Home Networking

Most people set up a home network for ONE Reason.......

Shared Internet Access: If you have a high speed broadband connection, then everyone can be online at the same time.

But there are a few other benefits.

File Sharing: Some of you likely share files between computers using floppy disks or the newer USB Flash keys. A home network allows you to share files much faster and more conveniently placing the file in a shared folder.

Printer Sharing: You can be sitting in your bed working on a report on your laptop and print the report to your desktop computer printer downstairs.

Online Gaming: A whole family or a group of friends can be online playing with or competing against one another in the same game at the same time.

Wired VS Wireless

Wireless networking is extremely popular for building a home network, but wireless isn't the only way to go, both wireless and wired home networks have their own distinct advantages

Advantages of Wireless Networking

Portable & Flexible: Wireless networking devices enable you to use your computer, laptop or games console anywhere in the house. Even if you have a large house, wireless signal will generally go through walls and ceilings. If you need to go extended distances you can use access points to boast the wireless signal. A wireless network can reach speeds up to 54Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second)

Cost Effective: With the price of wireless equipment dropping and the labor saved of not running cable Both methods are comparable.

Neat & Safe: If you choose to set-up a wireless home network you do not need to run cables across your house, which can create trip hazards across rooms, hallways and stairs. Also choosing to set-up a wireless home network means that you do not need to run cables underneath carpets or drill holes through walls or ceilings to pass cables through.

Advantages of Wired Networking

Faster: Wired connections can reach networking speeds of up to 10 times that of wireless networks, which is necessary for bandwidth hungry users such as avid gamers, graphic designers or users downloading large media files. However, for most users the standard 100Mbps networking speeds are more than sufficient for everyday networking activities such as: Emailing, surfing the web, downloading files, music and video, accessing corporate information and playing console games.

Reliable: Physical, fixed wired connections are not prone to interference and fluctuations in available bandwidth, which can affect most wireless networking connections.

Secure: With a wired network you don't have to worry about your networking signal traveling through the air and being interrupted by eavesdroping Neighbors or hackers driving around trying to find wireless hotspots.