Can I connect a computer to a wireless router with CAT5?

[Bonesdad]

2 computers, 1 router. One connected with CAT5 and one over the air. If possible, which routers are good? Which wireless PCI cards? Budget is important here, as in low budget.

 

[imported_Paladin]

If budget, as in keep it cheap, is important, why not a wired connection? Either a new cat-5 cable or, if you have the pairs available, the existing cat3 telephone wire. The options for running a wired connection are considerable. (http://www.dslretorts.com/Paladin/archives/000035.html)

 

[Bonesdad]

Because of difficulty wiring from one room to the next. This is in a rental house, so no drilling, stapling, carpet pulling up etc.

 

[Hyperfocal]

Shouldn't be any problem, anything on the network will communicate.

Even the cheapest wireless routers have a few wired connections. I just got a Netgear MR814 router for $20 AR from Circuit City. It is just an 802.11b unit but it has logging, a real firewall and plenty of configuration options. I went with a USB adapter for my desktop system so I could easily swap it if I moved stuff around.

You should be able to get a router and an adapter for under $50 net.