Hi, I'm planning to go over to wireless LAN (normal dsl) internet. Question.....will the computer still communicate with modem/router through a wall, or will this somehow "dampen" wireless communications. My telephone connection is in hallway. Obliged for any help here.

Depends on what the wall is made of and how this it is. If it is an internal wall with just single course of brick then it will still pass through but at a slightly reduced strength. If its a supporting wall with steel girders in it then you might have problems. I can communicate between my living room and bedroom with no problem and there is a 12" concrete wall between them. Stuart

It should go through a wall. If it's poured concrete or steel, you might have a problem but it should make it if it's not too far.

Clear "line of sight" is always best for any RF communications, but WiFi operates at 2.4GHz, same as most cell phones (at different discrete frequencies, of course) and cell phones work through most walls. But, WiFi transceivers operate at much lower powers than cell phones (FCC regs). Be aware that "real world" results can be one tenth of what the WiFi device specs say. For example, if you have a WiFi device that is specified to work "up to 300 feet", then don't be surprised if it drops connections at much over 30 feet.

That was really informative, thank you, it's an internal wall so I should be o.k.