How do I boost my laptops wireless range?

I have a new Acer Aspire 5532. When I'm at home, I don't have any wireless networks in range. How do I boost my computers ability to detect wireless networks? What does a wireless adapter do? Does it help if you have built in wireless? Do I need a wireless router if I have built in wireless? Does either one of these boost my computers range?How do I boost my laptops wireless range?
You can't really do much if you don't have a wireless router close by.

There are lots of schemes to pick up signals farther away, but that usually means you are ';stealing'; someone else's signal. While you may be able to manage to do that, eventually it fails because the ';other'; person puts on wireless security, changes a router, or finds out you are ';stealing'; their signal...



The only real solution, to get a good signal and higher transfer rates, is to buy your own internet service, put in a high quality router and connect with your laptop to that. Of course, you are going to put on good wireless security on your own router in that case, are you not? You wouldn't want anyone ';stealing'; your internet via your wireless signal now would you?