Sharing an Ethernet lead

I have a Netgear DG834 router downstairs from which I run 2 laptops,another lead runs to the second floor where I have a desktop.Is there anyway I can split the upstairs line so that I could also use the internet on my laptop up there.
Degs.

Yes, purchase a switch, plug the upstairs cable into the switch and then 2 cables from the switch, one to the desktop and another to the laptop.

Thanks David , What sort of thing am I looking for ,is that the same as an ethernet hub ?

Would this do?

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=2J7T

Thanks John, looks good to me. just out of interest what does a hub do ? or are they the same thing.

I'm afraid my understanding of network hardware is almost non-existent. For an explanation look here

http://www.networkclue.com/hardware/network/switches-vs-hubs.aspx

Just what I'm looking for, thanks.
Degs

Switch and hub - from the users point of view they do the same thing but the switch is more intelligent. When a hub has incoming, it repeats it on all other ports. A switch only does this once for any destination address, after that, it will work out which port has the destination address and only echo to that port.

Every now and again, these forums develop an echo.