Internet Tips & Tricks
By MARK DAVIS
General Manager, CommSpeed Internet Service
President, Prescott Computer Society
Visit the Computer Society Website
www.prescottcomputersociety.org
Home
Networking
Interested in setting up home network?
You are not alone! More than
35 million homes in the
US now have
multiple PC’s. Every one of those households is a
candidate for a home network.
Internet
Connection Sharing
is the ‘killer app’ - the driving force behind getting a
home network. Imagine each of your PC's hooking up to
the Internet through a single connection. Imagine being
able to share your printer or send files between
computers almost instantly!
I
have a wireless network installed at home. It's
become an indispensable utility for our family. I’m writing
this article while connected through a CommSpeed
high-speed wireless connection to the Internet --
using my laptop out on the deck. At the same time, my
sons are “wasting time” downloading MP3s & gaming
downstairs and my wife is in the den receiving digital
pictures from our daughter in Wisconsin. We're all
simultaneously "doing our thing" without any hampering
connection wires.
Let's
take a look at the variety of home networking
alternatives.
Home
Networking Fundamentals.
There are two basic types of networks – wired and
wireless. The equipment for a wired network costs
less, but requires running Ethernet cables to every
computer.
In my house,
running new wires to every computer would have been
costly, and a real pain to accomplish. The best solution was
to put in a wireless network. The convenience and
freedom to move everywhere with my laptop made the
additional cost worthwhile.
Wireless
Home Networks
require a base station radio and a “router” which
distributes the signal to each computer. Also, each
computer needs a wireless card installed to receive
signal.
Wired Home
Networks
require a router/hub, Ethernet cables, and an Ethernet
adapter (NIC card) in each computer.
If this is
all “Geek to you,” visit
www.practicallynetworked.com. This
excellent Website is packed with information about home
networks.
Do it yourself or get help?
If you are comfortable with installing wires and
configuring software, you can save a few bucks by
installing your own network. If not, get professional
help! CommSpeed has installed hundreds of networks for
area residents and businesses. See
www.commspeed.net
for more information.
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