Nix,
You said you had 256kb dsl. I think you meant maybe 256kbps (256kb would be equivelant to about 2.0mbps speed). Residential dsl speeds offered usually top out at 1.5mbps, on the download side). In any case, from a strictly bandwidth standpoint an ethernet connection is not going to buy you anything over your current usb one. You aren't even close to using up the available bandwidth.
Please remember to post back whether your problem is resolved or
not, so that others may gain from the knowledge.