There are three ways to create a home or small business computer network:
- Wireless
- Ethernet (Hardwired)
- Home Phoneline Network
Wireless Network
Wireless network adapters do not use cables or other physical means to connect your computers together. Using specially authorized radio frequencies, data is transferred by radio between your computer and radio transceivers.
The ICS host computer typically uses an Ethernet network adapter if you have an external DSL or cable modem. The wireless network adapter communicates with the rest of your home or small office network. If you have an internal modem you only need one network adapter.
On local area networks (LANs), a transceiver is the device that connects a computer to the network and that converts signals to and from parallel and serial form.
Ethernet (Hardwired) Network
Ethernet is used widely for networking. Ethernet adapters connect through a network hub. If your home is wired for Ethernet, you can connect your computers using Ethernet jacks in the wall. Otherwise, you must use a network hub to connect your computers together. To connect computers with a hub, you also need a network cable, called Ethernet RJ-45 twisted pair (10BaseT or 100BaseT), which is slightly larger than a regular telephone cable.
The ICS host computer typically uses an Ethernet network adapter if you have an external DSL or cable modem, so a second network adapter is required. If you have an internal modem, you only need one network adapter.
Home Phoneline Network Adapter (HPNA)
HPNAs use existing phone lines but operate on a different band of frequencies to avoid interference with regular telephone calls. You install the adapter using a regular telephone cable, and then plug your computer into the phone jack. Every phone jack in your home becomes a port on the network, eliminating the need for a network hub. With HPNA, you do not need network cables.
The computer that is connected to a residential gateway (or the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) host computer) typically uses an Ethernet network adapter if you have an external DSL or cable modem. If you have an internal modem, or an external 28.8 or 56 kilobits per second (Kbps) modem, you only need one network adapter
Setting Up A Computer Network
Wired networks have been around for decades. By far the most common wired networking technology found today is known as Ethernet. The data cables, known as Ethernet network cables or Cat 5e cables, connect the computers and other devices that make up the networks.
Wireless networks are fairly common. They don't use cables for connections; instead, they use radio waves, like cordless phones.
Why choose a wireless network?
- Freedom—work anywhere
- Quick, effortless installation
- No cables to buy
- Save cabling time and hassle
- Easy to expand
Wireless networks are the most popular. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere—without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports, hotels—great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.
Why choose a wired network?
- Lower cost
- Faster speed—up to 1000Mbps
- Longer possible range
Wired networks have been around for years. They use the most affordable products and provide the fastest speeds of transmission. The distance between devices, such as computers, on a network is also much less restricted in wired networking—up to 300 feet with Cat 5 Ethernet cables or 1,800 feet using fiber optics. When you need to move large amounts of data at high speeds, such as professional-quality multimedia, wired networking is the most efficient way to do it.
Home Enhancement Systems will help you determine which type of network suits your needs and find the best possible solution for your budget.
