switch vs router

I have 6 PCs and 1 networkable printer (has ethernet card) that I can
and would like to hardwire in conjunction with several lap-tops that I
occasionaly would like to have wireless access. I need them all to
have internet access and I really would like them all to belong to the
same workgroup or some other method of sharing files, printers etc.
Can I piggy back a wireless router to my existing 4 port router and
still join the same work group? Should I scrap the 4 port that I have
and get a 8+ port router? I think you get the picture.

thanks

Yes you can.

Just connect a patch cable between one of four switch ports on the
Wireless to one of the four switch ports on the current router. DO NOT
connect the patch cable to the WAN port on the Wireless. Most of todays
switches are auto speed and duplex sensing so no special cable required.
Be sure to disable the DHCP server in the Wireless router so that only
your current router is responding to DHCP requests. The end result is you
will have Wireless AP plus a 6 port wired switch.

This is a Very crude picture of the wiring.

Wired Router Wireless Router
------------------- -------------------------
WAN LAN Ports Lan Ports WAN Ant.
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ----- | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| To PCs etc To PCs etc
|
To Modem

Cheers

So the wireless router needs to be static IP and the first router would
be DHCP? How would the wireless assign IPs to wireless connections -
sorry for the niave questions

thanks

You will only be using the Wireless router as a switch. The 4 LAN ports and
the Wireless radio are acting as an extension to the Wired routers switch.
All wired and wireless clients (PCs and printers) will get their address
assigned by the DHCP server in the Wired router. The Wired router will get
its external (WAN) address assigned by your ISP. That is why you DON'T
connect anything to the WAN port on the Wireless router, and you disable
its DHCP server function.

cheers