| There are several methods for networking your home | | | | things? |
| or small office computers. The simplest and most cost | | | | Wireless |
| effective home networks technologies we will look at | | | | Wireless networking offers many great advantages. |
| today are Wired and Wireless networks and the Pro's | | | | The biggest advantage is portability. You can take |
| and Con's of each. | | | | your wireless laptop from your living room to your |
| Wired Networks | | | | kitchen to your bedroom and still have access to all of |
| Wired networks are seen as the most stable and | | | | your files and internet. This is great for using recipies |
| reliable form of networking by people as this | | | | from the internet right down to doing a little work in |
| technology has been around for a long time. | | | | front of the TV. |
| Wired networks are great to use when you have the | | | | Another advantage of going wireless is that you do |
| space and ability to run network cables through your | | | | not have to hide lots of wires going between your |
| house. In return for this effort you get a secure and | | | | machines and router. This makes everything look tidier |
| reliable network with good data transfer speeds. This | | | | and more clutter free whilst also removing potential trip |
| means that you will be able to send information from | | | | hazards from lots of loose cabling. |
| one computer to another one quickly. | | | | A wireless connection can be affected by many |
| A wired network is seen as more secure as any | | | | outside factors that you must take into consideration. |
| malicious users will only be able to get into your | | | | A wireless signal can be seriously affected by the |
| systems through your external internet connection or | | | | thickness of your walls, floors and also how many |
| by connecting a wire directly to your router, switch or | | | | other wireless connections are in your area. With thick |
| hub. Even then this problem can be contained through | | | | floors and walls your signals can become distorted or |
| the use of firewalls, sophisticated routers or in the later | | | | even wiped out causing problems transmitting and |
| case by not letting strangers into your house who are | | | | receiving information. |
| trying to run a network cable to their machine. | | | | There are solutions on the market to increase the |
| A wired network is seen as more reliable as the signal | | | | power of your wireless transmitters and receivers |
| is sent over wires and not broadcast over a relatively | | | | which would increase connectivity issues in the event |
| uncontrollable area. Your network speeds and quality | | | | that they occur. |
| are not affected by weather conditions, thickness of | | | | Security is not a problem as such for wireless as long |
| walls etc. | | | | as you properly secure your network. The simplest |
| With a wired network you can expect speeds from | | | | form of protection is to use something called a WEP |
| between 10Mbps with older technology up to | | | | key. A WEP key is used on both the computer and |
| 1000Mbps with newer hardware. This allows for | | | | wireless router and acts as a code between the two |
| excellent data transfer speeds between machines | | | | machines to keep data encrypted. If someone does |
| allowing for fast sharing of data and files over your | | | | not have the key they should not be able to access |
| network. | | | | your network. There are further options available |
| The price for wired home networking hardware is | | | | depending on your chosen wireless router to increase |
| extremely cheap as the technology has been around | | | | the level of security. |
| for a long time and there is a lot of competition from | | | | By not securing your wireless network you are |
| manufacturers keeping the prices down. You can get | | | | essentially leaving the front door of your network and |
| a basic router or network hub from £10 - | | | | internet connection open to anyone who wishes to |
| £40 pounds that will allow you to share your | | | | connect using their own wireless equipped computers. |
| internet connection and files across multiple machines. | | | | Final Thoughts |
| A basic network card should cost between £5-10 | | | | As you can see, both technologies serve the same |
| with the faster 1000Mbps cards costing from | | | | purpose but with different pro's and con's. If you are |
| £5-£15 each. | | | | looking for an easy clutter free solution with increase |
| Replacing faulty wiring can be tricky and expensive if | | | | mobility then I would recommend attempting a wireless |
| you have hidden it away behind your walls. Another | | | | network setup as long as you ensure that you set at |
| bad aspect of having wires is that each machine must | | | | least WEP encryption to protect your computers and |
| have a wire running from it to the router or hub. This | | | | internet connection from unauthorised access. |
| may be ok when you can have the wires hidden | | | | If you are looking for a slightly more secure and reliable |
| away in the bedroom or the office but what if you | | | | connection then go with a wired setup. A wired setup |
| want to use your laptop in the middle of your kitchen | | | | should bring you faster networking speeds with the |
| or living room. Do you really want wires running across | | | | disadvantage of having to have wires running |
| the floor causing potential trip hazards amongst other | | | | between devices. |