Confused antenna help.

I have this wireless card in my pc. it connect from the antenna wire and its a white box that folds shut, but still stays on and all that good stuff, I was curious what it was that picked up on signal so i opened it, and i see copper. so im like. ok i have a big roll of coppy tubeing why cant i connect the two and maybe get better signal. well it did not work. so im trying to figure out why, i want to make a really cheap antenna that will pick up wireless signals from HELL OF far away i dont even mind having to mount it on my roof or nothing. HELP