Switch / Hub or Router ???

right i have read through some online tutorials etc of how to use and setup all this equipment. The problem is i have a series of games consoles upstairs just begging to be connected to the internet. Now i have priced up a wireless connector for the xbox but this defeats the point of having several devices linked. So i looked for perhaps a wireless hub or switch but failing to find anything decent (and slightly bemused by it) i gave up . So hopefully you lot can give me some pointers or any equipment you have which is great and would do the job.

First you need to share some specific information.

What do you have that needs to connect wirelessly, where are they in relation to your cable/DSL modem, and what obstacles (floors, walls, wireless phones, etc) are inside those areas?

If everything is on the same floor and the walls aren't too thick, you'll just need a wireless G/B router to wire to the modem.

If you need to get signals through thick walls or floors, you'll need to get a router with two replaceable antennas, and replace one or both with a high-gain directional antenna that can penetrate the obstructions.

okidoke

nintendo wii (wireless or ethernet connection)
xbox 360 (ethernet connection)
and wireless enabled laptops

the main router is downstairs next to the MAIN computer (cannot be moved)
whereas everything else is upstairs

the house contains wireless phones, and the signal would have to travel between 1 floor and 2 walls.

Linksys makes an affordable router (wrt54g) with two removable antennas, which have 2 dBi gain and RP-TNC plugs.

If you replace one or both of those with an antenna of at least 7 dBi gain (plus parabolic reflector Parabolic Templat ), or a cantenna, that should get the signals through the floor.

It also has 4 ethernet sockets to connect wired PCs.

There are other routers with better speed and range, but most of those require matching wifi cards for full benefits and have no good antenna upgradeability (is that a real word?).

There may be some interference from the wireless phones, but changing the router channel usually fixes it.

ok, i see what your saying but this is obv going to require me to purchase another router which im guessing for one of a higher standard will equal more $ is there a cheaper alternative than this option ? i.e. repeaters or such, this is kinda bad lol as i am currently studying networks at UNI and understand the terminology behind all these parts but i am unsure of the products available to me. thanks for any help again.

Well, wifi routers aren't too expensive for what they do. Bridges and repeaters cost more, but do less.