Home Networking - FAQ

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What is home networking?
Home networking is linking computers, peripherals (printers, scanners, etc.) and consumer electronic devices within your home to form a connected environment.

What can I use it for?
Home networking is great for sharing files on your PC, sharing "broadband" or  high speed Internet access, sharing equipment such as printers & scanners throughout the home, facilitating communications with friends and family inside and outside the home, operating home controls to make sure your home is secure and comfortable, managing the household's schedules, and accessing more and better entertainment and information.

Do I have to put in special wiring?
It depends upon the type of network you want. Wireless, phone line and power line networks do not require special wiring. Conventional Ethernet networking require special wiring; a small percentage of U.S. homes have this type of wiring.

What kinds of home networking are there?
There are four basic kinds of home networking technology: Conventional Ethernet, phone line, power line, and wireless. Conventional Ethernet is known as IEEE 802.3 and IEEE 802.5. In this form of networking, computers and peripherals are linked using special wiring. Phone line networking has a standard called HomePNA. HomePNA uses existing phone lines in the home to network computers and other electronic devices. Private companies are developing power line networking. These networking technologies use the existing power/electric lines in the home to create a network. Wireless networking is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and is also known as Wireless Ethernet. This technology uses low power radio waves, like a cordless phone, to transmit data among computers and other electronic devices.

How reliable and widespread are these various network technologies?
Conventional wired Ethernet is the most reliable as it has been around the longest, with millions of units sold by many different vendors. It is a standards-based technology. Wireless, based on the IEEE 802.11 standard has also gained in popularity in the last few years.  Phone line and power line networking are also alternatives where existing wiring in the house can be used of running Ethernet cable or using wireless.

How fast is it?
Conventional Ethernet can transmit data at rates from 10 Mbps up to 100 Mbps. The speed for wireless ranges from 10Mbps for 802.11b up to 54Mbps for the newer 802.11g.  These speeds are generally adequate to keep up with cable or DSL high speed Internet access.

Why is it important to consider a network's speed?
The faster the network's data transmission rate, the more information can be exchanged in real time. For most data used today over networks, 1 Mbps is enough. When you start to add voice and video over networks, the demand for higher transmission rates increases dramatically. For example, DVD requires a transmission rate of 3 to 8 Mbps and HDTV requires 19 Mbps.

Is it easy to install?
Today's home networking technology is easy to install. There is no new wiring required, and most applications require one gateway or router to a high-speed Internet connection and adapters for each electronic device on the network.

How much will it cost?
Prices vary depending on which home networking technology you use, how many computers are going to be on the network, whether you computers already have Ethernet or wireless built-in and your choice of Internet access.  A typical simple home network can be built for $100 - 200.  However, technology and prices change rapidly, so a trip the local consumer electronic or computer store will give you a much better idea.

What are the benefits?
The benefits for home networking are great. You can save money and time with a home network by sharing peripherals such as printers and scanners, as well as your Internet connection. You can expand the uses of your electronic devices such as using your stereo for Internet radio. You can increase and manage communication within your home by file swapping and sharing and routing email, phone, and fax messages. Finally, you can enhance your lifestyle by enjoying new forms of entertainment and information throughout your home. You can also save everyone the headache of waiting to use the Internet. With a home network, everyone can browse the Web at the same time.

To see information from typical hardware manufacturers, go to Hardware Manufacturers