Getting wireless inet off my neighbors

[tdf2001]

I am currently paying $42.95 to the bloodsuckers at COX for broadband which just recently increased by $3/month. I am looking for ways to shove it. Luckily, I am blessed with two neighbors who also subscribe to COX and have wireless routers that they do not encrypt. So I struck a deal with one of them where I share part of the expense.

Now here is my situation:
1. My house has ethernet outlets in all rooms
2. Router & Cable Modem are in the basement
3. Neighborly reception in the basement is poor
4. Neighborly reception in the garage is 95%

I need to pick up the signal with an extender, then bridge the signal to the router in the basement which distributes everything to all rooms.

I am looking at:
1. Linksys Wre54g 802.11g Range Extender Link
2. Netgear WGE101 Ethernet Bridge Link

The Linksys Extender will pick up the signal in the garage so that the Netgear Bridge in the basement can pick it up and bridge to my internal network.

Has anyone done this? I am looking for feedback on the products and the strategy I am posting here. Thanks!

 

[Iceblue]

You can't run a cat5e from your basement to your garage?

 

[tdf2001]

I could but it involves drilling and dry-walling.

 

[Iceblue]

If you own the house, you'd probably be more satisified with the result. It'd be faster and more reliable.