Okay, here's my situation.

I'm going to be building myself a computer in a about month or so. My parents don't want the internet in my room but at the same time, don't know a whole lot about computers.

I wanted to set up a wireless network so that I could use the cable modem on the computer downstairs to access the internet on my new computer upstairs in my room. Its got to be wireless, it would be very tough to run cable without my parents noticing.

I've never done this before though, what do I need? In my mind I have the idea that I need some type of wireless PCI network card for each computer and a router. I have no idea really, this is just a guess.

Can someone please explain what I need and how to do this?

Thanks!

you will need to configure ip addresses and whole bunch of other crap..its kinda hard and to explain..
i think you have to call your isp to do this.

If I were living with my parents and feeling sneaky, I'd consider 2 options:

1. First choice would be to buy a wireless router and a wireless PCI card. In this scenario I'd have internet access on my computer regardless of whether Mom's machine was turned on. If asked "What the hell is THAT?" I'd say the router was a nice little firewall keeping the bad guys out of Mom's computer. Of course, Mom would have to be gullible for this one to work.

2. I'd buy two wireless PCI adapters, one for Mom's machine and one for mine. I'd probably have to install Sygate Home Network or a comparable NAT/proxy software on Mom's machine to share the internet connection, though, and Mom's machine would have to be turned on whenever I wanted to access the net from my computer. I wouldn't need a router or access point--I'd just put the wireless cards in ad hoc mode so they could communicate directly with each other.

The first one is the best solution. You don't have to install any software on Mom's machine, and the connection to your own machine is always on. Wireless routers are cheap, and so are 802.11b wireless cards; you could have a working solution for less than $150.

tropic-
Thats an awesome idea, thanks for letting me know how to go about doing this, its going to make things a lot easier on me.
Thanks again!

Mom will need some thick glasses if this is going to work. Right now she has a cable going from the cable modem into her system and that cable is going to disappear and be replaced with a wireless router.

...AND, when she clicks on the Network Connection (which her PC will now have since her PC will have to be setup to access the router) she will see that you also are on the local network, and it doesn't take a space scientist to figure out that means Internet access -- at which point you will lose your PC for good.

Wireless PC cards, by the way, have an antenna that is rather obvious even to the casual observer...

Those are all great points, thank you. I'm not too worried though. They ask me how to turn the computer on and then I have to constantly teach them how to scroll down when they're reading something on a website.

I do have a question though:

"Mom will need some thick glasses if this is going to work. Right now she has a cable going from the cable modem into her system and that cable is going to disappear and be replaced with a wireless router."

I thought there is a wire that runs from the cable modem to the wireless router and then its MY computer that is wireless via a wireless PCI card.

well you did say about networking. you could buy a regualr router/switch and whatever else and use straight through cables. when your mom asks whats going on...

1st) she doesnt know a thing about networking and will just think that the cable going to your room is supposed to be there.

2nd)if she does ask, just say that im setting up a network so we can share files from your computer and to mine and visa versa.

depending on your OS, you might have to change your TCP/IP settings whenever you're not home (so your mom doesnt go on your computer and see if you do have the net)