Disappointing range

WiPhiles (tm), 

I want to start a PublicIP.net hotspot in my townhouse complex.  I've got it all up and working, but the range is disappointing.

I have a rugged version of the Cisco Aironet 350 up in my attic attached to a Hyperlinktech 15dBi omni antenna.  I figure the attic is probably ~30ft off of the ground.  The antenna has an 8 degree vertical beam width.  Simple trig tells us that the beam should "touch the ground" ~215 feet out.   

I walked all around, and I couldn't get any connection (from a laptop) at anything more than approx. 200 feet away.    I can access my "regular" access point (also 100mW, standard 2dBi antennas) from ~100 ground-feet away.    

I suppose I thought I'd get better range through the buildings of the complex.   I don't really want to mount it on the roof...because I'm just renting this place and don't want the HOA calling my landlord :).

Any comments?

-Kris

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