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.