Rather than a USB antenna/adapter I use a Cat-5 Adapter, what used to be called a Wireless Game Adapter.. The computer (or to be more specific my router) thinks it is a Cable Modem and treats it as such.. I sometimes have to do a bit of special stuff to make it happy but it is "Vintage Hardware" (They still make newer stuff that works the same though).
I modified it by following PART of the instructions on the following video link
www.amateurlogic.tv Then link to episode 3
I DID NOT recut the Linksys antenna (Just mounted it in a can as George Did.
Made a major improvement when properly pointed.