What device do I need for my new wireless laptop?

Hello,
This might be a stupid series of questions but I am new to wireless and have been doing research on this and still don't know exactly how this works.
I have ordered a Vostro 1500 with the standard 1395 802.11g Wi-Fi card. I want to hook it up to my existing DSL internet wirelessly and keep my desktop wired.
Here's my current setup:
DSL line comes into the house --> DSL modem --> 4 way switch (all in the basement).
I currently have 2 wired desktops hooked up to the switch, one in the basement, one in the loft (a long way from the basement). I want to keep the desktop in the basement wired, but am planning on disposing of the desktop in the loft.
Here's my question:
Assuming I am planning on getting rid of the desktop in the loft; can I plug some type of device (wireless router?) into the plug in the wall where I now have the loft desktop plugged in and use that device to get the wireless signal to my new laptop? I guess what I'm wondering is, can I connect a wireless router or some other device to a switch, or is this not going to work?
It sounds like the best way to do it is to replace my current switch with a wireless router, which would allow me to keep basically the same setup I have and add the laptop wirelessly. It just seems like a very long ways from my basement where the switch is, up to the loft area of the house. If I could have the wireless router up in the loft, I know I would have a good wireless signal up there.
Our house has 3 levels, a basement, a main floor, and a loft. The loft looks down on the main floor (open ceiling). I will not be using the laptop in the basement (I use the wired desktop there), only on the main floor and the loft. So if I could get some device sending the wireless signal from the loft, where I currently have an ethernet plug, I'm sure I could use the laptop where I want to. I'm not too concerned with connecting the computers for file transfer etc, just getting internet to my laptop.
Also, if my only option is the wireless router in the basement, which one do you recommend that has a strong signal?
Hope this isn't too confusing,

Thanks

 

It will work.

 

i'm assuming you'll using "g" on your router. i highly suggest you get a linksys, for compatibility, range and quality. get a "n" router if you don't a get good signal and upgrade your card with "n" capability.

 

Yes,
I'm planning on getting a "g" router. Any certain Linksys models that stand out?

 

i don't know the models, but even the cheap ones work well. the linksys 54g or whatever it's called is $45-55 depending on where you get it and has 4 ethernet ports also. i've recommended it to all my friends and never hear any complaints.

 

Thanks, the one I was looking at is the linksys WRT54G, which sounds like the one you're recommending. I guess the main thing I was wondering about is if connecting a wireless router to my existing wired switch would allow me to use my wired desktop as it is now and simply add my wireless laptop using the wireless router.

 

It will work.

 

you might be able to. there might be some issues, but then you'd have to troubleshoot and dig up answers. but then again there might not be any and you could use it seamlessly. it might be best to switch out the old switch and use wrt54g for your desktop and connect wirelessly with your other devices.

 

What switch you have?

 

I''m not at home right now so I don't know the specifics, but I believe it is a Hawking 4 port switch. It's a couple years old.

 

Does it look like this?

 

No, it's silver with blue letters. I'll have to check when I get home in a few hours. The one in the picture is possibly a newer version of what I have, the shape is about the same.

 

It should work, don't worry, actually the linksys that pukemon suggested or the one you are planning to get it is the one recommended for the Hawking switch.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

 

I checked and I was wrong, it has 8 ports. It is a Hawking HFS8T. The specs for networking are:
Ports Qty - 8 x Ethernet 10Base-T, x Ethernet 100Base-TX
Data Transfer Rate - 100 Mbps
Data Link Protocol - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Networking type - Switch
Connectivity Technology - Wired
Communication Mode - Full-duplex, Half-duplex
Switching Protocol - Ethernet
MAC Address Table Size - 1K entries
Status Indicators - Power, Link OK, Link activity
Features - Flow control, Auto-negotiation, Auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X) Compliant Standards - IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x

 

Good, just get the wireless router and connect it to one of the ports, then setup the wireless network on your client device, it should work.

 

Just to get this straight, when you say client device do you mean my laptop?

 

Yep, that's what I meant.

 

Thanks a bunch, it is all a lot clearer now

 

Great, now we just need to make it work, so let us know if you are successful.

 

I hooked it up tonight and it works great! I just followed the instructions on the installation cd and it is up and running. I unhooked the wired desktop upstairs and plugged in the wireless router in that wall plug and it works. Thanks for the help!

 

You did it all by yourself, congratulations. Now if you start having problems you know where to come for help