Help with choosing router & other high-speed internet stuff

[Lazarey]

I am new to high-speed internet (I've had dial-up all my life) and I know nothing about routers or anything else you might need.
I'm supposed to be getting high-speed (1m wireless broadband) hooked up tomorrow morning and I would like to know what I need!
I've heard people say that you should be behind a router with a firewall in it. Any suggestions on which one I should get? I want my new Velocity Micro computer to be as safe as possible ;D

I don't think I'll need wireless ability because my house has ethernet jacks in every room (I was putting in more phone jacks and thought "what the heck, I'll have high-speed some day" ) and I don't have a laptop. However, if a router has wireless already made in, that's fine. I'll probably use it sometime in the future.

I want to be able to connect my main computer, Xbox (not 360), and a second computer to the internet. I would like for the second computer to not be connected with the main one in any way because it's not very secure.

I know I will be using NOD32 but I haven't decided on what anti-spyware, software firewall, ect. to get.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

P.S.
Can you disconnect your computer from the the internet when you have high-speed? Or do you have to leave it on all the time. Just thinking that if you disconnected, it would keep you safer because nothing could get in.

I know nothing about high-speed so if some of the things I said don't make sense I apologize.

[Alphalutra1]

Well, you can always send that new pc to me, and I will ensure it stays nice and safe for a while ;)

But since you are getting high speed internet, here is what I suggest.

The Linksys WRT54GL routers are probably the best bang for the buck, being priced around $50 or less. They are great: Wireless, good SPI firewall, nat, etc. Also, since it is the L version, it runs linux, so you can install custom firmware which will give you more features (for example, I use the Thibor firmware, and a link is in my signature). You just plug your modem's ethernet cable into the router, then configure a few options, and you are ready to go.

For wireless security, I recommend you enable WPA2 encryption, so that no one can access your network except yourself. Also, change the SSID so you can tell which network is yours (I call mine Win32.Netsky.T because it is very unique and I hope to scare people ;D )

In addition, be sure to change the default password of the router.

If you have any more questions, just ask.

Cheers,

Alphalutra1

[ThunderZ]

If you do not intend to use wireless at all then anyone of the first 6 Routers (http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1118334622279&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper) should do the trick. Take your choice, even the least expensive will do the trick. If you do go with Alphalutra1 recommendation, a very good one, But do not use the wireless then it can be disabled, my recommendation, as opposed to secured. Just one less possible point of intrusion by any potential "war drivers (http://www.wardriving.com/)" or just wireless equipped noisey neighbors.