Home Networking
Accessing the Internet at home is now the norm and can be done with or without wires. Several PCs can use the Internet simultaneously without affecting your telephone calls in or out. Building a home network is all about sharing information, applications and resources between you and your family or housemates. Networking will enable you to easily share a broadband connection with all the computers in your home to: Surf the web, email, download media (such as music and video), play games online or connect to your employer's network. Networking your home computers and laptops will also enable you to share a single printer, scanner, files or software packages. How to set-up a Home Network? The basics Setting up a home network, can be done one of two ways: Using Cables/Wires - known as an Ethernet network
Run cables between each computer, printer & game console to connect them together, using Ethernet networking products. Without Cables/Wires - known as a Wireless network
Connect your computers & games consoles together wirelessly, using networking products that do not need cable or wires.
To create a home network you will need a number of separate devices - designed either for an Ethernet network or a Wireless network. What and how many devices you will need simply depends on the number of PC's, laptops, printers and games consoles you want to network together. Click through to the sections below to read about each device type and what its role in the home network is:
Broadband Routers
Share an ADSL or cable Broadband connection with all the computers in your household. Network Cards
Connect your laptops and desktop PC's to your home network using either wireless or wired adapters that slot into your computer. Desktop Switches
Connect your home computers together to share files, media and resources or play networked games. Wireless Access Points & Gaming Adapters
Access points connect computers to other computers on a home wireless network, whilst gaming adapters connect games consoles to a network and the Internet. VoIP Broadband Adapters
It is now possible to make telephone calls over your broadband connection using a special telephony broadband device (known as a 'VoIP Broadband Adapter') and a related service provider. Wired vs. Wireless
If you are not sure about which type of network to choose, why not give Ashby a call about the benefits of wireless networking and when it is a good idea to use cabling. We can offer a site survey and advise you on the best system to use. We will set up networking on all your PCs and install the software and hardware required. We will also recommend a firewall and data encryption to protect your network from unauthorised users. The Netgear range of switches, firewall routers and wireless access points enable you to connect a number of PCs simultaneously for file sharing, inter PC gaming and sharing a single connection for Internet browsing and email connectivity. Avoid the queues for Internet access on a single PC – give everyone in the family their own inter-connected PC, for shared Internet access and lots more. For sensible advice on Home Networking, just give us a call on 01604 790979.
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