Hi, I'm a bit of a newbie I'm afraid. My issue is, I've currently moved to a house which has aol broadband provided through the phone line. I want to be able to connect my computer up to the internet as well. I have a duel boot system running Windows XP and Linux Redhat. Is it just a case of getting a router that is known to work with aol, and having done that, will I need to install any software on my own computer? My housemates currently have to sign into aol to connect to the internet, but with the router will it just be connected 24/7? I'm loathe to have to install any aol software on my own computer as I really don't like aol - once it's on there it's really hard to get rid of!

Its not a big deal. Get a D-Link 614+ router for e.g. and then
you'll have to
1st create a new AOL Username that you'll use for the router on the aol login page.
e.g. newroutername (everything lower case no special keys)
desire a password (not more then 6-8 letters no special keys!)
2nd adult account
3rd router part:
-WAN choose PPPoE connection
-Dynamic PPPoE
then username will be: newroutername@us.aol.com (or de.aol.com or uk.aol.com)
and your password
Leave the rest as default and choose
Maximum Idle Time = 0
Auto-reconnect = enabled
MTU = 1492

Thank you very much for your reply ... I'll give it a go

get back to me if you engage any errors.
But its important to use another username (a new one!!)
And your cohabiter don't need the aol web page in order to use messenger or mail.
Mail can be handled by evolution mail client, kmail, thunderbird mail even with windows products such as outlook. And Messenger trillian is a choice, or aim or gaim in linux or kopete.

Ah, that could prove a bit of a problem convincing them to let me connect via a router then. They use aol for email and as their browser. I don't think they'd be happy having to change the way they use the internet. Is there no way they'd be able to sign into aol and use the browser/email as they do now? I'm afraid I don't really know much about how aol works/connects - I tend to steer clear of it as much as possible

I thought that you'll come back with this... Blame those nuts ;-)
***imagine***
Okay after you did everything I told you and those... still want to use their AOL Software. Connect with the router what should work after you've done everything above. Then you'll have to start AOL 9 or whatever version, next use the username guest and click on settings.
then click on Profile Settings (or called similar)
Now create a new location/site you don't have to delete an existing one.
call it for e.g. router. NEXT
Choose your own kind of connection (or called similar)
NEXT
choose Other/or Lan (or called similar)
NEXT
Leave the next unchecked and NEXT
choose auto reconnect (or called similar)

Finished

Now you (they) can login to AOL.
Using all those tiny and useless stuff.

PS: I have to translate you the corresponding buttons and checkboxes from german to english and I don't know how they call them in the us/uk GUI of AOL.
Like in Firefox german you've got EXTRAS which is in english TOOLS .......

Thanks ever so much for your help, I really really appriciate it!