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Here`s a question that I don`t seem to be able to find the answer to.

I have two PC`s in the house, 1 desktop & 1 laptop. Desktop has broadband connected to one USB port. I connect the laptop to it via a crossover RJ45 cable slung across the rooms as there`s no real way to hide it on a permanent basis. I`d like to go wireless though, would I need 3 bits of extra hardware or 2? Do I need the `access point` as well as the PC cards or will the PC cards talk to each other without it? Then there`s bluetooth cards would that work seeing as the PC`s are always relatively close in the house?

There are 2 ways to network.

1 - as you mentioned connect up a router and access point.

2 - Run an adhoc system, basic just stick a wifi card in each and they will connect. You can share the net connection easily through XP, the only disadvantage is you have to have the computer on that is connected to the net for the others to connect. I use this method and it is cheap and works a treat. 1 desktop and 3 laptops.

Bluetooth would work too, I haven`t tried this but a buddy has with sucess, but the range is limited.

You buy yourself a wireless adsl modem router like the Netgear DG824M, which has a 4 port 10/100 switch, and a wireless PCMCIA Adapter.

Then you could connect the pc to the router via the network card via a RJ45 cable, the cross over cable you have now won`t work - it`s has to be a basic RJ45 network cable, and plug the PCMCIA card in the back of the laptop and, with a bit of software installing/configuring you should be good to go.

Excellent, thanks chaps, just what I needed to know.