Can you use a laptop as a Wifi range extender?

[SLCentral]

I need to get wifi internet access in my neighbors basement for a project we're doing...we only need it for a day, but the router is on their top floor, and the signal doesn't reach. They have a Lenovo R-series laptop. Can we put that on the middle floor and use it as a range extender?

I'd really appreciate any help .

 

[Black88GTA]

Can't you just move the (i assume) cable modem + router to a better location? There has to be cable jacks all over the house...

 

[SLCentral]

I mean we CAN, but the cable box + router is all behind a wall unit (which contains a few $10,000+ art pieces), so it'll be a big PITA. Looks like I'll have to drag my monitor over there tomorrow .

The whole point of this is that we need to go through his music library and do some tagging. I was planning on bringing my computer, and then using his 63" Plasma as a monitor. The low res + big screen would be good for him, since his eyesight isn't all that. We need the internet so we can get CDDB info, but it's in the basement, with no signal down there. Looks like I'll have to lug my 30" over .

 

[Fritzo]

No, you can't. You CAN buy a range extender box however. They run $60-$100.

 

[imported_goku]

I thought you could, though you'd have to use some sort of linux distro or something like that. Basically there isn't a windows utility that lets you do no wifi 'friendly' sort of things, all in linux.