grimerz, your router should be set up to log onto your aol account using a master screen name, your computers then connect to the router

so in effect, all your computers are connected using the same screen name..

kreator11, if your ISP does not advise you on what router to get, ask them what connection they use for example: PPPoA (point to point protocall over ATM), PPPoE (point to point protocall ovet ethernet) etc... you will then need a router which supports that type of connection

wow thats all complicating... just tell me what i need to do

1st of all you need to contact your ISP as leesmithg pointed out to ask them what router to get

As the others have been implying, all routers are not the same. What hasn't yet been spelled out is the most fundamental difference between routers: whether it is a wireless router or a standard wired / cabled router.

If you have a wireless router, this will need to connect to your modem using an ethernet ("CAT5") cable. If your modem cannot be connected using an ethernet cable, then you'll need to buy a router with a modem built-in. The wireless router will basically translate the Internet link into a wireless signal that spreads around your house, kind of like your radio reception. You'll then need your PCs to latch onto that signal by using a wireless network card fitted inside each of the PCs (or using a USB wireless network adaptor plugged into a USB port on the back of each PC).

If you have a wired / cabled router, this will need to connect to your modem using an ethernet ("CAT5") cable. If your modem cannot be connected using an ethernet cable, then you'll need to buy a router with a modem built-in. Each PC will need to be physically plugged into the router using an ethernet cable connected from the PC's network port. If the PC doesn't have a network port, you'll need to fit a network card inside or connect a USB network card into one of the USB ports in the back of the PC. Herein lies the reason why it's the most fundamental difference between all routers. Although cabled routers are cheaper than wireless routers, most people have no intention of running a 15m network cable around their house to connect up PCs on different floors.

Don't expect any of this to be particularly easy. As you didn't already know what a router or an ISP was, I'm assuming that you would consider yourself a novice PC user rather than an advanced PC user. In theory, setting up a simple home network ought to be reasonably straightforward and take you only a couple of hours. In reality, security, encryption, firewalls and all manner of other complications stand in your way and are likely to cause you problems or further confusion. It may be best to look in your local newspaper or telephone directory to see how much a local IT specialist would charge you to come in and supply and fit it all for you. Because they do this kind of thing all the time, it won't take them very long at all.

Our own Glenn Hefley wrote a pretty thorough article here on D-A-L.com about home networking which you may want to take a read of: http://www.d-a-l.com/articles/library/102.html