it comes to running cables—say, while trying to set up a home network or configuring a smart apartment—you might want to consider looking into powerline adapters instead.

I think they’re looking for a budget-friendly fix (check the original post), but powerline adapters are anything but cheap...

darkowl72 said:I think they’re looking for a budget-friendly fix (check the original post), but powerline adapters are anything but cheap...

Exactly. A cable is always the cheapest way. I did it at my place near Best Buy—drilled right through the door frame just to run a line along the baseboard...👍

I just had a pretty unpleasant run-in with ADM, and they flat-out refused my return on an antenna. It was incredibly frustrating because the guy helping me—who had explicitly told me last time that I could return it as long as I kept the packaging intact and everything was exactly how it was originally—started completely twisting our previous conversation once his manager showed up. He suddenly started claiming they could offer an exchange instead, even though it was crystal clear he wasn't suggesting that when I first walked in asking about the return. I didn't want to make things awkward for him by causing a massive scene in front of his boss just to get my money back, but honestly, it’s just wrong to go back on a verbal agreement and make a customer look like a fool for trying to return used gear. In the end, I settled for a 32GB Kingston USB drive at a 25% discount for the same price I paid, and I walked out into a total downpour. Look, I get it; businesses don't always love it when people try to return items, but the bare minimum should have been telling me upfront that they don't offer refunds so I could decide if it was worth the trip. Instead, they gave me this "sure, bring it in" vibe only to backtrack later. I know for a fact they lost another customer recently because of this exact kind of unprofessionalism and making people feel embarrassed for shopping there in the first place.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, you actually have the right to return any item you aren't satisfied with within a 14-day window, no questions asked. Of course, there's a catch: you really ought to keep the packaging pristine, ensure the device itself looks untouched, and limit your usage strictly to a quick test run. You can find all those specific details laid out clearly in their terms and conditions under the section regarding DURATION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACT.
So, feel free to go ahead and demand a contract termination for that USB stick of yours—assuming, of course, that you haven't opened it yet. 😁

That rule only applies to online shopping. If he bought it in-store and changed his mind just 14 seconds later, the retailer isn't legally required to give him a refund. It really comes down to "good business practice," and while plenty of shops will play nice, ADM clearly isn't one of them.