How do I set up Wireless Broadband

[EDWARDZ]

Am getting broadband connection at home and want to be able to use PC & a laptop via connection. No need to use outside the house but both will be kept upstairs whilst BT socket is downstairs. What kit is best and what do I need to do to set up - Colleague said that you could do this via a wireless router?

[stevie21]

By far the cheapest option is to add a BT socket upstairs and have a modem/router with 2 wires (one for laptop, one for PC).

It's really really easy to set up the wireless connection that you outline but it can be quite expensive.
Buy a wireless modem/router like this:
http://tinyurl.com/35bu7
(there are cheaper ones available - this is just the first one I encountered)
and for your PC, a wireless adapter
http://tinyurl.com/3l7eu

For your laptop, a "PCMCIA Card"
http://tinyurl.com/6vl89

After a bit of configuring you should be able to share your broadband connection between the two.
If you've not had broadband before it's imperative that you have (software) firewalls and antivirus etc. on the laptop and the PC.
If you use any p2p things or online gaming at all, they might need extra configuring afterwards.

[EDWARDZ]

Thanks Stevie21. I have a PS2 as well can I link in same way to game online?

[stevie21]

Absolutely - however many "things" you need to get online at the same time, just make sure that your wireless router has that many connections. It's very common to get them with 4 (see 1st link in 1st post) - that sounds like it'd cover you.
I've been told by a network techie that its best to get one device : modem/router, rather than 2 separate (an existing modem plugged into a newly purchased router). I took his word for this without too much explanation.

Also, many wireless routers have the capability of being used with at least one device connected by wire (ethernet cable). If your PS2 isn't "wireless enabled" then you may be able to use the same router with a wire between that and PS2, with your 2 computers connected wirelessly (and one extra/4th "port" free if needed).

Hope I've not made this sound complicated - it really is very simple. Finally - the site "ebuyer" linked to above gives lots of helpful tips in the "reviews" section. I found that invaluable when I was in your position.
Good luck