About to network... help

I'm looking to network two PCs I have at home wirelessly. I've read up a
fair bit on home networking and I'm still fairly confused, especially with
the product descriptions.
What I want from my home network is to be able to share my Broadband
connection and share files. The PCs are situated, one on the ground floor
the other on the floor above.

At the moment I connect to broadband via my USB speedtouch modem I received
with my ISP.
I'm assuming I need a router/switch combo with a modem. Is this correct? I
also need 1 wireless network card. (I already have 1 network card (non
wireless)

OK so far... but the product descriptions are my main problem. I can't tell
exactly what is included.

For example is 'Linksys Wireless-G 54mbps Broadband Router' all I need
besides the network cards to start networking with an always on internet
connection?

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVn
b3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=477


Are there any products you would recommend for my needs?

thank you
Oz

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 15:32:35 +0000, Oz <aqpn83.DeleteThis@dsl.pipex.com> wrote:

 >I'm looking to network two PCs I have at home wirelessly. I've read up a
 >fair bit on home networking and I'm still fairly confused, especially with
 >the product descriptions.
 >What I want from my home network is to be able to share my Broadband
 >connection and share files. The PCs are situated, one on the ground floor
 >the other on the floor above.
 >
 >At the moment I connect to broadband via my USB speedtouch modem I received
 >with my ISP.
 >I'm assuming I need a router/switch combo with a modem. Is this correct? I
 >also need 1 wireless network card. (I already have 1 network card (non
 >wireless)
 >
 >OK so far... but the product descriptions are my main problem. I can't tell
 >exactly what is included.
 >
 >For example is 'Linksys Wireless-G 54mbps Broadband Router' all I need
 >besides the network cards to start networking with an always on internet
 >connection?
 >
 >http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVn
 >b3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=477
 >
 >
 >Are there any products you would recommend for my needs?
 >
 >thank you
 >Oz

Im no expert but there are generally the older "b" type and the newer
"G" type which you mention above. Theres a lot of deals on the b type
and once in a while on the g.

Im not sure how compatible they all are if you get different types for
router and card - g or b and brands. Ive read people whove used
different types and had no problems and others who claim they had a
few. Among the brands there is a fair amount of bashing of belkin and
some other lower cost brands but in general if I can figure out how to
fix a few quirks they work alright. Ive seen several posts where they
claimed they switched from belkin to linksys and their problems went
away but Ive seen others who also had problems with linksys etc and
other brands , similar problems. Theyve fixed them by updating drivers
etc.

I havent compared them side by side but if you want to play it safe
get a linksys g router and a g card. If you see a good deal on a b or
belkin get it at a place you can return it easily like COMPUSa etc<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->