|
NETWORKING
Home
& Office Networking Made Easy
It
is rare today to find a home with only one TV, and computers are
following the same trend. As the multi-PC home & office becomes
more common, people are finding it is smart and cost-effective to have
these computers networked and sharing resources. Internet access,
printers, files and even applications can be shared between the
household & office computers.
To join this club you will first need to build a simple home or office
network. There are numerous ways to do this, and here we will briefly
discuss two of the easiest methods.
Wired - Twisted Pair
The least expensive method uses Cat 5 twisted-pair Ethernet cable
to connect your computers. You will need a network card in each
machine. If you have only two PCs to network, a single crossover cable
will do. With more PCs a hub is required, and each PC will connect to
the hub using a straight (not crossover) Cat 5 cable.
Wireless - 802.11G
Going wireless is the most convenient but also the most expensive.
There are several wireless standards but the most common for home use
is the WiFi or 802.11G standard, which uses a 2.4 GHz radio signal to
connect as many as 50 computers. Its indoor range is 150 feet (or
less, depending on walls and other barriers). The network will have a
WAP or Wireless Access Point, and each system needs a PCI WiFi
interface card or an external USB WiFi device. These devices are
plug-n-play and easy to install, and of course there is no wiring to
worry about.
Now
that the computers are networked, you need a Router/Gateway/Firewall
to connect that network to the Internet. Today it is not hard to find
a router that includes the gateway and firewall functions, and maybe
even a hub. This will save the cost of the hub if you're going with
Cat 5 twisted pair. You can also get a router with built-in WiFi
capability. You can also get modem routers, which are routers with a
built in modem and can also be WiFi.
On one side the router connects to the hub, or to each computer
individually. On the other it connects to your DSL or broadband cable
modem.
If
you need any help or advice on networking please call 01206 864242, and
a member of the networking team will be more than happy to
guide you through the network maze.
We
can also arrange a free site survey for you, and a quotation for
installing, setting up and securing your network.
CLICK
HERE To an easy guide to what you need for a wireless network
|
01206 864242
