how improve wireless reception from a hotspot

Clarifications

Moving rhe laptop firstly by turning in a circle where it sits at present. One position will be stronger than the others.

You could move around your living space once you figure out which direction is the strongest.

If you go into the wireless setup you can pick a different channel, which will either increase or reduce your present signal.

to get a good signal, best as I understand it, you need to have line of sight to the source antenna. you can get thru windows but doors and walls you maybe are relying on reflection. which is another option, you might be able to reflect the signal around a corner to you. but i don't know with what. a mirror, i suppose...also no interference from hifrequency stuff like radar, other satelitte antennae. if the source is far away, maybe a booster could help with the attenuation. see if you can figure out the source antenna. remove tree branches, bushes, neighbors laundry. also metal containing walls (which most of them do contain due to metal studs, wire lath or plain old electrical wiring). i think you are barking up the right tree with asking about an antenaa. you might be able to cobble up one to put outside on the roof or something. if your signal fluctuates, see if turning off your digital tv receiver or cell phones helps. you may be able to improve the interference with shielding. Google 'antennas' and hang out at the ham sites those guys really know wireless. my 2 cents is not worth the waste of money on a signal booster.