A broadband network allows a single account through the whole house can be used. Unfortunately, such a network is not possible to assess with Internet access – one of the many reasons why you broadband.
What is offered
Home Networking is always a boost thanks to improvements in range, speed and cost for wireless networks. When you connect a laptop to surf the wireless communication, a wireless network you can now also available on the Internet at high speed in most places in your house, yard or apartment. The main brands of wireless routers are D-Link, Netgear, Linksys. Wired networking is far from obsolete, but because it still provides the secure and reliable connections available. In fact, for many households could contain the best solution for sharing a broadband connection – or a printer, files, music or digital photos – among several computers in a network, both wired and wireless.
Or wired Ethernet networks. Cable networks are very secure in himself, without any special security measures is required. They are reliable and generally free of disturbances. They offer the best data transfer – up to 94 megabits per second for the common type 10/100, enough to virtually all data applications.
MAJOR FEATURES
A disadvantage is that you can not move so easily to your home computer. The laying of cables through the house can be a dispute or expensive. Price: $ 50 to $ 100 for a router and a cable for connecting two relatively new computer. In addition, there may be additional costs for the installation of cables through the house. Wi-Fi, 802 11g (Wireless). There are no cables to connect or retreat to a wireless network, and there is minimal installation effort. Mobility is the key – that the allocation of wireless network from virtually anywhere in the house signals. You need to take additional measures related to security, without which your data is vulnerable to hackers. Thick walls can reduce the signal strength may vary in different areas of the house or in a room. The Wi-Fi networks can use cordless phones, baby monitors to disrupt and other wireless devices. These networks are only 25 percent faster than Ethernet, but they are always very well be used for typical network, such as Web surfing and e-mail. Use Price: $ 200 or less for a router and client cards, so that two computers with the wireless network
HOW TO CHOOSE
Plan your network. You may be the router near the source of the broadband service to find – usually a cable modem or DSL. The router and the modem via Ethernet cable connected. But the connections between the router and network computers can be either wired or wireless.
The choice of a wireless router. This is the official name for models of the Ethernet and Wi-Fi support. Even if you do not have a capacity of wireless working now costs a little more (maybe around $ 10) via a wired model, and you save could replace the router if you want a wireless device in the future.
Stick with the 802nd 11g wireless standard. Wi-Fi is developing new standards for the distribution area and increase speed to increase network capacity to handle new types of information. The name of the default is usually on the packaging of the router as a suffix letter to the technical term for Wi-Fi, the 802nd 11. Currently, the most common standard is known as the 802nd 11g. We believe that this is the best choice for most people.
The 802nd 11g networks, which we tested had sufficient range and speed, the coverage in most households covered. The data we have measured the velocities below the standard rate of 802nd 11g. But all the routers are much faster than the typical speed broadband Internet connection.
If you already have a wireless network that uses 802. 11a or 802 11b, two old standards, consider the upgrade if the range, speed and reliability of your network would like to find remains.
At the other end of the spectrum, the router, the early versions of Wi-Fi are you using the latest standard, 802 11n. Often with words such as "MIMO" called "Super G" or "pre-N", these models may not be compatible with the reality of "n" standard, due to the end of 2006. They also require that matching network adapter buy, even for computers with top-802. 11g features.
Imagine one of these new routers only if you have problems, the bandwidth can not be solved by other means. In our tests, they were better penetrate walls 802nd 11g routers and certain speeds, have been offered twice as fast. But they were equally likely to interfere with (or receive interference), mobile phones and other devices.
Check to see if and how you share a printer. A network allows you, the cost of installing a printer in every room share one to avoid. To do this, you can attach a printer with built-in networking capabilities.
It is possible, a network printer by sharing the network through a print server, a device that costs $ 70 to $ 100 and the size of a paperback book. There may be problems with some disturbances printer management software, however. Each PC can be connected to a printer acting as a print server for other computers on the network, but you must leave the computer when you print.
Consider networking issues for other devices. A growing number of devices that are usually on a computer – PDAs, printers and video game consoles come together – are now compatible Wi-Fi, if you're one of them to have a connection in planning your network, you ensure that they are compliant with network security you put in the place.
Check whether you need to buy the adapter. Each computer on your network requires an adapter to allow it to communicate with the network, whether it has implemented a If you purchased Ethernet to connect to a computer in the last three years, the adapter will probably be integrated into the device. The same goes for laptops later date, which would have included 802nd 11g features.
If you need to buy a network card in your desktop, you can use either an internal PC card version, open the computer case to install, or requires a USB version that plugs into the USB port. Laptops can be either a PCI or USB adapter. In all cases, the costs should not exceed $ 60.
Help to withstand professional installation. Retail computer may try, if you sell professional installation for your new network, from a price of $ 150 or more. But the wiring to the side, are today's networks as easily say that you should not take their offer if you are familiar with the technology.
Network equipment usually comes with instructions and a free 24 / 7 technical support. And you can always get back to the dealer for help in troubleshooting the network if necessary.
Shop of return. For all your efforts, the network equipment you bought is not compatible with your home. Could be, for example, your walls and floors could be particularly resistant wireless (which is the case when a lot of moisture, metal or other conductive material are in itself). Before buying, check the return policy of the store. Imagine a retailer with a generous.
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