here i go once more

[gertsy]

well  once  again  i have found another pcmcia  network card  which i have  been assured  will work  with  my  a1200 (3rd  card ) ..i have  high  hopes  this time ..it is  wireless this  time  so  somehow  ill have to  get it to  talk to a non wireless network  or  talk to my laptops  wireless card  that i cant  find  drivers for  now ive  updated it to win 7  from  xp  ..once  i get  it  and  my 1200  says  yes its there  ill no doubt  be asking  lots  questions  ..forgive me in advance  ..but  one day  i will log into  this site  from my 1200 ..i have a dream  ..:>

You can't connect from one wireless endpoint device to another. The protocol doesn't work like that natively. You need a wireless access point to connect to. On your network.

Unless of course you use a crossover wave.

[gertsy]

Simplest way would be to just add a cheap WAP (Wireless Access Point) to your existing router/hub/switch.  I've had good luck with the D-Link DAP 1360 on the consumer end, but the much cheaper TP-Link ones work just as well for the most part.  Or simply buy an all in one Ethernet router with wifi built in and skip the WAP portion of it.  I highly recommend any of the ones that are capable of running DD-WRT firmware, like the Linksys WRT54 series.

Creating an ad-hoc network via a Windows PC is not terribly difficult, however.

I find it to be unnecessarily complex, though.  Such ad-hoc networks are more intended for one-off on the fly access, I've always found it extremely redundant to have to have a PC/laptop on at all times to serve out the wifi when a WAP can be found for under $20.

You can "hack" a solution : http://lifehacker.com/5369381/turn-your-windows-7-pc-into-a-wireless-hotspot

If you're technically minded and have a Windows PC with compatible WiFi chip.

[gertsy]

I agree. But if you have Windows 7 machine handy. And you have the time and find the jounery interesting ;It's an option.
As is a modern smart phone which you can use that as a wireless hotspot.