thanks for your help ,,,in conversation with a friend he suggested leaving the modem upstairs and getting a wireless access point
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=14 @ £45.00 and a pcmia card (wireless)
http://www.dlink.com/products/?model=DWL-AG650 @ £23.99 ...
run the modem , to the 4way hub , to the wireless point ,,,running a cable from the hub to the big machine and the wireless to the laptop.
as the mnodem is usb this cant be done ,,,,but moden (usb) to machine ,,then cat5 to wireless access point , then to pcmia card should work , with an outlay of £80.00 ,,,
any cheaper way ,,,,at least wireless. ?????