Aye, I'll be sure to secure it. God knows every other dobber round here has - thought it was meant to be easy to 'borrow' other peoples' connections :lol:

Yep, as has been said - wireless router also have 4 (or more) wired ports aswell as the wireless function.
So your connection comes from the modem > wireless router then you have a wired connection going to the family desktop but you can also just turn on your wireless laptop and pick up the signal there.
Both Desktop PC and laptop will be able to use the connection at the same time, just make sure you secure the connection.

So I can just have a wireless router that can work either wireless-ly or with a cable in it? And would the dongle idea work as a cable? i.e. without having to download any new software or the like - just plug and play?

Thanks for the replies so far everyone :)

As above wire the PC to the wireless router or get a dongle for the PC.

You need a wireless router to put by the PC. Then keep the home PC plugged into the wireless router via Ethernet Cable.

Like mine :)

Get a wireless router, can plug the pc in via a wire as it is just now.

Just a couple of quick question about wireless broadband/routers.

I got a laptop for christmas and it has a wireless connection, but my home PC (used by all the family) currently has non-wireless broadband through a standard router.

Could anyone suggest a way that I can have the laptop using a wireless router and the PC staying the way it is, or is my only option a case of making both the PC and laptop wireless? Just that it's going to take a little bit of work to get the PC up to it.

Thanks for looking.