More and more families have two or more PCs, all wanting to share internet access etc; networking is the perfect way to achieve this. There are three forms of networking: wired, wireless and networking over the mains.
Wired Networking:
If your are comfortable in your DIY and drilling capability, then this is the most reliable form of networking. It consists of network cards and network cables that you run through walls and ceilings to each PC in the house.
| Pros - | • Guaranteed connection due to
using wires • Reliable data transfer |
| Cons - | • Wires can be tricky to place • Set up time can be lengthy • Having loose wires could be a safety hazard and closing doors could ‘pinch’ and break the connection • Expanding the network is difficult or costly |
| Expert's tip - | • Always buy more cable ends than
you need. They will not all be fitted perfectly first time! |
This is the most convenient form of networking – no mess, no fuss, no drilling. You can take a wireless ADSL modem, plug it in to a microfilter and then in to a telephone socket. Now any PCin your house with a wireless adaptor can access the internet.
| Networking over the Mains: This is a combination of the features of wired and wireless and uses the mains wires to transmit the signals. It works by converting the Ethernet to mains and vice versa. Each device, such as a router or PC must be linked via an Ethernet cable to the HomePlug adaptor, which is plugged in to a wall socket. You just plug a router in one room and get broadband to another room in the house with an Ethernet adaptor in the socket. |
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| Pros - | • Quick set up • No need to trail cables across the house • Can get across ADSL lack-of-signal problems (when people have a computer upstairs and no telephone point) • Can add more devices to the network with minimal effort • You can sit in your garden and browse the web |
| Cons - | • If not set up correctly (password protected) anybody can tap in to your internet and unprotected computers • Data rates can often fluctuate or disconnect, so it is not ideal for gaming • Can be complicated to set up for the beginner • Signal strength is reduced by walls etc |
| Expert's tip - | • The signal can be affected by water tanks and pipes |
| 802.11(letter) - | It means wireless network (they are standards laid out by the IEEE e.g. 802.11g with a data rate between 25 and 54 Mbps |
| 802.11g+ - | An enhanced version of g which offers slightly better range and speed (up to 140Mbps max) |
| 10/100 - | Transfer speeds of 10Mbps or 100Mbps (10 is the old standard, 100 is now the norm) |
| CAT5 - | With regards cabling: 10/100 Mbps speed |
| CAT6 - | With regards cabling: 10/100/1000 Mbps speed |
| Gigabit or 10/100/1000 – | 1000 Mbps (can still be used for home use) |
| LAN - | Local Area Network (Home/Office Network) |
| Mbps - | Mega bits per second (NOT MB Megabytes like in hard drives) |
| MIMO - | Multi In Multi Out – uses more aerials for increased range and speed |
| NIC - | Network Interface Card |
| RJ11 4/6- Pin connector - | used for ADSL telephone cable – found on modems or modem routers |
| RJ45 8-pin - | Ethernet connection (standard networking connection) |
| STP - | Shielded Twisted Pair (cable) |
| UTP - | Unshielded Twisted Pair (cable) |
| WAN - | Wide Area Network (Internet) |
| WEP - | Wireless Encryption Protocol (password protection for WLAN) |
| WLAN - | Wireless LAN |
| Access Point | Fundamentally converts a wired network to wireless |
| Hub/Switch | Used so that multiple computers can talk
to each other Will not share broadband |
| Microfilter | Connects an ADSL modem to a phone socket |
| Modem Router | Most ADSL suppliers provide a USB
modem meaning they will not fit into a
router You can buy ADSL modems and routers in one box |
| NIC | Gives your computer an Ethernet socket to use network cables |
| Router | All the functions of a hub/switch Will share broadband Will split the internet down The majority have a switch built in Routers should have a RJ45 socket to accept the broadband modem |