wireless broadband connection

hi,
I have recently bought a wireless buffalo broadband adsl2+ modem/router, only problem is i'm not sure where i am to start, what i'm hoping to achieve is to have all my computers/laptops access to the internet via wireless connection, but i'm not sure what is what (i.e. do i need one computer connected to the modem/router by default or can i just have them all wireless ect). can someone try and explain this to me. thanks

You can have them all wireless.

Switch your router on, plug it into the wall socket via ADSL filter, and leave it switched on.
Install your wireless card/adapter into your PC.
Install your wireless adapter drivers.

Reboot, and it should say "wireless networks are available"

Click "Connect", then go into your router settings as per the instructions - usually go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Log in with the default username and password (check the manual).

* Set up your router with your broadband settings (login/pass etc).
* Change the router login password for security.
* Set up at least WEP encryption, but WPA is better.
* Turn off SSID broadcasting.
* Enable MAC Filtering (enter the MAC code from your wireless adapter as you do this - otherwise you'll lock yourself out and need to reset the router).

When all that's done, save the router settings, and soft-restart the router.

That should be enough to get you going. I know its a little vague, but the router config page varies from router to router. The instructions should explain most of it though.

ok, will try that thanks, just one more question, is there anything i should know to do with isp's, as i'm using aol for my connection but am on a basic package (silver), so is it as simple as the above or is there strings tied to the isp for this sort of thing? thanks

Shouldn't make any difference at all. Your ISP should have given you all the information you need to connect to their service, i.e. connection type (normally PPPoA), login, password, encapsulation type, vpi/vci settings etc.

Your router just sits there permanently connected to your broadband service, and acts as a gateway for all your PCs to connect through.

Yes, its that simple, but if you haven't done it before then it takes a bit of figuring out.

One thing that got me - and I've set up a fair few wireless networks for people - the first time you plug your router in, your wireless adapter won't be able to see it at first. That's why I said plug it in and switch it on first - by the time you've got your wireless adapter installed and everything, your router should have figured out what day it is, and wireless adapters in range will be able to see it. If it can't, don't assume anything is wrong - just give it five minutes!

I can't stress enough the importance of security, though.

* WEP or WPA (preferable) encryption
* MAC Filtering (so only specific wireless adapters can connect)
* Router login/password change (so if anybody does get onto your network, they can't get into router settings)
* Disable SSID broadcasting - anybody wanting to connect to your router will need to know beforehand what the SSID is.

thanks for the help mate, should be simple enough. thanks again.
cheers