Found some interesting articles on improving wireless network range:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...flat~days=9999
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

Basically this is a simple antenna you can make that can increase your signal strength and quality and you can make it in 20 minutes with a box of cereal, some tinfoil and sellotape. I'm pretty sure it will work so am hoping when I make it it will make that little difference to stop a laptop dropping out every now and again in a room upstairs.