Home Networking

[charleychacko]

Interested in setting up home network?  You are not alone! More than 35 million homes in the US now have multiple PC’s.  Every one of those households is a candidate for a home network.

Internet Connection Sharing is the ‘killer app’ - the driving force behind getting a home network.  Imagine each of your PC's hooking up to the Internet through a single connection.  Imagine being able to share your printer or send files between computers almost instantly!

I have a wireless network installed at home.  It's become an indispensable utility for our family.  I’m writing this article while connected through a CommSpeed high-speed wireless connection to the Internet -- using my laptop out on the deck.  At the same time, my sons are “wasting time” downloading MP3s & gaming downstairs and my wife is in the den receiving digital pictures from our daughter in Wisconsin.  We're all simultaneously "doing our thing" without any hampering connection wires.

Let's take a look at the variety of home networking alternatives.

Home Networking Fundamentals. There are two basic types of networks â€" wired and wireless.  The equipment for a  wired network costs less, but requires running Ethernet cables to every computer.

In my house, running new wires to every computer would have been costly, and a real pain to accomplish.  The best solution was to put in a wireless network.  The convenience and freedom to move everywhere with my laptop made the additional cost worthwhile.

Wireless Home Networks require a base station radio and a “router” which distributes the signal to each computer.  Also, each computer needs a wireless card installed to receive signal.

Wired Home Networks require a router/hub, Ethernet cables, and an Ethernet adapter (NIC card) in each computer.

If this is all “Geek to you,” visit www.practicallynetworked.com.  This excellent Website is packed with information about home networks.