AirPort Base Station to boost reception, or as repeater?

Okay, so I'm setting up a wireless network to stretch from my house to my neighbors house (super close by...small houses in a college town). The reception is not great next door at their place, and we're trying to find a cheap way to improve it.

The question is this: they have a standard AirPort Base Station which they aren't using (in a closet...so sad), and I'm wondering if there is a way to use it to boost the signal or function as a repeater of sorts. Does this make sense? Basically, I'm wondering if it has an ability to pull the signal from my house and improve it somehow for inside their house.

I'd appreciate any help on the matter. Thanks!

Originally posted by mystixman
you can use it as a repeater. just set up the second airport to connect to the internet via WDS to the first airport.

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was this in response to my question, or the post regarding the antenna? if i CAN use the base station as a repeater, that would be awesome. does it make any difference that the router at my house is not an AirPort Base Station? It's a linksys router...

Thanks for your help!