thanks alot for your help so far
the problem is that i have two sockets for a phone line - both downstairs.
i want to play xbox360 live upstairs, but my mum and dad object to 20m of wire up the stairs...
i have heard that wireless adapters for the 360 are poor because they keep disconnecting which would ruin the experience and gameplay.
So with a router, are they easy to set up with a laptop, if the laptop has built in Wireless Enabled? and can i possibly connect an Ethernet wire to a wireless router temporarily when i want to play xbox360 live?