Hardware & Networking Information

By sarvan kumar

If you are looking for information on creating a home network, it can get a little daunting. You have to choose between wireless and wired, several types of wired and wireless hardware and several choices in network topology. Along the way, you can get outdated or incorrect information. In practice, creating a home network can be quite simple. Modern operating systems have vastly streamlined the process, but you still have to choose the right hardware and network type.

Wired Networks

• This is the simplest type. If you do not plan to use mobile devices with this network, such as a laptop or Wi-Fi-enabled iPod, you skip a few steps and have fewer elements to manage. At the heart of it, you need an Ethernet adapter, a router and Ethernet cables. Your Ethernet adapter is probably integrated into your computer's motherboard (check the manual to verify).

  If not, you can buy and install an inexpensive card from companies such as Intel, D-Link and Netgear. This adapter is also known as a NIC (Network Interface Card). Look for cards that are rated for at least 100 Mbps (Megabits per second).

  
  

  Wireless Networks

  • This type frees you from wires, which reduces clutter and can allow your computer to connect to a modem that's on the other side of a wall or floor. The flip side is that you need to protect this network with a password. WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encrypts your network so the data transferring through it can be captured and read by someone nearby who also has a wireless adapter in their computer.

  
  

  Wireless Network Speeds

  • Wireless network speeds can also vary from moment to moment, depending on interference from devices such as cordless phones or microwaves. An "802.11g" network will give you a theoretical speed of 54 Mbps, which is quite enough for most high-speed Internet connections. 802.11n can go up to 160 Mbps. Both wired and wireless networks connect to a router, which connects to the modem.

  Wireless Network Hardware

  • As with wired NICs, your motherboard may also have an integrated wireless NIC. If not, wireless NICs can be purchased separately. Instead of plugging an Ethernet cable into it, it has an antenna that picks up a Wi-Fi signal. You can also purchase an external wireless adapter that connects through a USB cable. This type may be more to your liking, since its USB cable allows you to move the adapter around to get better reception.

  Connecting a Laptop

  • Modern laptops usually have built-in Wi-Fi. If yours does not (or its speed is too low for your taste), you can buy a Wi-Fi card that is inserted in a slot on the side of the laptop. You can also buy external adapters that are in the shape of a USB "thumb drive" and plug into a USB port, or you can purchase an external adapter that connects with a USB cable. Both this and the thumb drive variety can be used with desktop computers.