do i throw away the wired modem/router?

Hi
I seem to be getting mixed advice from shops when I ask what equipment I
need for the following situation. I have a friend who browses the internet
from her laptop wired up to a BT Voyager 220v router modem (for business use
and would seem a waste to discard) which is designed to attach at least
another computer via an ethernet cable. She is very happy with the
situation!
However her husband with the computer upstairs, and quite a long way away,
is still using dial up and is not happy! His computer is new with a 10/100
network card. What equipment should I purchase to connect him with the
minimum of disruption to broadband. I know a cable is the simplest but wife
says that is out of the question. So is an wireless access point what I
need but have been told that is very tricky to set up! I suppose I am just
looking for the simplest way to connect the computer upstairs withe the
router downstairs without putting in a cable!
Hope someone can advise.
Thanks
Lizzie