Wireless network for broadband on plasma

[Epoman]

I have a Sony Viao laptop as my main PC system, which I use in a docking station that is connected to external peripherals in my ‘office’ (bedroom).

I’m just about to sign up to Pipex broadband and I want to be able to surf the net on my plasma in the living room as well.

I don’t really want to bring the laptop downstairs and fiddle with connections each time, and what I thought I could do is buy a cheap old PC for the living room and create a wireless network so the laptop can remain upstairs and I can use the connection downstairs also using the permanently connected PC hidden behind a sofa. The Viao has a wireless network facility built in.

I also want to be able to use the PC to connect to my av equipment so I can record my LP’s onto CD’s. I can’t do this with the Viao as it does not have a connection into the soundcard except for the headphone and mic connections.

Can anybody advise what equip I’ll need to achieve this. Presumably I need a wireless network card for the PC, but looking at suppliers web sites suggests that I might also need complicated things like broadband router. Will a cheapo PII or PIII do the job

I’m a newbie to this so treat me gently please

I did similar thing with new built Home Cinema PC. This uses wireless connection (USB trasmitter / receiver) to main PC downstairs.
That is connected by a cheapo (internal) Ethernet card direct to the ADSL modem / wireless router. The Router has a PCMCIA wireless card in it to communicate with other wireless devices on the network.
In addition, it has space for 5 "wire" connections.
You need to look at the bandwidth of the unit.
Mine is only basic 11 Mbps but they go up to about 54 Mbps (which is like errrm, 5 x faster !)
I had ISDN before so the ADSL broadband router is still using that with 256 nominal dwnload / 64 upload

NOTE - for anywhere wher you would hardwire connect from a PC to the router, if you use a USB ethernet adaptor...watch out for USB v1 as the USB is bandwidth limited.
When I had the 2 PC's connected by wire to the router, I only got 6 Mbps due to the USB v1 Ethernet adaptor on one PC (other PC had full Gigabit LAN on the MoBo. That's when when I bought the internal ethernet car, but a USB 2 external would prob do it - if you have a USB ports... otherwise have to buy a USB 2 adaptor

It's handy because my Norton & Windows updates can run automatically in the background, and have Digiguide running all the time on the Home Cin PC. If you use an fiel sharing clients you can leave them running for time consuming / low rate downloads

[Epoman]

So..............

if I connect the broadband modem and a broadband router to a bare bones PC to my plasma, I should then be able to communicate with my laptop in my office?

I'll check out the bandwiths. No point having broadband if it's going to be slowed down by the equip!