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Home Networking - Building a Network
Back to Home Networking
Am I a geek?
This is one question to ask yourself before you start
to build your home network. With an almost endless set of
options, home networks can be complex to set up and will require some
tinkering to get them working. Internet access and home
networking equipment providers have done a lot to help guide you through the set up. If you are not the type that wants to jump
in and do all of this yourself, you may want to consider service
provided by a number of companies that will set the home network
up for you. So whether you are a geek and want to tinker, or
just have it done by someone else, the following information will help to
determine what kind of network to build.
Router - The Heart of the Home Network
As you should have been able to tell from the previous
section, the members of the Cary Academy Technology Committee are
biased in favor of high speed Internet access. Another bias is
to build your home network around a device called a "router." This
piece of hardware plugs into the cable or DSL modem and then "routes"
the high speed access to the other computers in the home network.
The other computers can also talk to each other through the router -
this is how files, printers, scanners etc are shared. Computers that are located close
to the router (a few feet or in the same room) are
connected to it with an Ethernet cable. Most newer computers
already have an Ethernet jack so this is easy, inexpensive and secure. For computers that are
further away (in another room) there are several ways to connect.
These include:
Our third bias is to use wireless as the way to
connect computers that are farther away from the router.
*** As I write this, I am sitting out on my
back deck using a wireless connection to my router which is connected
to a cable high-speed Internet access ***
Endless Options
OK, so you've decided that
building a home network is for you. Now what? The next step is
figuring out how to build a network. The first choice you need to make
is which network technology is best suited for your home. There are
several choices here. You may choose just one or a combination of more
than one.
A recent trip to some of the large consumer
electronics and computer stores in the areas showed that there is a
lot shelf space devoted to home networking equipment. So the
do-it-yourselfer has a good selection of brands and technologies at
competitive prices. Wired Ethernet and wireless were the most
common products seen and a quick conversation with a sales associate
confirmed those were the best selling technologies.
Review this chart:
| |
Benefits |
Cost |
What you'll need |
| Wired Ethernet |
- Cheapest
- Most widely used
- Fastest, up to 1000Mb
|
A home network kit, to connect 2 computers
with a router for about $80. An example is the
Linksys
5 Port 10/100 Dual-Speed Home Networking Kit w/2 PCI
NIC's
|
- A router for your Cable or DSL high
speed Internet access.
- An Ethernet card for each computer.
This may already be built in to the computer.
- Category 5 Ethernet cable for each computer
|
| Wireless |
- No wires needed to connect multiple computers
- Can roam around your home with your
computers, including outside (not too far away)
|
Between $40 and $80 for IEEE 802.11g wireless
(54Mb) base stations. Less than $40 for wireless access
cards. (Tablet computers have wireless cards
built-in, all you need is the router!)
|
- A wireless access point. This could
be combined with a router.
- A wireless network interface for each computer.
This could be built in to the computer - particularly
for a laptop
|
| Phone Line |
- Uses existing phone lines within
the house without disturbing phone use
- Easy to install
- Backed by the Home Phone line
Networking Alliance - made up of manufacturers like
IBM, 3Com, Intel, HP and many others
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A kit to connect 2 computers costs about
$110.
|
- A network interface for each
computer. These come in external USB (no need to open
computer case and install intimidating hardware) and
internal PCI cards
- Computers need to be located near
phone outlets
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A final word about cost: One of the
fastest changing things about home networking is prices.
If price is a major consideration in your decision, take a trip
to the consumer electronic / computer stores and get a feel for
today's prices. These stores also run promotions and
rebates. The Internet is also a good place to compare
prices since all of these stores have extensive web sites.
Without a doubt, the two most popular home
networking technologies (and our favorites) are Wired Ethernet and Wireless.
Information on Phone line networking is provided for
completeness.
To learn about wireless
networking,
go to Wireless
12/08/2006
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