It is amazing how simple it is to establish a wireless home network in your home or office. I actually believe it is easier to set up a wireless network than it is to get the components out of those hard plastic cases.
However, you need to do some planning up front. The time spent in assessing your networking needs, do a little research about what is available to meet those needs and shop for the best values for the components you need will save you time and aggravation as you set it up.
Here is a list of items you may want to consider before you head off to the ‘gadget’ store:
What kind of computers will you be connecting to the network? Do you have PC’s or Macs…or both?
Will the network be a hybrid mixed users of wireless and hard wired computers?
What wireless standard will you be installing? (See my article. “What Do I Need to Know about Choosing the Right Wireless Network?” for more about standards)
Computer Adapters – How will you be connecting each computer to the wireless network? Internal PC adapter? USB device? PC or PCMCIA Card?
Are you going to want to access a printer on the network? How many? How is the printer connected today? Does the printer need to be attached to a computer to be accessed or will you provide direct network access through a print server for your users?
What will be your Internet access point? Do you have a broadband (DSL/Cable modem) connection? Are you using dial-up? Is the Internet connection shared from a single computer or do you incorporate the use of a router?
How much money do you have budgeted for building the network?
Think about the future use of your network for a couple of minutes. Do you plan on running an entertainment media server for accessing MP3 music files, streaming video, downloading movies or television shows? What about moving to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone services to replace land-line services?
How will you secure your network? What steps do you need to take to make sure that your network prevents unauthorized access from your Internet connection, your file systems and keeping snoops (or worse!) out of your computers?
By taking a few minutes to write down these questions into categories, you can quickly organize your thoughts into question and answers. This will help you determine the type of components you will need to build what I call a ‘Three-S’ wireless network from the very start: Secure, Stable and Safe
By: Jeff Runyon
Posts Tagged ‘Internet Access Point’
Prepare a Plan For Your Home’s Wireless Network
March 11th, 2010Why Have a Wireless Network in Your Home?
January 7th, 2010
If you have one or more computers in your home then you can benefit from a wireless network in a number of ways.
Today it is not uncommon for every person in the household to have their own laptop, notebook or desktop computer. Children use them as an educational tool and mom and dad often bring their laptop home from work.
The biggest advantage to setting up a wireless network is to eliminate some of the tangle mess of wires associated with each computer.
A simple definition of wireless is that it offers a communication method for the transfer of information over a long or short distance without the use of wires. But that doesn’t happen magically. Wireless adapters (either built-in or attached) are required for each computer and then generally a router is used at the internet access point.
Even though this article is specific to wireless computer networks, many people already use wireless in the home for such things as cell phones, baby monitors and security systems.
Beyond the elimination of wires there are few other ways that a wireless computer network can make your life easier.
Save money by sharing just one printer with everyone Be free to use your computer on the deck, in the kitchen or anywhere else inside or outside of your home Save money by sharing one backup device with everyone Perhaps you have a temporary health problem which requires you to be bedridden, but you would still like to get some work or other things done on your computer while somewhat out of commission It is much easier to share files with others on the network If our Laptop has a wireless adapter then you will be able to take advantage of free wi-fi at the library, coffee shop, in the airport terminal and at a friends house You will also be able to take advantage of the newest and latest wireless technology found in digital cameras, video cameras and multi-media receivers
Setting up a wireless network is not complex but be sure that you review and setup the proper security for your network in order to keep others outside your home from also using your network. They may join you unintentionally. Just the other night I was using my laptop just to do a little offline work and all of a sudden my computer was connecting to the network. As it turns out my neighbor across the street from me had just cranked up her wireless system and I was automatically connected to it. She had not properly setup her wireless router security.
Don’t fear, your network will be secure if you setup your security properly.
By: Jackie Beem
