Setting up a wireless network in uni halls

[Atari]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I checked the stickies and couldn't find the relevant information.

I'm currently living in private halls, our internet comes through an ethernet socket through the wall, which is operated by a company called 'CableCom'. I had to pay £168 for the year in order to access the internet. I'm currently connecting through my PC, but I've recently bought an Apple MacBook.
What I'd like to do is create a wireless network so I can use the laptop around the flat. I'm unsure however what I should be looking to buy to set this up.
Could anyone please clarify what bits of kit I would need? I'm guessing I won't be needing a router as I'm not actually connecting to an ISP - the ethernet port on the wall is always on.

Sorry if this sounds confusing, but it's hard to explain. Would I just need a switch?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Atari]

Thanks for the advice guys, it's much appreciated. I was originally thinking of getting a cable router but as CableCom provide me with an IP address, I figured they had routers etc in place.

Looks like I'll be after a wireless switch, can anyone recommend a decent one? I've dealt with some 3Com ones in the past which have all promptly died very quickly for no apparent reason.

I did also ask CableCom if I could use a wireless switch in my flat, at first they refused to allow me to get one, but when I told them some people already had them, they quickly changed their tune and told me I could have one but they wouldn't support it

Thanks again ^^

 

[Atari]

IIRC the registration process had already filled in my computers MAC address, but it did have space for two other MAC addresses for games consoles and other stuff. Could I clone my computers MAC address and use that on the router?