Way Pickup

Way Pickup

What is the best way to enhance signal pickup from wireless router?

My girlfriend has a laptop that she tries to pickup signal from other houses around her neighborhood. The problem is that the signal is very low, and comes and goes while using it. Is there anything she can do to enhance the ability of her internal wireless card to pickup more signal? Thanks!
Note: the signal is from a neighbor who is a family friend. She has permission from the family to use the bandwidth.

Since they allow her to use it, perhaps they could also be willing to help her. Put foil behind the base antenna like a satelitte dish pointing toward your house. Of course, this may degrade signal stregnth on the other side of the foil.