Create wirless connection with Pc card?

[dojharris]

I have a adsl router and it is not wirless. Running 4 computer and the 4 ethernet port are used. Buying 2 laptops. If i stick a wireless pci card in one of the computers, can i create a wirless connection for the laptops?
If so,,,,, any tips please ?
Is it quite easy with the windows network connection tool?
should i put the Pc card in the main computer or will it take the internet speed away from it?
should i put the Pc card in my main to give a better connection to the laptops?
Running a mix of XP Pro and Vista
Main computer running dual boot XP Pro and vista Ultimate
3 computer running XP Pro
and not sure yet what vista the laptops have,, either Home Premium or Home Basic ,,, Thanks for you time doj harris

[johnwill]

I'd buy a wireless router.

[dojharris]

if i buy a wireless router i would have to buy 3 wireless pci cards or 3 wireless adapter to get my computers online

[johnwill]

Well, if you want them connected wirelessly, it stands to reason that you need wireless hardware, right?

[dojharris]

and a wireless pci card is a lot cheaper than a wireless router
Can anyone answer my questions please

[johnwill]

Actually, a wireless PCI card is not cheaper than a router, at least they're similarly priced. You can use ICS with a PCI wireless card, but that will be somewhat of a PITA, and certainly not as good a solution as a wireless router.

Wireless PCI card: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...epricegui00-21

Wireless Router: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-W...868281&sr=1-16

I have no trouble figuring out which way I'd go.

[dojharris]

Think i am going to need more than 54Mbps from a router as some times i will be running 4 computers 2 laptops and a ps3 online. I also play local area network (LAN) games and games on the internet. I also use one computer to share files to the other computers from the external harddrive (avi; mp3; and JPG)
Sorry to be a pain but maybee i should have said all this in first post:
I will have to get a new router:
I was looking for a cheep temp fix to get the laptops online:
and i would still need 3 pci cards to go fully wireless:
Was looking at these router
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamode-wir.../dp/B000HEYUN2 Details below http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Perip...roductId=24949
http://www.euroffice.co.uk/I/lsz1/125G-WL-Router-Switch
What you think of these routers as i dont want to buy a router and then buy a new router again in a few years for better internet speeds or wear it out with constant use or overloading it

[johnwill]

If you're really looking for speed, bite the bullet and run cable. Wireless will never be a satisfactory replacement for a wired connection. Besides the bandwidth limitations (roughly half the raw bit rate), 802.11b/g is also half-duplex. Sharing large files is a painful process using wireless connections.

If you must go wireless, I'd be looking at the 802.11n (draft) equipment, since it offers greater raw speed than ny of the 802.11g derivatives.

[dojharris]

I only need wireless for the 2 laptops and 1 PC as they light usage,, will the 2 routers i linked support 4 wired and wireless connnection ???
4 Port Switch = 4 wired conections ?
If so what are them routers like or do you know for any better please ?
And thanks for you help johnwill

[johnwill]

Yes, any standard SOHO router will support as many machines as you can afford, up to 20-30, when they start running out of gas. To expand the wired side, you simply add an Ethernet switch. Note that the more wireless machines you connect, the slower their access will be, and it's not a linear relationship. In other words, four machines will be a lot slower than 1/4 the speed of a single wireless machine connected. There's a lot of overhead sharing the wireless channel.