Help me with this networking configuration.

[Nolo]

Upstairs:  Windows 8 x64 PC connected via ethernet cable to Linksys 54G WRT which is connected to cable modem.

Downstairs: 4 PCs all together side by side.  I have one wireless adapter.  All 4 of these PCs run Windows 7.  2 are 32 bit & 2 are 64 bit.  All 4 PCs have a single built in ethernet port on the motherboard. 

What do I need to get all 4 PCs downstairs to connect wirelessly to the internet through the Linksys 54G WRT upstairs?

I have tons of routers, switches, hubs, crossover cables, and ethernet cables.  What I am short on are wireless adapters and PCI ethernet cards.  I would prefer to set it up based on the hardware I have.  What would be the proper setup?

[Unacceptable]

You could use a wireless switch/hub,not a router,that wirelessly connects to the router,then the PC's connect via ethernet to the switch.If you can find one,I looked & found nothing...........

Or,wireless cards for each PC.Probably cheaper than a wireless switch/hub,if one exists............

Cards go for about $15-25 each,maybe less if you find them on sale  

Don't know if one PC with connectivity via wireless card can distribute connectivity via ethernet to more than one PC,hmmmm.

[Nolo]

You could use a wireless switch,not a router,that wirelessly connects to the router,then the PC's connect via ethernet to the switch.If you can find one,I looked & found nothing...........

Or,wireless cards for each PC.Probably cheaper than a wireless switch,if one exists............

Cards go for about $15-25 each,maybe less if you find them on sale 

I have a switch, but it isn't wireless.  Currently I'm only running two of these PCs.  The setup I'm using for these two, is a crossover cable from PC1 to PC2, and PC2 has the wireless adapter in it.  I bridged the connections, and can get both on the internet that way.  But since PC 2 only has 1 ethernet port, I can only do that once.  I can't run PC3 to it for example. 

If I ran PC 1, 3, & 4 to the switch, and then a cable from the switch to PC 2, is there anyway all 4 PCs could use PC 2's wireless adapter?

I'm trying to be stubbornly efficient and not buy anymore hardware lol 

[Unacceptable]

You could use a wireless switch,not a router,that wirelessly connects to the router,then the PC's connect via ethernet to the switch.If you can find one,I looked & found nothing...........

Or,wireless cards for each PC.Probably cheaper than a wireless switch,if one exists............

Cards go for about $15-25 each,maybe less if you find them on sale 

I have a switch, but it isn't wireless.  Currently I'm only running two of these PCs.  The setup I'm using for these two, is a crossover cable from PC1 to PC2, and PC2 has the wireless adapter in it.  I bridged the connections, and can get both on the internet that way.  But since PC 2 only has 1 ethernet port, I can only do that once.  I can't run PC3 to it for example. 

If I ran PC 1, 3, & 4 to the switch, and then a cable from the switch to PC 2, is there anyway all 4 PCs could use PC 2's wireless adapter?

I'm trying to be stubbornly efficient and not buy anymore hardware lol 

Good idea,try it & let us know if it works.Bandwidth may suffer,but you could have a connection at least 

I have never had such a need nor any of my customers either,so holler back!!!!!!!!!

[Nolo]

You could use a wireless switch,not a router,that wirelessly connects to the router,then the PC's connect via ethernet to the switch.If you can find one,I looked & found nothing...........

Or,wireless cards for each PC.Probably cheaper than a wireless switch,if one exists............

Cards go for about $15-25 each,maybe less if you find them on sale 

I have a switch, but it isn't wireless.  Currently I'm only running two of these PCs.  The setup I'm using for these two, is a crossover cable from PC1 to PC2, and PC2 has the wireless adapter in it.  I bridged the connections, and can get both on the internet that way.  But since PC 2 only has 1 ethernet port, I can only do that once.  I can't run PC3 to it for example. 

If I ran PC 1, 3, & 4 to the switch, and then a cable from the switch to PC 2, is there anyway all 4 PCs could use PC 2's wireless adapter?

I'm trying to be stubbornly efficient and not buy anymore hardware lol 

Good idea,try it & let us know if it works.Bandwidth may suffer,but you could have a connection at least 

I have never had such a need nor any of my customers either,so holler back!!!!!!!!!

And I would just use standard ethernet cables to make those connections correct?  No need for crossover cables since I am using the switch?   

[lassdas]

..
I bridged the connections,
..
If I ran PC 1, 3, & 4 to the switch, and then a cable from the switch to PC 2, is there anyway all 4 PCs could use PC 2's wireless adapter?

Not sure how you bridged the connections,
but Internet Connection Sharing (ICS, activated on PC2) should do the trick.

[Nolo]

..
I bridged the connections,
..
If I ran PC 1, 3, & 4 to the switch, and then a cable from the switch to PC 2, is there anyway all 4 PCs could use PC 2's wireless adapter?

Not sure how you bridged the connections,
but Internet Connection Sharing (ICS, activated on PC2) should do the trick.

I started out using ICS, but I started having trouble with unidentified network issues and PC1 wouldn't connect to the "network" of PC2.  So I was playing around, and just figured out if I highlighted both the wireless and the lan adapters I could bridge them, and they both worked that way. 

[lassdas]

I see.
If it works for PC1, it should work for 3+4 too if you just add the switch,
shouldn't really matter what cables you use, both, standard and crossover should do fine, the switch will take care of it.

[Nolo]

Thanks guys.  Working perfectly running through the switch.  All PCs are now utilizing PC2's wireless adapter. 

[firefop]

Sorry for the late post - but any netgear router can be set to operate as a wireless access point... which has the side effect of turning the ethernet ports into a switch... SMC routers all have this same 'feature' as well.