dbags- Just to be clear for you: 1. Right now your DSL goes from the wall to the DSL modem to your computer. 2. You will now modify the system by unplugging the cat5 cable from the back of your computer, and plugging it into the Linksys router; then you have a second cat5 cable that will go from the Linksys to the back of the existing computer. All you're doing is inserting the Linksys router so that it can take the signal from the DSL modem and split it up to more than one computer. All this should be very clearly described in the Linksys instructions, including the step-by-step sequence of installing the new router software and making the physical conections. Once this is completed, you will have the capability to connect up several more computers with cat5 cable and/or several wirelessly as well.

Not all wireless 2.4 phones disrupt it. Tried a $9 GE from Walgreen's here and it very rarely disrupted... and never on ring or dial. Maybe once every three days. Yet my old expensive Sony would daily a time or two for no reason cause loss of wifi for a minute. Have been using DECT 1.9 phones,, 5 of them here .. they never disturb it. If connecting to a neighbors wifi,, you might talk to the neighbor and explain the benefits of securing thier wifi so you 'cant connect to it unless you know the passkey. Then at least you would get a popup asking you to enter the secret and know you're not stealing their connection. Or just get a bigger antenna and cancel your internet connection and use your neighbors.. heh Have read some people have continue to have problems with 5.8 phones too. I forget exactly ... even though they say 5.8, many will communicate or ring or dial or something on 2.4.

"I don't think someone would be on the phone 3 to 4 hours almost every night" You must not have a teenage daughter. :) The phone interference would be most likely if it's in your house since you're not in an apartment. I don't know why you're dropping the connection every night. Is there any other electronic equipment that gets turned on at your house during that time? Maybe something else is sending off signals that interfere. Have you tried resetting the router when that happens? Turn it off, let it sit for a minute and turn it back on to see if that helps. If you're on a 1 acre lot, I'm surprised that you're seeing your neighbors' connections. To secure your connection, you'd need to go into the router setup and the wireless setup on your computer and set them both to use WPA (or WEP if that is all that is supported). The router should have instructions on how to do this. If not, post here and somebody can help.

your network the top one is set to the highest security wpa2 and has a good signal strength, the second one is not set up securely however as you can see it has no bars showing so you would likely not be able to connect due to that. If they knew where to look they can tell if anyone is connecting to their network. If you know who it is like a neighbor you should let them know they are showing up as non secure and they really should secure it. example for you How to Tell If an Outside User Is on Your Wireless Network How To Tell If Someone Is On Your Wireless Home Network Amazingly enough one that pops up on my list from time to time is a Bank and it is listed as not secure, I don't know what the heck they are doing with a non secure network.