The router doing the broadcasting is a ZyXEL F1000 which is the ISP's version of the P-2812HNU-Fx Series, so not super powerful or anything.  The terrain is relativly open. Here is a photo of the house with the router: http://i.imgur.com/7BbaqdX.jpg The router is just inside the front door which is in the middle, directly behind the tree.. The photo is taken from where the ALFA device would be mounted. If I put my laptop (Compaq Presario CQ56) up there with the window open it connects to the network. If I close the window or move it away it drops it. This is Ireland so it's often rainy or windy.