| When beginning to design your home network, | | | | limited by the cable. However, in practice, the |
| you will have a wide array of choices to make. | | | | attached devices are more of a limiting factor. |
| Many of them have obtuse descriptions and | | | | Other factors come into play such as the number |
| cryptic names. However, do not let all that | | | | of simultaneous users, protocol used and other |
| techno-mumbo-jumbo scare you! Try to | | | | factors that are much more important in |
| familiarize yourself with some of the names as | | | | real-world applications. You will find the faster |
| they are associated with the options that will | | | | speeds in professional networks. |
| affect the design as well as the value of your | | | | Wireless devices are usually 802.11b or 802.11 g |
| home network. | | | | type. The technical definitions are complex. |
| The first choice you will have to make is whether | | | | However, the practical meaning for the home |
| you want a cabled network or a wireless one. For | | | | network designer is easy. 802.11b operates at 2.4 |
| almost everyone the choice was already made | | | | GHz and 11 Mb and 802.11g at 2.44 GHz/54Mb. |
| given the fact that the prices were one sky high | | | | Both of these numbers are important – the |
| and the wireless equipment was so very complex. | | | | frequency (measured in GHz or 1,024 million |
| However, costs have come way down. If you | | | | cycles per second) and the throughput, in |
| choose to put a wireless network together today, | | | | megabits (1 Byte = 8 bits.) |
| it is not going to be any more complicated than | | | | The frequency gives you some idea about the |
| the more traditional kind. | | | | likelihood of interference. Some cordless phones |
| The name of the game is compatibility. A Linksys | | | | as well as other popular home devices may |
| wireless system is composed only of Linksys | | | | interfere with your network. This means that |
| products so that you will be assured that | | | | when your phone rings and you go to answer it, |
| everything will work together as soon as you | | | | you network may see a hiccup. This problem |
| take it out of the box. The various parts of this | | | | tends to occur more in laptops that use wireless |
| wireless system is made up of the following: | | | | cards. |
| Linksys wireless router, Linksys wireless adapter | | | | The throughput is important since the numbers |
| and the Linksys wireless card. | | | | are theoretical ratings. The real data transfer rate |
| Today, cabled networks usually make use of | | | | tends to be a little lower than the numbers |
| Ethernet cables. Most of this cabling is designated | | | | indicate. For example, 802.11b is more between |
| by the name of Car-5. You do have another | | | | 6-7 Mb/s despite the speed’s rate of 11Mb |
| option. You may use fiber optic cabling. As far as | | | | s. That is roughly 1/5 to ½ the speed of a |
| home network designers are concerned, the | | | | DSL or cable Internet connection. Therefore, if |
| extra amount of money and the potential | | | | you know how long it usually takes you to |
| reliability issues really are not worth the benefits. | | | | download a 10 megabyte file off the Internet; |
| Some of the more common applications include | | | | you will be able to easily estimate how fast the |
| file sharing, gaming and printer sharing. If you | | | | data will get to your home computer. |
| want your network to continue to run smoothly, | | | | Other kinds of systems have been in the |
| be sure to take proper care of it. | | | | experimental stage for the past several years. |
| You will be able to transfer files from one | | | | One kind uses the wiring in your home to carry |
| personal computer to another over a network | | | | network signals. All you have to do is plug a |
| that uses several different software packages | | | | special device in an electrical outlet in your wall and |
| along with methods. File transfer techniques | | | | then plug your computer and printer into that via |
| include peer to peer, FTP, IM software and share | | | | a short cable. While it is possible to obtain this |
| Windows folders. | | | | equipment, most of the major vendors do not |
| Ethernet cables will support speeds that range | | | | offer this option yet. For the time being, it is best |
| from the traditional 10Mb to 100 Mb all the way | | | | for most home network designers to stick to the |
| up to 1 GB or more. Theoretically the speed is | | | | standard choices. |