Networking: A Beginner's Guide Fifth Edition- P17

Networking: A Beginner’s Guide Fifth Edition- P17:I have run into many people over the years who have gained good evenimpressive working knowledge of PCs, operating systems, applications,and common problems and solutions. Many of these people are wizards withdesktop computers.
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Networking: A Beginner’s Guide Fifth Edition- P1762 Networking: A Beginner’s Guide All of these components are available separately, just as you would purchase them for a business. You can also purchase home networking kits, which include all of the components that you need, along with instructions for setting up the home network. TIP Look for recent reviews of products for home networking and use those reviews to help you decide which product meets your needs. Many computer magazines have up-to-date product reviews, including reviews of home-oriented products. Check your local library or the magazine rack at your local bookstore. Phoneline and Powerline Networking Options A point made in the preceding section bears repeating: The hardest part of installing a home network is the wiring. Most people aren’t qualified to install network cabling, nor do they want to start making holes in their walls and trying to figure out how to route cabling through their house (or under their house). Many companies have come out with alternative network options that eliminate the need for installing network cabling, including phoneline and powerline networks. Phoneline Networks It’s possible to use a home’s existing telephone wiring to provide a network connection between computers in a home. This option becomes attractive if there are telephone connections near each computer. Intel, 3Com, D-Link, and other companies offer phoneline network kits for the home. A resource available on the Internet for phoneline networking is http://www .homepna.org. Powerline Networks Some companies offer hardware that lets you network computers through a home’s existing power wiring. The network equipment transmits its information through the power wiring, and all that’s needed is to plug a special adapter into an available outlet near each computer. Be aware that powerline networks are subject to electrical noise from various types of equipment in the home. (One reviewer, in fact, had his powerline network crash every time his refrigerator’s compressor came on.) However, if this approach makes sense in your home, give it a try. Just be sure to save your receipts and ensure you can return the equipment if it doesn’t work in your home. You can learn more about powerline networking at http://www.homeplug.com. Wireless Networking By far, the most popular home networking option is to use wireless connections. Quite a number of companies—including NETGEAR, D-Link, and Linksys—offer wireless home networking equipment. Chapter 5: Home Networking 63 When using the latest technology, wireless networks run at a pretty fast clip. Theystart at 11 Mbps (more than adequate for home use), and many variants go up to54 Mbps. However, different factors in your home may limit the wireless network’sspeed or functionality. For example, an appliance may be the source of electricalinterference, or something in the walls might limit the signal strength between roomsor floors. Make sure that you can return or exchange the equipment if it doesn’t workproperly in your home.Wireless StandardsThree basic wireless standards are in wide use: 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g. It’scounterintuitive, but in this particular case, 802.11a is a more advanced and fasterstandard than 802.11b. 802.11g is essentially an upgrade to 802.11b and uses the samefrequencies to transmit data. The 802.11g standard is presently leading the market, and many good and relativelyinexpensive solutions use this standard. You can even purchase units that combinean 802.11g wireless access point (WAP), which is sort of like a wireless hub, with arouter intended to share a home’s high-bandwidth Internet connection among multiplecomputers. The nice thing about such combination units is that you don’t need to paymore for Internet service for multiple computers, since the router makes it appear as ifonly one computer were on the connection. NOTE A new wireless Ethernet standard called 802.11n is starting to emerge. It promises higher speeds and potentially better range than the existing standards. This is still a draft standard, expected to be finalized around the end of 2009. Products that use the draft standard are currently available, but if there are changes to the draft 802.11n standard in its final release, these products may not work properly with devices based on the final version.Wireless Network CaveatsBefore you install a wireless network, you should be aware of ...