I have a Netgear MIMO 108mbs router and 2 54mbs cards on laptops. I live in a log house and my office is upstairs. No problem with access downstairs and about 60 ft from router. My bedroom and laptop are another 30-40ft from the accessible points. I can get online with slow speed, but keep dropping connection. I have tried the wall plugged range extenders and frankly, the suck. Any advice on how to extend my range?

Try just pointing your aerial on the router in that direction a little bit then when you use the laptop try and site so the wireless devices are in a direct line if possible (imagane through the wals) if that doesn't work consider moving your router upstairs thts what I don't and you still get a singal downstairs and up stairs. Its all about the postioning really.

Good luck. Eventually you will find th right place for it.

Try resiting your router to a more empty area, like the hallway of your house.
As there are this obsticles your range whould be improved.

Also you say you have a MIMO router, getting matched MIMO wireless cards will also help.

Yep like belkin router and belkin wireless cards are up to 125% faster. Normally about 110% faster for me but still a difference.