| There is essentially two ways of setting up a | | | | depends on your computer, internet connection |
| home network, wired or wireless. | | | | and they type of network you wish to set up. |
| | | | |
| A wired network involves connecting up the | | | | To make sure that you choose the right Access |
| computers using cables, and if often referred | | | | Point, we have constructed a guide to the |
| to as an Ethernet network. An Ethernet | | | | various pieces of hardware to ensure you |
| network transfers data at high speeds, faster | | | | purchase the parts you need to set up your |
| than wireless networks as it is very rare for | | | | own home network. |
| the connection to be interrupted. Although | | | | |
| data transfer speeds of 1 Gbps can be | | | | Router: The most important piece of hardware |
| achieved, the average speed is 100 Mbps, and | | | | on a home network setup. The router is the |
| this is why you will often see "10/100" next | | | | part which routes the data to the computers |
| to Ethernet ports on computers or in product | | | | on the network. It basically connects all the |
| data specs. | | | | computers together so that they can share the |
| | | | internet connection and browse it at the same |
| A wireless network transfers data via radio | | | | time. The router also acts as a line of |
| waves and is the preferred, and most often | | | | defence between the internet and your |
| convenient, method of setting up a home | | | | computer. Most have built-in software to |
| network. It is especially useful for the use | | | | protect your identity and your computer from |
| of laptops as it allows the user to roam | | | | viruses. |
| throughout the house, and even the garden, | | | | |
| without having wires trailing behind them. A | | | | Hub: The device used to connect the computers |
| wireless network is often referred to as a | | | | to the network via Ethernet cabling or via |
| Wi-Fi network, which stands for Wireless | | | | Wi-Fi. Wired hubs come with a number of ports |
| Fidelity and is based on the 802.11 wireless | | | | which can transmit data at speeds ranging |
| standard. | | | | from 10 Mbps to multi-gigabyte speeds per |
| | | | second. The hub transmits the data it |
| It is also possible to create a home network | | | | receives, often from the households' main |
| which combines both wired and wireless | | | | computer, to the other computers that are |
| technology. | | | | connected to it. The amount of computers that |
| | | | can be connected to a hub depend on it size. |
| There are distinct advantages and | | | | The average hub can connect 4 computers. A |
| disadvantages as to whether you opt for a | | | | larger hub could connect nearer 50. A |
| wired or wireless network in your home. A | | | | wireless hub can connect hundreds. |
| wireless network offers you more freedom to | | | | |
| move around your house with your laptop and | | | | Switch: This is a type of hub that controls |
| of course without the need to trail wires | | | | the way that multiple devices use the same |
| from each fixed computer. It is also easy to | | | | network so that each can operate at optimal |
| add more computers to the network without | | | | performance. A switch acts as a networks |
| having the need to buy more networking | | | | traffic police: rather than transmitting all |
| equipment. However, where a wired network | | | | the packets of data it receives to all ports |
| offers less freedom, it is cheaper to install | | | | as a hub does, a switch transmits packets to |
| and potentially faster due to the connection | | | | only the receiving port. Switches are fast |
| being rarely interrupted. A wireless network | | | | replacing hubs as a preferred choice of data |
| also has restricted boundaries, whereas a | | | | management as prices are more in line with |
| wired network is only restricted by the | | | | hub prices. |
| length of cables you have. | | | | |
| | | | NIC (Network Interface Card): A type of PC |
| In order to set up a home network you will | | | | adapter card that either works without wires |
| need to purchase some specific hardware. | | | | (Wi-Fi) or attaches to a network cable to |
| Knowing what hardware to buy is often quite | | | | provide two-way communication between the |
| daunting due to the amount on the market, and | | | | computer and network devices such as a hub or |
| the fact that you do not know exactly what | | | | switch. A Network interface card can be |
| something is and what it does! Essentially | | | | installed internally into a desktop PC or |
| the main piece of equipment that you will | | | | slotted into a Type 2 PCMCIA slot on a laptop |
| need is known as an ACCESS POINT. This is the | | | | or PDA. |
| small box with all the flashing lights that | | | | |
| allows the connection between the computers | | | | Combined switch/router: A popular choice of |
| in the network to take place. There are | | | | Access Point as it combines both the |
| several types of Access Point, and although | | | | functionality of a router and switch in one |
| they essentially do the same job, the type | | | | unit. |
| you need (and you may need more than one) | | | | |