what network card is best for cable?

I don't know whether this computer has a network card already - how do
I find out? The cable connection comes throught the wall right next to
it (at present connects to the computer with a USB), so I want to make
it wired to my pc (and eventually part of a network).
What card/cables would be best for a wired connection? How could I fit
this together with a wireless network?
Thanks a lot!
Jenny

"Jenny Woodruff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I don't know whether this computer has a network card already - how do
> I find out?

It looks like an oversized telephone plug: if the computer is very old, it may also
have another network connection, say a BNC post which looks like a hollow prong.

If you are planning a wireless network, and your 'puter doesn't have a network card,
you may want to purchase a wireless PCI card for it - this way you'll dispose of
cabling altogether.

> The cable connection comes throught the wall right next to
> it (at present connects to the computer with a USB), so I want to make
> it wired to my pc (and eventually part of a network).
> What card/cables would be best for a wired connection? How could I fit
> this together with a wireless network?

Get a combo WAP (wireless access point), switch (to connect your wired 'puter) and
router (to plug your cable modem and connect the whole shebang to the world.)
Linksys makes several, so does Netgear and many other companies. They are cheap
(from less than 100 bucks), esp. those supporting only 802.11b wireless protocol. If
you are starting from scratch, consider getting a 802.11g device - it's faster.

><emeL><

Thanks for the replies, I am in the middle of holidays hence not been
spending so much time sorting out the networking. My main computer
does have a network card/port so hopefully that should make life
easier.
In terms of wireless PCI cards, which ones are good?? I am kinda
worried about having a little antenna out the back of the *metal* box
of my soon-to-wireless-computers - do they reallly work ok? Before
researching all this I had imagined a longer antenna thing out the
back of the PC, to get better reception. Does these exists in real
life? Or are PCI cards the way to go?
Thanks and sorry for being clueless!!
jenny